1. Thursday, September 15, 2009
Agree Disagree 1. The town Agree Disagree
____ ____ was the center ____ ____
of society in New England towns.
____ ____ 2. Many Africans ____ _____
Immigration in the 1700’s
caused the demand for wheat to decrease.

2. Friday, January, 15, 2010
Agree Disagree 1. Locke, Agree Disagree
Rousseau,
and Montesquieu were important
to the creation of the U.S. government.

3. AHSGE Chapter 3
The United States Government
Magna Carta – document written in
1215 that stated a king’s power was not
absolute.
 John Locke – English
philosopher who believed
the government should get
it’s power from the people.

4. Jacques Rousseau – French philosopher
who believed the right to rule should
come from the people and not a king.
 Wrote the Social Contract Theory (there
should be an agreement between the people
and the government that limits the rights and
duties of each.) Thomas Jefferson used this
philosophy in the Declaration of
Independence.

5. Baron de Montesquieu – believed that government should
possess a legislative, executive and judicial branch.
Locke, Rousseau and Montesquieu are all part
of the Enlightenment Movement.
Great Awakening – revival of Christianity in
the American Colonies. Contributed to
a sense of American nationality and
emphasized the importance of the
individual before the Revolution.

6. House of Burgesses – first democratic
assembly in the American colonies.
Firstand Second Continental Congresses –
models for forming the United States
government.
Declaration of Independence –
A formal declaration of colonial independence.
Established general principles of human
rights.

7. Articles of Confederation
-first constitution of the United States
Congress can:
-declare war and make peace
-coin and borrow money
-establish a post office
-raise an army and navy
-make foreign treaties and alliances
-pass laws by 9 of 13
states.

8. Congress cannot:
-levy taxes
-regulate foreign or domestic
trade
-enforce any of its powers
Strengths – States retained rights, Central
government established a post office.
Weaknesses – loose bonds developed between
independent states, one vote per state, no executive
or judicial power, unanimous vote required for
amendments.
Lack of a strong National government.

9. The Constitutional Convention
Meeting held to revise the Articles of
Confederation
VirginiaPlan – representation
in Congress would be based on population.
New Jersey Plan – representation in
Congress would be based on equal
representation.

10. Great Compromise –Congress would
be divided into two houses.
Senate- upper house would have
equal representation (two senators).
House of Representatives - Lower house
would be based on population.
3/5 Compromise – decisions on how to count
slavery in the south. For every 5 slaves, 3
would count as a person.

11. United States Government Under the
Constitution
The Constitution - Supreme law
of the land. The Constitution outlines the federal
governments system of separation of powers.
Federalism – the dividing of power
between the national and state
governments. This power is shared
between the national and state governments.
Constitutionalism – government where power is
divided among various groups but all obey a
system of laws.

12. Three Branches of Government
Legislative – Congress makes the laws.
Executive – the President carries out the
laws.
Judicial- Supreme Court interprets or
explains the laws.
Checks and Balances – system to keep one
branch of government from becoming too
powerful.
Veto - reject or refuse.

13. Checks and Balances
Legislative Branch – May override the presidential veto.
(Congress) May remove the president from office.
May reject Supreme Court appointments.
Executive Branch – May veto bills passed by Congress.
(President) Appoint Supreme Court Justices.
May pardon federal offenders.
Judicial Branch - May rule that laws are unconstitutional.
(Supreme Court
And lower courts)

14. The Constitution
Preamble – states the purpose of
establishing a new government under
the Constitution.
ArticleI – establishes the Legislative Branch with a
two house Congress (Senate and House of
Representatives)
ArticleII – Outlines the
Executive Branch
ArticleIII – Explains the
Judicial Branch

15. Ratifying the Constitution
Ratify – to approve.
Federalists – Supporters of the
Constitution. Believed the U.S.
needed to have a strong national
government.
Anti-Federalists – opponents of the
Constitution. Believed the new national
government would be too powerful and
that states should retain more power.

16. Amending the Constitution
What must be done to amend the
Constitution? Changes can only be made
through amendments.
The Bill of Rights:
First ten amendments to the Constitution to
insure basic rights and freedoms for
American citizens. The first amendment
secured the freedom of speech, religion,
press and the right to assembly.

17. Other Important Amendments to the Constitution
13th – abolished slavery
14th – civil rights of all people born or naturalized in the United
States are guaranteed (allowed citizenship of African Americans).
15th – All male citizens have the right to
vote regardless of race or color.
Ratified during Reconstruction.
Most associated with suffragists
(women’s right to vote)
These three amendments increased the rights of
African Americans.
19th – Women are guaranteed the
right to vote.

18. The First Government Under the
Constitution
Electoral College – a group of people
representing each state.
George Washington – First president.
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of
Treasury. Federalist

19. Politics and Policies in the New Government
Elastic Clause – gives Congress the power to pass
legislation which is considers “necessary and
proper”. It stretches the power of the Constitution.
Loose Interpretation – The belief by Alexander
Hamilton that the government had more powers than
were actuality listed in the Constitution.
Strict Interpretation – The belief by Thomas
Jefferson that the government had only the powers
specifically listed in the Constitution.

20. Washington’s Farewell Address
Washington said the U.S. should stay neutral
and avoid permanent alliances with other
nations.
He advised against forming
political parties.
He believed good government
is based on religion and morality.
Every citizen should obey the Constitution.

21. Formation of Parties
Federalists – Alexander Hamilton, favored a
strong central government and a loose
interpretation of the Constitution. Power
should be with well educated people.
Democratic-Republicans – Thomas
Jefferson, favored states retaining authority
and a strict interpretation of the
Constitution. Wanted power in the hands of
the everyday people.

22. Important Cases
John Marshall – Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court. Established supremacy of the
national government over the states.
Marbury v Madison – established the right
of judicial review. The Supreme Court could
declare a law unconstitutional.
Gibbons v Ogden – Congress had the power
to regular interstate and foreign commerce.