PPT01: Foundations Of American Democracy Pt. I PDF

PPT01: Foundations of American Democracy Pt. I IN CHAT: Was violence necessary in the US Revolution? Explain Why / Why not? American Independence and Early National Government “State of Nature”: Earliest humans lived in a state of nature. No superior authority. No Government. Anarchy: Absence of...

PPT01: Foundations of American Democracy Pt. I IN CHAT: Was violence necessary in the US Revolution? Explain Why / Why not? American Independence and Early National Government “State of Nature”: Earliest humans lived in a state of nature. No superior authority. No Government. Anarchy: Absence of government power, each individual is sovereign. Sovereignty: Supreme or ultimate political power.  What might be good about living in a “state of nature”and what would be bad? American Independence and Early National Government Social Contract: Agreement between citizens and government. Citizens give up some rights with the expectation that the government will protect them. Monarchy: Divine Right. Ruler appointed by god. Absolute power to maintain order. Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan  What might be good about living in an absolute monarchy and what would be bad?  The Road to Revolution King George III & Parliament Pass Taxes England’s treasury was depleted after a series of wars. “No Taxation Without Representation” Virtual Representation: American Colonists did not have a representative like citizens in England but Parliament said it represented colonist’s interests. Colonists Rights were taken away: Press, Speech, and free assembly. Olive Branch Treaty: Last chance for peace with colonies  King George III Response to Olive Branch Treaty  Influence of Enlightenment Thought John Locke and Natural Rights: The idea that everyone is born with rights that were given in the state of nature: Life, Liberty and Property. Jean Jacques Rousseau: Popular Sovereignty - People have ultimate ruling authority. England broke the Social contract by not protecting colonists’ natural rights. Republicanism: A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people  Three Kinds of Representative Democracies Participatory Democracy: People vote directly for laws and other matters rather than voting for a representative to do so. Initiative Petitions. Pluralist Democracy: Non Governmental groups organize to try and influence political decision-making. Interest Groups. Elite Democracy: Elected representatives make decisions for the people. - Delegates: Do what the People Want - Trustee: Do what you think is best for the people despite what they want.  IN THE CHAT: Do you want a politician to do what you want or to just do what they think is best? Why? Declaration of Independence : Legal and moral justification for revolution. 1.Enlightenment ideas in the D.O.I.? 2.Anything Hypocritical about the D.O.I.?  IN THE CHAT: Today do all people have natural rights (Life, liberty, POH)? Why or Why not? Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Unicameral legislature Created first form of government during No president Revolution: Articles of No national court Confederation Congress strictly limited This document and No power to tax, government was regulate commerce, unsuccessful and only lasted inhibited foreign trade, a few years and development of a Established government strong national dominated by states because economy the creators feared strong Could not compel states national government to do anything What is wrong with giving each state sovereignty?  Articles of Confederation The Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Shay’s Rebellion: Revolutionary War Veterans demanded financial ease, force government to print money. Massachusetts had to raise a small army. No central military. FEDERALIST PAPERS: 10: Factions 51: Separation of Powers ANTI FEDERALIST PAPERS: 1: Reasons to not ratify  OR IN THE CHAT What are some ways Brutus No. 1 believes a strong central government will be too powerful? BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO CONSTITUTION IN THE CHAT: How is the Constitution different than the Articles of Confederation