Why do we (Americans) have Government?
-helping people cooperate
-providing services
-providing laws
-guaranteeing freedom
Anarchy
no government
Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson (took many ideas from English philosopher John Locke)
When did delegates sign and pledge "their lives, fortunes and sacred honor"?
July 4th, 1776
When was the Articles of Confederation signed and what was it?
1781; -1st plan of government or constitution
What is a confederation?
limited national power; more power for the individual states
weakness: limited national power, no national courts, no national taxes
What are the three branches of government?
-executive
-judicial
legislature
Executive branch
-president
Legislative branch
-set taxes, pass treaties, raise army, print money
Judicial
-interprets laws by legislative
6 goals of the Constitution
1. to form a more perfect union
2. establish justice
3. insure domestic tranquility
4. provide for the common defense
5. promote general welfare
6. secure the blessings of liberty
completion of Constitution
-completed in 1787 but had to be ratified by 9 out of 13 states
-supporters were federalists
-ratified in 1788
the Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do