Slide 1OverviewThe Colonial BackgroundThe Colonial BackgroundThe Colonial BackgroundPolitical IdeasPolitical IdeasPolitical IdeasPolitical IdeasPolitical IdeasPolitical IdeasPolitical IdeasThe Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of IndependenceArticles of ConfederationArticles of ConfederationArticles of ConfederationProblems of the ArticlesProblems of the ArticlesProblems of the ArticlesProblems of the ArticlesProblems of the ArticlesProblems of the ArticlesProblems of the Articles“Revising” the Articles“Revising” the Articles“Revising” the Articles“Revising” the ArticlesWrap-upPOLS 206: American National GovernmentMegan K. Dyer September 9, 2014OverviewToday:1. The Colonial Background2. Political Ideas•social contract•The Declaration of Independence3. The Articles of Confederation•Problems of the Articles•“revising” the ArticlesThe Colonial BackgroundHistory v. Political ScienceColonial history•Focus of British control•Discretion of colonial governmentsFrench and Indian War (1754-1763)“Chipping in”The Colonial BackgroundIncreasing English control•Direct taxes from Parliament•Tightening enforcement of trade restrictionsNew taxes as a dangerous precedentThe Colonial Background1763-1776: Increase in English control fuels public debate over the nature of government and representation.Political IdeasEnlightenment thought•Intellectual debate over the nature of gov’t, representation, and civil society had been occurring for over 100 years.Political IdeasAnger with England spurred debate over several key ideas.Including:1. Why government forms2. The nature of representation in gov’t3. Whether sovereign power has any limitsPolitical Ideas1. Why government forms:John Locke’s social contract theory:a. Human beings have natural rights to life, liberty, and propertyb. People consent to be governed to help secure their natural rights.Political IdeasLocke’s social contract theory, con’t:c. Gov’t is legitimate as long as it protects its subjects’ natural rightsd. BUT governments that violate the social contract by infringing on natural rights lose legitimacy.• right to rebelPolitical Ideas2. The nature of representation in gov’t:•Government protects property•What about taxes?“No taxation without representation”•Aside: tax billsPolitical Ideas3. 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 rightsPolitical IdeasBroad agreementLegitimate gov’t is:1. Created for a specific purpose by the consent of the people2. To some degree representative3. Limited!The Declaration of IndependenceThe 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 IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence•a polemic •lists grievances against the King•justifies the colonies’ rebellion.Does the Declaration say….What is DOES sayThe Declaration of IndependenceIdeas in practice:•How to design rules & institutions of gov’t that will protect rights?Institutional designArticles of ConfederationThe government that failed•The Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)•written by the Continental Congress shortly after DeclarationArticles of ConfederationFeatures 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’tArticles of ConfederationNotable 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 action3. UNANIMOUS consent needed to tax citizens or to amend Articles4. Congress had to request money from the states5. No independent executiveProblems with this form of gov’t?Problems of the ArticlesAnalogy: The United NationsSimilar problems1. 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 itProblems of the ArticlesProblems, con’t.3. Difficult to pass anything•Supermajority requirements•Aside: RIProblems of the ArticlesProblems highlighted by 2 big issues:•The economy•Foreign relationsProblems of the ArticlesEconomic 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 taxesProblems of the ArticlesForeign relations issues:•could not effectively negotiate treaties•British still not quite goneProblems of the ArticlesThe “proverbial straw”Shays’ Rebellion (1786)•Revolt of farmers upset about foreclosures & arrests for debt•Shays’ forces march on a MA gov’t arsenalHow is the rebellion put down?What does this demonstrate?Problems of the Articles1787 - 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 ArticlesWho attended?•Economic and political elite•Notably present/absent“Revising” the ArticlesWhat did most broadly agree on?•Human nature•Political conflict•Purpose of government•Nature of government power“Revising” the ArticlesWhat kinds of institutions?•Wanted stronger national government b/c of exp. with the Articles•Yet feared a central government that was too strongFeared both anarchy and tyranny“Revising” the ArticlesGoal: improve the national delivery of public goods•Nat’l defense, public tranquility (law & order), flow of commerce•Too many free-rider problems under the