Day 3 Notes
- 1. The Roots of American Democracy TCI ch3 June 25, 2008
- 2. Day 3 - Notes (write this stuff down) (TCI ch3) Essential Question: What ideas gave birth the the world’s first modern democratic nation?
- 3. Ideas that shaped Colonial views on gov’t colonial thinkers influenced by Judeo-Christian traditions natural law - belief in moral principles beyond human laws colonial thinkers influenced by Greco-Romans direct democracy - New England town meetings representative gov’t - citizens elect officials to serve country
- 4. English Roots Magna Carta (1215)- great charter - limited King John’s power (taxation without consent of nobles) established rule of law - gov’t is based on clear and fairly enforced laws and no one is above the law
- 5. English Roots Petition of Right (1628) - limited gov’t - powers of gov’t are restricted by constitution (arrests/quartering troops) English Bill of Rights (1689) - individual rights - natural rights, rights by virtue of being human (no cruel punishment; jury trial)
- 6. English Enlightenment Thinkers Thomas Hobbes - in natural state people war, they enter social contract - obey absolute ruler to have peace in society (not democracy) John Locke - all people have natural rights - life, liberty, property - social contract to protect people - BUT - right to overthrow ruler if natural rights not protected
- 7. French Enlightenment Thinkers Baron de Montesquieu - gov’t should organize to prevent one part from being too powerful - proposed three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to limit each other - separation of powers
- 8. French Enlightenment Thinkers Jean-Jacques Rousseau - for social contract to have legitimacy - based on popular sovereignty - people are ultimate source of authority in gov’t if gov’t acted contrary to popular will, people have right to revolt
- 9. American Revolution: Highlights Mayflower Compact - written agreement for governing colony practice making constitutions and having legislative assemblies French and Indian War - taxes - “no taxation . . .” - tea party - militias - CofCs - Dec of Ind -
- 10. Articles of Confederation not so great, no money - Shay’s Rebellion but - did defeat and negotiate treaty with Britain successfully and pass Northwest Ordinance
- 11. Constitutional Convention Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia Geo. Washington presider of meeting James Madison - very excited - creates Virginia Plan before meeting VA Pan - bicameral legislature (lower house elects upper house) based on state population
- 12. Constitutional Convention New Jersey Plan - unicameral legislature, each states has same number of reps Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise - one house based on pop, one house based equal reps
- 13. More Compromises Three-Fifths Compromise - slaves count as 3/5 during census Congress could regulate foreign and interstate commerce but not tax exports
- 14. Executive Branch Single President Electoral College - special electors to choose president (equal to number of members of Congress)
- 15. Ratifying Constitution Anti-federalists - opposed to strong central gov’t Federalists - supported Constitution - Hamilton, Madison, John Jay wrote Federalist Papers to convince people to ratify - promised Bill of Rights to appease Ratified in1788, Washington elected president in 1789
- 16. END OF NOTES that was a lot of notes