Pols 1337 1st Edition Lecture 1 Current LectureConstitutional Beginnings and Declaration of Independence- DOI signed during the Second Continental Congress meeting in July 4, 1776- Lists grievances to British king (King George III)- Christopher Columbus sails to South America (1492) in hopes top find transatlantic path to Asia- Columbus funded by Spanish monarch - Newly found Americas were soon colonized by British, French, and Spanish- SpainMexico- France Canada and US- Seeing that the Spanish monarchy generated wealth from the Americas, the British crown also expected wealth from the colonies it sent out to the Americas- Due to distance and cut-off in communication, local response was necessitated and created- Colonies grew autonomous- Up to 1750, British financial problems caused an increase in tax revenues from Northern American Colonies- Resistance from higher taxes, along with autonomous attitude, led to political tension between colonies and Great Britain- Resistance and tension led to Declaration of IndependencePost-Revolutionary War- First colonial government :Articles of Confederation- Articles of Confederation were weak due to the fact that it resided most powers to the state, instead of the national governmentThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Under the AoC, national government did not have authority to levy taxes and form a national militia- States formed currency (exchange rates bet. States)- Police violence and state-conflict tension- AoC weakness led to the formation of the Constitution in 1787Constitution- Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1777- Created as an upgrade from Articles of Confederation- Concerns: -ratification was opposed by Anti-Federalists due to fear of tyranny in central government ( reflective of British Monarchy)- Ratification helped by The Federalist Papers, which highlighted benefits of new Constitution Balances concerns of large population states with bicameral(two house) legislature: Senate has 2 seats per state while House seats are based on population- Representation is a mixture of Virginia and New Jersey plan (also called Connecticut Plan)- Slave import banned in 1808- Slaves counted as 3/5 of a vote in House Seats- Bill of Rights created to establish basic citizen rights and limit central government powers. Ratification of Constitution was only possible if Bill of Rights accompanied