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Chapter 1�What do we know about our government?

  • Question:
    • Should a government be limited in its power over the people?

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    • Or…

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    • Should a government have unlimited power over the people?

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        • Let’s take a trip….

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1774

  • Boston, MA
    • King George has just signed the Intolerable Acts into law
      • Intended to raise revenue to help pay for colonial governments
        • Other measures had been tried
          • Tea Act
          • Sugar Act

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    • Problem:
      • The colonists did not have a say in the passing of the laws….
        • What happens next?

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American Revolution

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1776-1789

  • Articles of Confederation
    • Established no real central government to govern all colonies
        • No Executive Branch
        • No Judicial Branch
        • Congress could not force states to follow “national” laws
          • Including following national tax system

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    • Each state had right to govern their own area
        • Only obligation: had to have a democratic style government

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        • So what happens next?

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Signing of the U.S. Constitution

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1861-1865

  • Civil War
    • What was this really about?
      • Federal government wanted to make a law that protected “all” citizens freedom
        • Including slaves…

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      • Southern States felt that government “had gotten too large”
        • Separated and began their own government based on confederacy
          • Very similar to AOC

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          • What happens next?

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Confederacy Fails to Survive

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Let’s fast forward a bit…

  • 1930
    • Roaring 1920’s comes to an end..
      • Stock Market just crashed a few months ago…
        • Unemployment is reaching 20%
        • Banks are closing
        • Farmers can’t pay their bills
        • Pres. Hoover (R) says government must stay out of the economy

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        • Called laissez-faire capitalism
          • Economic system works independent without government intervention

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          • So what happens next?

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FDR passes his New Deal…

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1960’s

  • Election of 1960
    • JFK (D) demands government to regulate education
      • Why?
        • To keep up with the Russians.

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    • 1964
      • LBJ (D) signs Civil Rights Act
        • Ensuring equal rights to all Americans
          • Begins “Great Society”
          • Government agencies grow 150% in next 4 years

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          • So what happens next?

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Social Unrest for 2 Decades

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Recent American Politics

  • 1980’s
    • Limited government with Ronald Reagan (R)

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  • 1990’s
    • Governmental growth with Bill Clinton (D)

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  • 2000’s
    • Limited government with George W. Bush (R)

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  • 2008 – present
    • Governmental growth with Barack Obama (D)

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So what does this mean?

  • It means we change our minds… a lot.
  • Usually depends on which groups in society want to be active in politics.
    • Why be active?
      • To bring change.

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    • Why doesn’t everyone doesn’t get involved?
      • Political efficacy
        • Belief in the ability of a citizen to influence government and politics
          • Not everyone has it…obviously

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Political Efficacy: Yes or No?

  • 1776
    • Boston Merchants?
    • British loyalists?

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  • 1861
    • Southern slave owners?
    • Abolitionists?

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  • 1930’s
    • Upper Class Americans?
    • Everyone else?

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  • 1960’s
    • African Americans?
    • College Students?

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Goal of American Politics

  • To ensure the members of its society:
    • Have an advanced education
    • Be informed on day to day politics
      • Called citizenship

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  • To keep members of its society:
    • From being uneducated
    • Living private lives away from politics
      • Called idiotes…aka idiots!

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Any Questions?