Roots of American government
The founders built a new government from English traditions, Enlightenment ideas, and hard lessons learned under British rule.
Ideas behind the Revolution
John Locke argued that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that government rests on the consent of the governed. If a government violates those rights, the people may replace it. The Declaration of Independence of 1776 echoed these ideas, listing grievances against King George III and declaring the colonies free.
Forms of government
In a direct democracy citizens vote on laws themselves. In a representative democracy, or republic, citizens elect officials to make laws. The United States is a representative democracy. Political scientists also debate who really governs: elite theory says a small wealthy group holds real power, while pluralist theory says many competing groups share influence.
The Articles of Confederation
The first national government, under the Articles of Confederation (ratified 1781), was deliberately weak. Congress could not tax, regulate trade between states, or raise an army directly, and changing the Articles required all thirteen states to agree. Shays' Rebellion in 1786-87, an uprising of indebted Massachusetts farmers, convinced many leaders that a stronger national government was needed.
Flashcard
Rights people hold by nature, not granted by government
Check your understanding
Under the Articles of Confederation, why was the national government unable to pay its debts easily?