Magruder's American Government: 2. The Beginnings of American Government

The colonists also brought with them the idea that government is restricted in what it may do. This concept is called limited government, and it was deeply rooted in English belief and practice by the time the first English ships set sail for America.

The early English settlers carried another important concept across the Atlantic: representative government. This idea that government should serve the will of the people had also been developing in England for several centuries.

The Magna Carta included guarantees of such fundamental rights as trial by jury and due process of law (protection against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property).

In 1628, when Charles I asked Parliament for more money in taxes, Parliament refused until he agreed to sign the Petition of Right.

In 1689, after years of revolt and turmoil, Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary of Orange. The events surrounding their ascent to the throne are known as the Glorious Revolution.

Each colony was established on the basis of a charter, a written grant of authority from the king.

The lower house of a bicameral (two-house) legislature was elected by those property owners qualified to vote.

By 1775, there were three proprietary colonies: Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. These colonies were organized by a proprietor, a person to whom the king had made a grant of land.

In Pennsylvania, the legislature was a unicameral body.

In 1643, the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven, and Connecticut settlements formed the New England Confederation, a “league of friendship” for defense against Native American tribes.

In his plan, Franklin proposed the creation of an annual congress of delegates from each of the 13 colonies.

That body would have the power to raise military and naval forces, make war and peace with the Native Americans, regulate trade with them, tax, and collect customs duties.

The most common features were the principles of popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights and liberties, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

The ratification of each of the 13 States was needed first. Eleven States approved the document within a year.

The delegates who attended the Philadelphia Convention, known as the Framers of the Constitution, included many outstanding individuals.

The delegates who were present met until the 25th, when a quorum of the States was finally on hand.

They could veto acts passed by Congress, but a veto could be overridden by the two houses.

Before they would agree to the commerce power, the southerners insisted on certain protections. So, according to the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise, Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any State.

The Federalists stressed the weaknesses of the Articles. They argued that the many difficulties facing the Republic could be overcome only by the creation of a new government based on the Constitution.