History of the American Government

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History of the American Government More than 200 years ago, the 13 original states approved the first constitution that united them into the United States of America. However, many things have happened before and after that which have combined to make the United States what it is today. As the New World was being settled, the original colonists who came over were mainly Englishmen. Coming in great numbers and for many different reasons, 435,000 colonists occupied the coastline of America. Up until the Revolution, the "colonists thought of themselves as Englishmen, loyal to the crown"1. They held English ideas ranging from politics to law to human rights. Holding these ideas kept the colonies loyal to their mother country for a time, and with experiencing the English government, it allowed the colonies to form the framework for the new political system. However, "once the war had ended and independence had been achieved the Revolution seemed a happy event"2. The colonists brought many new ideas with them, and along with their newly found freedom and knowledge, they created a system that belonged only to them. At first, each colony was controlled by a charter granted by the king. Among the colonies were three types, proprietary, charter, and royal. Out of the three, "charter colonies offered colonists the greatest voice in their own government"3. Furthermore, in a charter colony, the people elected their own governors, and although this was the most democratic in allowing direct representation, the colonies were still not completely autonomous. By the second half of the eighteenth century, the king was afraid of the colonies increasing independence and not wanting to lose his governmental and financial control of the ... ... middle of paper ... ...t- Comparing Political Experience (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1979), 44. 2. Arthur H. Shaffer, The Politics of History (Chicago: Precedent Publishing, 1975), 103. 3. Walter E. Volkomer, American Government (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1975), 44. 4. Gillespie, 176. 5. Gillespie, 178. 6. Gillespie, 178. 7. Gillespie, 185. 8. Gillespie, 187. 9. Gillespie, 196. Bibliography - Gillespie, Judith. American Government-Comparing Political Experience. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1979. - Hellfach, Judith C. The Future of the Government. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1977. - Sayre, Wallacem S. American Government. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1966. - Shaffer, Arthur H. The Politics of History. Chicago: Precedent Publishing, 1975. - Volkomer, Walter E. American Government. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1975.

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