The Roots of American Democracy

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Chapter 3
The Roots of American Democracy
What ideas gave birth to the worlds first modern
democratic nation?
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Reading
Read Section 3.1. Then respond to these questions

• What historic events did the two bicentennial
  celebrations in the United States mark?
• Of what did the bicentennial events remind
  Americans? Why were these events so powerful?
• What ideas do you think gave birth to the
  worlds first modern democratic nation?
• NO MORE KINGS!!!

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Early Roots
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Early Roots
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Early Roots
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Early Roots
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Key Events

• Mayflower Compact first written framework for
  self-government in the colonies
• IMPACT Colonists learn to create rules and
  governments for themselves
• Virginia House of Burgesses first elected
  assembly in the colonies
• IMPACT Elected assemblies spread through the
  colonies

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Key Events

• French and Indian War After the war Britain
  imposed taxes and restrictions on the colonies
• IMPACT Colonists feel Britain is restricting
  their rights
• Stamp Act Britain taxes colonists on paper
  goods
• IMPACT Colonists feel that taxation without
  representation is unjust

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Key Events

• Lexington and Concord first armed conflict
  between Britain and Colonists
• IMPACT Start of American Revolution
• Declaration of Independence formal break with
  Britain
• IMPACT Creates vision for a government
  responsible to the people

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• How did state constitutions lay the groundwork
  for the U.S. Constitution?
• Idea that government should be based on an
  established set of principles like
• Popular sovereignty
• Limited government

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
• No power to tax or control trade
• No executive to enforce laws
• No court system
• Why?
• Fear of a strong central government

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Three major challenges
• Representation big states vs. little states
• Resolved by the Great Compromise which created a
  bicameral (two house) legislature
• Slavery
• Resolved by counting slaves as 3/5 of a person
  for representation and taxation
• Electing a President
• Resolved by setting up the Electoral College

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Electoral College

• There are 48 States that have a winner-takes-all
  rule for the Electoral College. In these States,
  whichever candidate receives a majority of the
  vote, or a plurality of the popular vote (less
  than 50 percent but more than any other
  candidate) takes all of the State's electoral
  votes.

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Electoral College

• 4 Times (1824,1876,1888,2000)
• The winner of the Presidential Election did not
  win the Popular Vote!
• John Q. Adams
• Rutherford Hayes
• Benjamin Harrison
• George Bush
• 2000 Election Details

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Partner UP!
• Read Sections 3.5 and 3.6 and
• List three beliefs of the Federalists
• List three beliefs of the Anti-Federalists

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Federalists
• Favored strong central government
• Believed separation of powers kept government
  from becoming too strong
• Believed in federalism (power divided between
  central and regional governments)

• Anti-Federalists
• Feared strong government
• Believed states are better able to represent
  people
• Feared the Constitution lacked a bill of rights
  to protect citizens

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Look up due process. What does it mean?
• Read Sections 4.2 and 4.3 and explain the purpose
  of each of the main parts of the Constitution.
• Preamble
• Articles
• Amendments

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Preamble purpose of the government
• Articles define the powers of the three
  branches of governments
• Amendments list formal changes to the
  Constitution

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Enumerated powers are those powers specifically
  listed in the Constitution.
• Implied powers are those powers that come from
  the elastic clause which allows Congress to
  make all laws necessary for carrying out its
  duties.

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Why does each branch have different powers?
• So no single branch becomes too powerful and each
  branch is both accountable and responsible for
  the other branches (checks and balances)

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Legislative make laws, approve treaties
• Executive enforces laws, negotiates treaties
• Judicial interprets laws and determines
  constitutionality

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution

• Amendments (changes to the Constitution)
• Proposed by Congress with a 2/3 vote in both
  houses
• ¾ of the state legislatures ratify (approve) the
  amendment

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution
Judicial Review means that the Supreme Court
has the responsibility to determine whether laws
are Constitutional!!
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Unit 1 Assessment Topics

• Nation-state
• Legitimacy
• Public goods
• Monarchy
• Dictatorship
• Market Economy
• Command Economy
• Federal system
• Popular sovereignty
• Marbury v. Madison

• Natural rights
• Constitutional issues and resolutions
• Great Compromise
• Articles of Confederation
• Due Process
• Purpose of the three parts of the Constitution