GOV 310L Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Stamp Act Congress, Tea Act, Supremacy Clause
Gov Chapter 2 Notes 9/4/16
● First National Election
○ When the Constitution was first proposed, people were skeptical about
it
○ Federalists were for the Constitution, Anti-Federalists were not
■ Anti- Federalists said that the Constitution would violate
states’ and individual rights
■ Federalists said the the new government system would resolve
economic problems and help in foreign diplomacy. Also would
help resolve Revolutionary War debt
● Colonial and Revolutionary Era
○ Colonial Experience with Democracy
■ Sir Walter Raleigh failed to establish a permanent colony, but
he did name the territory Virginia
■ The Virginia Company later established Jamestown, and the
first self-representative assembly
■ Virginia became a royal colony, governed by king’s
representative with assembly’s advice
■ Small groups of Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, who
believed that king’s divine right is wrong
■ Pilgrims thought they should govern themselves
● Considered beginning of democratic experiment in
America
■ Pilgrims signed Mayflower Compact, a document which gave
their express consent to be governed
○ Governance of the Colonies
■ Many colonies were organized as proprietary colonies,
governed by either an English noble or a company
■ Colonies were founded for many reasons, mostly religious
freedom
■ Both proprietary and royal colonies, power was divided
between governor and 2 chamber legislature
● Colonial assembly was lower chamber, elected by male
property owners
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● Colonial council was upper chamber, selected by British
officials based on governor's recommendation
■ Governor’s maintained power by means of patronage power -
power to hand out jobs and benefits
■ Assemblies held power to levy taxes, and eventually Colonial
assemblies’ power grew, while colonial council’s power
withered
○ Voting Qualifications
■ Many restrictions allowed only select male property owners to
vote
○ Spread of Democracy Ideals in Revolutionary War
■ Taxes led to dissent of British, and independence among
colonials
○ Taxation without Representation
■ British imposed Stamp Act, which upset the colonials because
tax was enacted without representation of colony citizens
■ Led to the Stamp Act Congress, first political organization that
brought leaders from colonies for common purpose
■ Huge outbreak of revolt led to organizations of rebellion and
anarchy
■ Patriots organized Boston Tea Party as a result of Tea Act,
which led to severe punishment of Boston’s privileges
○ Continental Congress
■ Patriots organized 1st Continental Congress to boycott British
goods and start training men and stockpiling weapons
○ Theory of Rights and Representation
■ Ideals of self-government came into full throttle and that in
place of divine right stood 3 principles that influenced the
constitution
● Government arises from the consent of the governed
● Power should be divided among separate institutions
● Citizen rights must be protected
○ Consent of the Governed
■ Thomas Hobbes said that government keeps people civilized
and out of chaos
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
When the constitution was first proposed, people were skeptical about it. Federalists were for the constitution, anti-federalists were not. Anti- federalists said that the constitution would violate states" and individual rights. Federalists said the the new government system would resolve economic problems and help in foreign diplomacy. Sir walter raleigh failed to establish a permanent colony, but he did name the territory virginia. The virginia company later established jamestown, and the first self-representative assembly. Virginia became a royal colony, governed by king"s representative with assembly"s advice. Small groups of pilgrims landed in massachusetts, who believed that king"s divine right is wrong. Pilgrims signed mayflower compact, a document which gave their express consent to be governed. Many colonies were organized as proprietary colonies, governed by either an english noble or a company. Colonies were founded for many reasons, mostly religious freedom. Both proprietary and royal colonies, power was divided between governor and 2 chamber legislature.
