2. Magna Carta
- Great Charter
-Signed in 1215
-By King John of England
-Establishes the “rule of law”
The Magna Carta helped to limit
the power of the monarch. It
gave nobles protections such as:
-No taxation without
representation
-Trial by Jury
3. The Petition of Right - 1628
1. Monarch needs consent from
Parliament to collect taxes
2. Need just cause to imprison
people
3. No Quarter (cannot house troops
in private homes)
4. The English Bill of Rights
1. Monarchs do not have divine
right
2. Monarch cannot interfere w/
Parliament elections
3. Petition the gov’t
4. No cruel or unusual punishment
6. Content Vocabulary
• Limited Government- the power of the
monarch or government is limited by the
people.
• Representative Government- a gov’t in
which the people elect delegates to make
laws and policies.
• Separation of Powers- the power to make,
execute, and interpret laws is divided b/w
the legislature, king, and courts.
11. Stamp Act
1765
• Stamp Act laced a tax on legal documents
• Angered the Colonists
• Stamp Act Congress formed – meeting of
the colonist to discuss retaliation
14. Tea ActTea Act (1773)(1773)
8 British East India Co.:British East India Co.:
Monopoly on Br. teaMonopoly on Br. tea
imports.imports.
Many members ofMany members of
Parl. held shares.Parl. held shares.
Permitted the Co. toPermitted the Co. to
sell tea directly tosell tea directly to
cols. without col.cols. without col.
middlemenmiddlemen
(cheaper tea!)(cheaper tea!)
8 North expected theNorth expected the
cols. to eagerly choosecols. to eagerly choose
the cheaper tea.the cheaper tea.
16. The Coercive orThe Coercive or
IntolerableIntolerable
ActsActs (1774)(1774)
Lord NorthLord North
1.1. Port BillPort Bill
2.2. Government ActGovernment Act
4.4. Administration ofAdministration of
Justice ActJustice Act
3.3. New QuarteringNew Quartering
ActAct
17. First ContinentalFirst Continental
CongressCongress (1774)(1774)55 delegates from 12 colonies55 delegates from 12 colonies
AgendaAgenda How toHow to
respond to therespond to the
Coercive Acts &Coercive Acts &
the Quebec Act?the Quebec Act?
1 vote per colony1 vote per colony
represented.represented.
18. The British AreThe British Are
ComingComing . . .. . .
Paul ReverePaul Revere && William DawesWilliam Dawes make theirmake their
midnight ride to warn themidnight ride to warn the MinutemenMinutemen ofof
approaching British soldiers.approaching British soldiers.
19. The Shot HeardThe Shot Heard
’’Round the WorldRound the World!!
LexingtonLexington && ConcordConcord – April 18,1775– April 18,1775
26. Articles of Confederation
• 1781 – 1789 – First national government
of the US.
• Weak Central government with many
weaknesses
27. Articles vs. Constitution
Articles of
Confederation
Constitution
Levying taxes
Congress could request
states to pay taxes
Congress has right to
levy taxes on individuals
Federal courts
No system of federal
courts
Court system created to
deal with issues between
citizens, states
Regulation of trade
No provision to regulate
interstate trade
Congress has right to
regulate trade between
states
Executive
No executive with power.
President of U.S. merely
presided over Congress
Executive branch headed
by President who
chooses Cabinet and has
checks on power of
judiciary and legislature
Amending document
13/13 needed to amend
Articles
2/3 of both houses of
Congress plus 3/4 of
state legislatures or
national convention
Representation of states
Each state received 1
vote regardless of size
Upper house (Senate)
with 2 votes; lower house
(House of
Representatives) based
on population
Raising an army
Congress could not draft
troops, dependent on
states to contribute forces
Congress can raise an
army to deal with military
situations
Interstate commerce
No control of trade
between states
Interstate commerce
controlled by Congress
Disputes between states
Complicated system of
arbitration
Federal court system to
handle disputes
Sovereignty
Sovereignty resides in
states
Constitution the supreme
law of the land
Passing laws
9/13 needed to approve
legislation
50%+1 of both houses
plus signature of
President
28. Articles of the Confederation
• Critical Period in American history
– Laws were not enforced – No President
– Many disputes between states – No Supreme
Court
– Congress did not have enough $ for
government
– Difficult to get laws passed
– Foreign countries had little respect for US
– Almost impossible to make changes to
government
29. Critical Period
• Rebellion
– Shay’s Rebellion -Daniel Shays organized
farmers throughout New England to protest
The rebellion came to a head on January 25,
1787.
– This rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses
of the Articles of Confederation, and
convinced many states of the need for a
stronger central government.
