Unit 2 - Constitutional Foundations (1763-1824)
The Road to Revolution
It is during these times that the term Salutary Neglect is associated with the British government and their rule over the colonies. This handout covers the terminology and events during the period before 1775. The political dominance of the British crown, seen in an overview of Mercantilism in North America led to a lack of rights and subsequent unrest in the colonies and the events that took place are seen in the Milestones in early American history chart. With the Four Wars fought by the mother country, the need for colonial support was evident. The Imperial wars and colonial protest handout, the Imperial wars map, and an illustrative French and Indian War map cover the start of social unrest and the demand for more rights. Benjamin Franklin called for the Albany Plan of the Union to take place. Despite its failure, it is best known for his famous Join or Die cartoon.
The ideas of the Enlightenment, shown in the Enlightenment Ideas about Government chart, played a major role in the American Revolution but there were also key events that led up to the war. The Boston Massacre picture presentation and the Boston Tea Party tell of the hostilities in the colonies. A presentation on the American Revolution helps explain the Olive Branch Petition and the Declaration of Independence.
The Road to Revolution
It is during these times that the term Salutary Neglect is associated with the British government and their rule over the colonies. This handout covers the terminology and events during the period before 1775. The political dominance of the British crown, seen in an overview of Mercantilism in North America led to a lack of rights and subsequent unrest in the colonies and the events that took place are seen in the Milestones in early American history chart. With the Four Wars fought by the mother country, the need for colonial support was evident. The Imperial wars and colonial protest handout, the Imperial wars map, and an illustrative French and Indian War map cover the start of social unrest and the demand for more rights. Benjamin Franklin called for the Albany Plan of the Union to take place. Despite its failure, it is best known for his famous Join or Die cartoon.
The ideas of the Enlightenment, shown in the Enlightenment Ideas about Government chart, played a major role in the American Revolution but there were also key events that led up to the war. The Boston Massacre picture presentation and the Boston Tea Party tell of the hostilities in the colonies. A presentation on the American Revolution helps explain the Olive Branch Petition and the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Paine, an Englishman who moved to the colonies to gain wealth, wrote the famous pamphlet which is the focus of the lesson on Common Sense, which is accompanied by the Common Sense extract short lesson with questions. The Paine versus Dickinson argument assignment was created to show both sides of the story.
The Battle of Bunker Hill in pictures and maps starts the American Revolution but the need for a new government during the war is shown in the Articles of Confederation presentation. I have also created a short handout on the successes and failures of the Articles of Confederation (handout) that also briefly covers The Land Ordinance of 1785, The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and a comparison chart of the Articles of Confederation versus the changes made with the Constitution of the United States of America.
The American Revolution will end with a decisive colonial victory and is seen by a British cartoon on the Battle of Yorktown.
The Battle of Bunker Hill in pictures and maps starts the American Revolution but the need for a new government during the war is shown in the Articles of Confederation presentation. I have also created a short handout on the successes and failures of the Articles of Confederation (handout) that also briefly covers The Land Ordinance of 1785, The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and a comparison chart of the Articles of Confederation versus the changes made with the Constitution of the United States of America.
The American Revolution will end with a decisive colonial victory and is seen by a British cartoon on the Battle of Yorktown.
The creation of our Government
The Constitutional Convention was the instrumental meeting of fifty-five men in Philadelphia who changed the American political system by creating the Constitution of the United States of America. The difference between these two political systems can be seen in the document that compares the Articles of Confederation versus the Constitution. Once completed, the Constitution had to be ratified and to assist in the process, newspaper articles were published and two such letters are the focus of the Federalist No. 10 extract and the Federalist No. 51 extract. What would happen would be a divide in political thinking between Federalist and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution and this chart identifies their beliefs and philosophies towards the role of government.
During Ratification the political group known as Anti-Federalists demanded that the Constitution be changed as it did not include the needs of society. What was created later in New York were the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. What they specifically cover is best seen in my Bill of Rights presentation. Very few changes have been made since 1787, in fact there have only been Twenty Seven Amendments to the Constitution.
How the present government works in America is seen by studying the Structure and Function of Government lesson and comparing this unique system to other different types of governments and economic systems. Vocabulary is essential to understanding the government and the following is a list of important government terminology. To conclude this section on our government I have add three important items: A table of House and Senate Differences, the Electoral College System handout an the How the Electoral College System works presentation.
The Constitutional Convention was the instrumental meeting of fifty-five men in Philadelphia who changed the American political system by creating the Constitution of the United States of America. The difference between these two political systems can be seen in the document that compares the Articles of Confederation versus the Constitution. Once completed, the Constitution had to be ratified and to assist in the process, newspaper articles were published and two such letters are the focus of the Federalist No. 10 extract and the Federalist No. 51 extract. What would happen would be a divide in political thinking between Federalist and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution and this chart identifies their beliefs and philosophies towards the role of government.
During Ratification the political group known as Anti-Federalists demanded that the Constitution be changed as it did not include the needs of society. What was created later in New York were the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. What they specifically cover is best seen in my Bill of Rights presentation. Very few changes have been made since 1787, in fact there have only been Twenty Seven Amendments to the Constitution.
How the present government works in America is seen by studying the Structure and Function of Government lesson and comparing this unique system to other different types of governments and economic systems. Vocabulary is essential to understanding the government and the following is a list of important government terminology. To conclude this section on our government I have add three important items: A table of House and Senate Differences, the Electoral College System handout an the How the Electoral College System works presentation.
There were several major changes within the United States government resulting from the ratification of the Constitution. The Supreme Court of the United States had been created under the Constitution but it did not fully preside until the case of Marbury v. Madison was presented for a decision. What was to be created from this case was the term "Judicial Review." Open the case of Marbury v. Madison and read the text and the elements of the case. It will become a landmark case in United States history and a precedent for future Supreme Court cases.
The second and third major issues again involved Alexander Hamilton and the creation of a National Bank. This would be a highly controversial issue that would eventually lead to the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland that took place in 1819.
As the nation was politically divided, the mergence of political parties came about and the following chart covers the two main parties of the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, each column identifying their opinions on national matters. Another example of the broad interpretation of the Constitution under Article I, Section 8, can be seen with the Supreme Court case of Gibbons v. Ogden. In this case the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall, again expanded the powers of the national government.
Special Assignment: Open the "Landmark Supreme Court cases" link for Gibbons v. Ogden, read the details of the case and answer the key questions that follow. be prepared to hand in your answers.
The second and third major issues again involved Alexander Hamilton and the creation of a National Bank. This would be a highly controversial issue that would eventually lead to the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland that took place in 1819.
As the nation was politically divided, the mergence of political parties came about and the following chart covers the two main parties of the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, each column identifying their opinions on national matters. Another example of the broad interpretation of the Constitution under Article I, Section 8, can be seen with the Supreme Court case of Gibbons v. Ogden. In this case the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall, again expanded the powers of the national government.
Special Assignment: Open the "Landmark Supreme Court cases" link for Gibbons v. Ogden, read the details of the case and answer the key questions that follow. be prepared to hand in your answers.