Influences of US Government

Roman Republic (458 B.C.)

Jan 1, 1200

~Cincinnatus showed Civic Virtue.
*~Individual Rights: Personal liberties and privileges.
~Cincinnatus believed in:
-Civic Virtue: citizens enjoy being citizens without dictators or fame.
-Common Welfare: The basic good of the communitiy.

John Locke

Nov 12, 1632

~Founded the Founders
~John Locke believed everyone should have:
-Natural Rights
-The Government should protect thoughs rights
-Social Compact/Contract: The Government has to protect the citizens Natural Rights, but only if the citizens obey the governments laws.
-State of Nature: He thought people would think that Natural Rights was where they lived in a land with no government or laws.
*~Limited Government: Where the government's powers are limited.

Montesquieu

Apr 3, 1689

*~Republicanism: People exercise their power by voting for their political representatives.
~Montesquieu believed:
-The Powers of the Branches should be seperated but balanced.
*-Seperation: No one branch is given all the power
*-Balanced: But the powers are balanced so no one branch can't take over the others.
*~Limited Government: Everyone must obey the laws
*~Popluar Sovereignty: A government in which the people rule
*~Checks and balances: Each branch is as powerful as antoher.

Articles of Confederation

Mar 1, 1781

~In the Articles of Confederation, the powers were split between the Congress and the States. The states had more power.
~Powers to Congress:
-Make Laws
-Declare War
-Make Peace/Treaties
-Make Money
~Powers to States:
-Tax
-Inforce laws

Problems with the Articles

Sep 11, 1786

The main problem of the Articles of Confederation was this:
The states had more power than congress, so they couldn't pay off their debt.

First Political Parties

Nov 19, 1786

~Federalists
-Let by Alexander Hamiltion
-Favored strong Federal Government
-Believed in a strong economy based on manufacturing a trade
~Democ

Philadelphia Convention

May 25, 1787

~The Philadelphia Convention is also called the Constitutional Convention.

Constitution

Sep 17, 1787

~September 17, 1787 was the year the Constitution was ratified.
~The Constitution says that the government is split into three branches:
-Legislative Branch
-Executive Branch
-Judicial Branch

Ratification Process

Sep 17, 1787

~Ratification: to aprove
~Main Idea: Nine of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.
~Why does it matter to us now?
-The approval of the Constitution started a new plan of government which we still use today.

Washington's Presidency

Apr 30, 1789

~Washington was the first President of the US
~The Cabinent Positions
-Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
-Secretary of War/Defence: Henry Knox
-Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
-Attorney General: Edmund Randolph

Foreign Issues

Jul 14, 1789

~Securing NW Territories
-Spain
-English
~The French Revolution
-Financial Crisis
-Inspired by the American Revolution
-French Government vs. There Citizens
~Remaining Neutral
-British and the United States

Arguments over Constitutional Interpretation

Nov 19, 1791

~Disagreements were over building the National Bank
-Alexander Hamiltion and Thomas Jefferson argued over the National bank
~Hamiltion:
*Believed in "loose" interpretation of the Constitution
*Hamilton believed that Congress could create it
*Allowed Congress a lot of power to run gov.
*Believed in a strong National Gov.
~Jefferson:
*Thought since the Constitution didn't say we should build a National Bank word for word.

Domestic Issues

Nov 19, 1794

~Securing the Northwest Territory
-FromThe Native Americans
-Creeks and Choctaws
~Battle of Fallen Timbers
~Whiskey Rebellion