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Unit 4: Section 1: Constitution - Coggle Diagram
Unit 4: Section 1: Constitution
Unit 4: Section 1: Constitution
History of the USA
The American Character
The concept of
liberalism
is the foundation of the US political system
Belief that
anyone
can be successful (migrants were poor, some became rich)
Willing to take risks eg
immigration
to the "New World", travelling to the West to start a new life
The Native Americans
10 million people in over 200 tribes
By 1865 only 300,000 remained as many forced of their land or died from diseases brought by colonists
The Declaration of Independence
Philadelphia 10th May 1775:
Congress...
Sent a document called the Olive Branch Petition to King George III to see if their differences could be settled once and for all
Created an army and appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief (just in case!)
This was done with the aims of declaring America
independent
immediately and
avoiding war
at all costs
King George III refused to even read the document, and so Britain and America were officially at war.
1775-1783
14th July 1776: 13 American colonies joined together to form the USA and declare themselves independent from Britain
Stopped paying taxes to Britain and no longer recognised Britain as being in charge
Britain sent troops to fight them in a war. France, Spain and the Netherlands took sides with America and eventually Britain gave up at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781
Thomas Jefferson
Wealthy man who worked in the Virginia House of Burgesses (legislative body) as silent member unanimously decided to prepare a draft of the DUI alone
Believed in:
the seperation of church and state
the colonies had the right to overthrow a tyrannical government
Features of the DOI
Citizenship
- inalienable rights, not subject to a monarch
Representation
- of US citizens of an independent country not subject to monarchy and Empire, decisions taken by Americans for Americans
Equality and self-determination
- Americans have the right to belong to a state of their own making as there's no privilege of birth
Limited purpose of government
- protect rights of citizens
Sovereignty of the people
- ultimate authority rests with the people who can dissolve any government that fails to fulfil its role
Sovereignty of individual states
- free and independent but acting together for mutual benefit
Statement of individual freedom
- national self-determination
Founding document
- established right of American people to govern themselves
The Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights: the first ten ammendments to the Constitution that link to personal freedom and rights
The 10 Amendments
Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition
Guarantees basic rights; freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly
Debates such as those concerning prayers in state schools, pornography on the internet, flag burning and press censorship all centre upon 1st Amendment rights
Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms
Protection from quartering of troops
Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
Due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain
Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel
Civil trial by jury
Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution
Powers of States and people
Federalism
Federalism: a theory of government by which political power is divided between a national government and state governments, each having their own area of jurisdiction
Why is federalism not mentioned in the constitution?
It is implied throughout the Constitution.
For example ... the division of government into three distinct groups ... the President is Commander-in-Chief ... Congress raises taxes etc.
Power is dispersed and checked and balanced
Powers
Delegated to national government
declare war
create and maintain armed forces
establish foreign policy
regulate interstate and foreign trade
make copyright and patent laws
establish postal offices
coin money
Reserved to states
establish local governments
establish and maintain schools
regulate trade within states
conduct elections
provide for public safety
Delegated to national government and reserved to states
raise taxes
provide for the public welfare
criminal justice
borrow money
charter banks
build roads
Why has the role of the federal government increased?
Expansion – from the 13 colonies up and down the Atlantic Coast, settlement spread all the way to the Pacific Coast.
Population growth – the population grew from just under 4 million (1790) to approx 330 million.
Industrialisation – this needed government regulation
The Great Depression (1929) – the states looked to the federal government for a answer to the problems. They did not have the necessary resources to deal with the consequences however, the federal government did. Eg. Roosevelt’s New Deal
Foreign Policy – with the break out of WW2 – USA became a superpower – increased role – exclusive jurisdiction over foreign policy
Phases of federalism
Dual federalism
First 150 years of the USA (1780s – 1920s)
The main focus was on states rights – federal government was limited to mainly issues on money, war and peace. ‘layer-cake’ federalism.
Co-operative federalism
(1930s -1960s)
This was caused by the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression – The role of the federal government increased – more departments were introduced eg. health, welfare, education with more federal schemes and grants. ‘Marble-cake federalism.
New federalism
(final three decades of the 20th century)
This era saw a rise in grants from the federal government to the states to use within policy areas. There was a move towards decentralisation. This came under Republican presidents (Nixon, Ford, Regan and Bush).
Federalism under George W Bush
Expected that he would continue the move towards shrinking the size of the federal government and to decentralisation HOWEVER he didn’t.
5 reasons: the Iraq War, homeland security, expansions of both Medicare and education programmes and the Wall Street and banking collapse of 2008.
Federalism under Obama
Why it was different: there was an increase in spending due to economic stimulus package 2009 and Obamacare 2010
He was widely criticised by Americans who saw his healthcare reforms as the end of federalism and even socialist
Federalism under Trump
Trump tried to make the states subservient by trying to end state lockdowns during covid and policies towards illegal immigrants and 'sanctuary cities'
Federalism under Biden
Response to Roe vs Wade overturn - June 2022
Biden - “The Court has done what it has never done before: expressly take away a constitutional right that is so fundamental to so many Americans that had already been recognised"
Response to COVID-19 pandemic
Federal Reserve stepped in to keep credit flowing to limit the economic damage from the pandemic inc. lending to support households, employers, financial market participants, and state and local governments.
Response to school shootings - May 2022 Uvalde, Texas - Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a law passed, June 2022. It implemented several changes to mental health system, school safety programs, and gun safety laws.
