CIVICS IN PRACTICE

HOLT

Chapter 2

Foundations of Government
Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:

Why Americans Have Governments

The First Government
A New Constitution

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Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

The Main Idea
Government plays an essential role in every country. A
countrys government affects the lives of its people.
Often, it affects people around the world.
Reading Focus
What are two main types of government?
What are the purposes of government?
How does the U.S. government guarantee freedom to
its citizens?
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Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

A. Two types of governments

1. Non-democratic
a. Monarchies
i. Monarchies today
b. Dictators
i. Force
ii. Oligarchy
iii. Totalitarian

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Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

A. Two types of governments

1. Non-democratic
c. Theocracy
i. Rule

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Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

A. Two types of governments

2. Democratic
a. Democracy
i. Direct democracy
ii. Representative democracy
iii. Republic

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B. Purpose of Government
1. Helping people
2. Provide services
3. Provide laws

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C. Guaranteeing Freedom
1. Structure
2. Beliefs
3. Guarantees
4. Rights

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Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Types of Governments

Characteristics of Governments

Democracy

People rule directly or indirectly

Direct
Representative
Monarchy

All voters make decisions together.

People elect representatives.
Ruled by a king or queen

Absolute

Monarchs have total control.

Dictatorship

A person or small group has

absolute power and does not answer
to the people.
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

The Main Idea
The American ideals that people should rule themselves and that
government should protect human rights are clearly set forth
in the Declaration of Independence.
Reading Focus
Why is the Declaration of Independence so important?
What were the Articles of Confederation, and what were their
weaknesses?
What was the effect of a weak national government on the
United States?
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

A. Events Towards Independence

1. No Representation
2. 1765 Stamp Act
a. No taxation without representation
b. Repealed
3. 1774 Continental Congress
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

A. Events Towards Independence

4. King George III sends troops
a. Patrick Henrys response
5. April 1775Lexington and Concord

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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

B. 1776Declaration of Independence
1. Representatives from 13 colonies meet
2. Committee members
3. Approved

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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

B. 1776Declaration of Independence

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4. Declaration and human rights

a. Statement of grievances
b. Consent of the governed
c. Human rights
d. We hold these truths
5. Ideals of American government
a. Equal rights
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

C. Articles of the Confederation:
1. Adopted in 1777
2. Approved in 1781
3. Association of separate groups
a. Firm league of friendship
b. Equal but separate
4. Limited national government
5. CongressLegislative
a. Elected by state legislatures
b. Each state given one vote
6. Preserved state sovereignty
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

D. The Need for a Change

1. Weak central government
2. States coin own money
3. Disputes with boundaries
4. Trade
5. Tax and debt
6. Decision making
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

D. The Need for a Change

7. Army
8. Executive branch
9. Laws
10. States vote
11. Weak internationally
12. Need to strengthen national government
a. Shays Rebellion
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Section 2: The First U.S. Government

difficult to pass
laws because
9 out of 13
states approval
was needed

no judicial
branch to
interpret
laws

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difficult to change Articles

because unanimous vote was
needed

WEAKNESSES OF
THE ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION

no executive branch
to enforce
laws

lacked
power to
collect
taxes

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no means to
regulate
trade with
foreign
countries

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Section 3: A New Constitution

The Main Idea
The framers of the U.S. Constitution drew upon a history of
democratic ideals while developing a document that would
establish a new, stronger federal government.
Reading Focus
What historical principles of government influenced the
delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
How did the U.S. government become stronger under the
Constitution?
How did the viewpoints of Federalists and Antifederalists
differ, and how were these differences resolved?
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Section 3: A New Constitution

A. Constitutional Convention
1. Need for a stronger central government
2. May 1787 in Philadelphia

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Section 3: A New Constitution

B. Convention and History

1. Worlds oldest document
2. Influenced by historical democratic documents

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Section 3: A New Constitution

C. British Historical Documents

1. Magna Carta
2. English Bill of Rights
3. British Parliament

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Section 3: A New Constitution

D. Other Influences
1. Mayflower Compact
2. Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau
3. Virginia statutes

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Section 3: A New Constitution

E. Need for Secrecy

1. James Madison

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Section 3: A New Constitution

F. Writing the Constitution

1. Compromiseissues
2. Federalism
a. Federalists
b. Anti-Federalists

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Section 3: A New Constitution

F. Writing the Constitution

3. Representation
a. Virginia Plan
b. New Jersey Plan
c. Connecticut Compromise (aka Great Compromise)
4. Individual Rights
a. Bill of Rights
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Section 3: A New Constitution

G. Constitution is Completed
1. September 1787
2. Ben Franklin

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Section 3: A New Constitution

A STRONGER U.S.
GOVERNMENT

Powers of the National

Government
Print money
Raise armed forces
Regulate trade
Set taxes

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Powers Dealing with Laws

Provide a president to carry
out the countrys laws
Establish the Supreme Court
and other national courts to
interpret laws

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Chapter 2 Wrap-Up

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1. Whataretwoofthemajorfactorsthatshape
acountrysgovernment?
2. Howareademocracyandothertypesof
governmentsdifferent?
3. WhatwerethekeypurposesoftheDeclarationof
Independence?
4. Whatweresomeoftheproblemsthecountryfaced
afterindependencewasdeclared?
5. InwhatwaysdidthecolonistsEnglishpolitical
heritageinfluenceAmericanideasaboutgovernment
andindividualrights?
6. WhatwastheoutcomeoftheConstitutionalConvention?
7. WhatweretheargumentsoftheFederalistsand
Antifederalists?
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