POLS 206 American National Government Megan K Dyer September 9 2014 Overview Today 1 The Colonial Background 2 Political Ideas social contract The Declaration of Independence 3 The Articles of Confederation Problems of the Articles revising the Articles The Colonial Background History v Political Science Colonial history Focus of British control Discretion of colonial governments French and Indian War 1754 1763 Chipping in The Colonial Background Increasing English control Direct taxes from Parliament Tightening enforcement of trade restrictions New taxes as a dangerous precedent The Colonial Background 1763 1776 Increase in English control fuels public debate over the nature of government and representation Political Ideas Enlightenment thought Intellectual debate over the nature of gov t representation and civil society had been occurring for over 100 years Political Ideas Anger with England spurred debate over several key ideas Including 1 Why government forms 2 The nature of representation in gov t 3 Whether sovereign power has any limits Political Ideas 1 Why government forms John Locke s social contract theory a Human beings have natural rights to life liberty and property b People consent to be governed to help secure their natural rights Political Ideas Locke s social contract theory con t c Gov t is legitimate as long as it protects its subjects natural rights d BUT governments that violate the social contract by infringing on natural rights lose legitimacy right to rebel Political Ideas 2 The nature of representation in gov t Government protects property What about taxes No taxation without representation Aside tax bills Political Ideas 3 Whether sovereign power has any limits Gov t has a specific purpose Is authorized by popular consent Can be dissolved if it violates people s natural rights Political Ideas Broad agreement Legitimate gov t is 1 Created for a specific purpose by the consent of the people 2 To some degree representative 3 Limited The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence borrows HEAVILY from Locke s theory see Table 2 1 p 39 We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness That to secure these rights Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness Aside happiness The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence a polemic lists grievances against the King justifies the colonies rebellion Does the Declaration say What is DOES say The Declaration of Independence Ideas in practice How to design rules institutions of gov t that will protect rights Institutional design Articles of Confederation The government that failed The Articles of Confederation 1781 1789 written by the Continental Congress shortly after Declaration Articles of Confederation Features of the Articles Decentralized system a firm league of friendship National gov t with limited powers States retained most powers effectively controlled the nat l gov t Articles of Confederation Notable institutional features of the Articles 1 One state one vote regardless of population 2 Super majority 9 out of 13 states required for most gov t action 3 UNANIMOUS consent needed to tax citizens or to amend Articles 4 Congress had to request money from the states 5 No independent executive Problems with this form of gov t Problems of the Articles Analogy The United Nations Similar problems 1 States not sending money to Congress Paying for national defense was a free rider problem 2 No national gov t supremacy Only has the authority the states give it Problems of the Articles Problems con t 3 Difficult to pass anything Supermajority requirements Aside RI Problems of the Articles Problems highlighted by 2 big issues The economy Foreign relations Problems of the Articles Economic problems mid 1780 s depression Large national debt money owed to army weak currency Falling food prices hurt farmers States start putting up tolls and import taxes Problems of the Articles Foreign relations issues could not effectively negotiate treaties British still not quite gone Problems of the Articles The proverbial straw Shays Rebellion 1786 Revolt of farmers upset about foreclosures arrests for debt Shays forces march on a MA gov t arsenal How is the rebellion put down What does this demonstrate Problems of the Articles 1787 states send delegates to a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia Except RI Purpose of the Convention was to REVISE the Articles Instructions were largely ignored Aside Unanimity Revising the Articles Who attended Economic and political elite Notably present absent Revising the Articles What did most broadly agree on Human nature Political conflict Purpose of government Nature of government power Revising the Articles What kinds of institutions Wanted stronger national government b c of exp with the Articles Yet feared a central government that was too strong Feared both anarchy and tyranny Revising the Articles Goal improve the national delivery of public goods Nat l defense public tranquility law order flow of commerce Too many free rider problems under the Articles Goal protect local interests Practical issue Differences among the states Wrap up Can a free republic exist in so large a territory Designing rules institutions Implicit comparison Gov t under the Articles Gov t under the U S Constitution