U.S.
GOVERNMENT
TAXATION
WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION
• 1763 restrictions and taxes on the colonies in America..
Colonists objected to all these measures, but the
Stamp Act sparked the greatest organized resistance.
The main issue: Taxation without representation
• In October 1765, 27 delegates from nine colonies met in
New York to coordinate efforts to get the Stamp Act
repealed. They passed resolutions asserting the
individual colonies’ right to impose their own taxes.
• Radicals try to keep controversy alive- they want
independence.
• Boston Tea Party- Dec 16th, 1773
• Townshend Acts (Intolerable Acts)
• First Continental Congress 1774
REVOLUTIONARY
WAR
• The Revolutionary War began on April 19th,
1775.
• Thomas Paine -attacked the idea of a
hereditary monarchy. Paine presented two
alternatives for America: continued submission
under a tyrannical king and outworn system of
government, or liberty and happiness as a selfsufficient, independent republic.
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
• Summer 1776 Philadelphia- Second
Continental Congress
• Thomas Jefferson along with a committee
drafted the declaration
• The document was adopted on July 4th, 1776.
• Using French and British political ideas,
especially those of John Locke, this document
created a new philosophy on human freedom
• America was still not free until the war ended
on April 15th, 1783.
13 COLONIES: NOW
WHAT?
•
•
•
•
Articles of Confederation
No common currency
No national military force
No central government: no tax
collection and little foreign policy
CONVENTION IN
PHILADELPHIA
• May 1787
• 55 delegates
• Threw out the Articles of
Confederation
• New government based on
separation of legislative, executive,
and judicial powers
ACTIVITY
The colonists had the rare opportunity in
history to create any type of government
they wanted. Take a moment with your
partner to discuss what you would put in
your government if you had this same
opportunity. Explain your choices.
QUESTIONS
FOR DEBATE
• Strong central (Federalists) versus
strong state government (AntiFederalists)
• Popular Election versus Election only by
“educated” individuals
• Equal representation versus
representation based on size
• Slavery
• Number of states allowed in
COMPROMISE
The national government would have full
power to issue currency, levy taxes, grant
patents, conduct foreign policy, maintain
an army, establish post offices, and wage
war. And it would have three equal
branches — a congress, a president, and a
court system — with balanced powers and
checks against each other’s actions.
THE CONSTITUTION
Article One is about the Congress. Article One tells who may
become a representative, and who may become a senator. It tells
all the powers that Congress has. It tells things that the Congress
may not do. It tells what the states may not do.
Article Two is about the President and the Executive Branch of
government. It tells who may become President and vice
president. It tells the powers of the president. It tells how the
President will be elected. Part of Article II was later changed to
make the election system work better. It tells what will happen if
the President dies or cannot do his job. It tells the duties and
powers of the President. It tells how Congress can remove a
president or vice president if they commit any serious crimes.
Article Three is about the court system of the United States. It
tells who appoints judges and how long they may serve. It tells
what kinds of cases the Supreme Court may try.
Article Four tells how the states are related. It tells how new states
may become part of the United States. It guarantees a republican
form of government to all states. (A government in which the
leaders are chosen by the voters.) It guarantees that the federal
government will protect all of the states against any enemy.
Article Five tells how Congress and the states may change the
Constitution by adding amendments.
Article Six tells that the United States will pay its debts. It tells that
the Constitution will be the Supreme Law of the Land. All the judges
in all of the states must use the Constitution to decide cases in law.
Article Seven tells how the states can ratify (agree to) the
Constitution.
George Washington was President of the Convention. He signed the
Constitution. Thirty-eight delegates from 12 states also signed it on
September 17, 1787. This date is now called Constitution Day. Eleven
states soon ratified the Constitution. Two more states ratified the
Constitution after the Bill of Rights was added.
BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT
JUDICIARY SYSTEM
• Constitution states that the judiciary power of the
United States “be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such
inferior courts as Congress may from time to time ordain and
establish”
Supreme Court
Appeals Court
District Courts
• Chief Justice – John J. Roberts Jr.
• Associate Justices- Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy,
Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer,
Samuel Anthony Alito Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan,
EXECUTIVE SYSTEM
• President(Barack Obama)- Head of state, head of
government, and Commander in Chief of the armed
forces
–Cabinet (heads of 15 departments)
–CIA
–EPA
• Vice President (Joe Biden)
–Be ready to take over as President
–Preside over Senate
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CONGRESS
• Senate- 100 members (2 from each state)
– Approve appointments made by President (though
House must also approve appointments to Vice
Presidency)
– Ratify treaties (though House must also approve
any treaty involving foreign trade)
• House of Representatives (435 members) divided among 50
states depending on their population + 6 non-voting members
from Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa,
and U.S. Virgin Islands
– Speaker of the House (3rd in line for Presidency)
– Powers: initiate revenue bills, impeach federal
officials, and elect the President in the case of an
electoral college tie
CHECKS AND BALANCES