CIVICS IN PRACTICE

HOLT

Chapter 2

Foundations of Government
Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:

Why Americans Have Governments

The First Government
A New Constitution

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

The Main Idea
Government plays an essential role in every country. A
countrys government affects the lives of its people.
Often, it affects people around the world.
Reading Focus
What are two main types of government?
What are the purposes of government?
How does the U.S. government guarantee freedom to
its citizens?
2

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Governments are influenced by:

The peoples beliefs and the countrys history
Dictators or absolute monarchs with

authoritarian power
Ceremonial monarchs with separate governing
bodies
The rule of the people in a democracy
3

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Types of Governments

Characteristics of Governments

Democracy

People rule directly or indirectly

Direct
Representative
Monarchy

All voters make decisions together.

People elect representatives.
Ruled by a king or queen

Absolute

Monarchs have total control.

Dictatorship

A person or small group has

absolute power and does not answer
to the people.
HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Democracies
There is no absolute ruler or absolute ruling

body
The people rule directly (direct democracy) or
through elected officials (representative
democracy or republic).
5

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Roles of Government
Provides a means for cooperation and unity among

people
Enables groups of people to achieve large goals
Provides protection, security, transportation,
monetary assistance, education, and health related
services
Provides laws and a Constitution
6

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 2: The First U.S. Government

The Main Idea
The American ideals that people should rule themselves and that
government should protect human rights are clearly set forth
in the Declaration of Independence.
Reading Focus
Why is the Declaration of Independence so important?
What were the Articles of Confederation, and what were their
weaknesses?
What was the effect of a weak national government on the
United States?
7

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 2: The First U.S. Government

The Declaration of Independence

Upholds the philosophy on which the United

States is based
Is a statement of the American ideals
Declares that the purpose of government is to
protect human rights
Stresses equality among individuals
8

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 2: The First U.S. Government

Limitations of the Articles of the Confederation:
Congress had difficulty passing important measures.
There was no executive branch to ensure that new laws would be

carried out.
There were no national courts to interpret the laws and uphold them.
A unanimous vote was required to make changes to the Articles of the
Confederation.
There was no money to pay for expenses or services.
Each state regulated its own trade and had its own currency.
Conflicts between the states and Congress developed.

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 2: The First U.S. Government

difficult to pass
laws because
9 out of 13
states approval
was needed

no judicial
branch to
interpret
laws

10

difficult to change Articles

because unanimous vote was
needed

WEAKNESSES OF
THE ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION

no executive branch
to enforce
laws

lacked
power to
collect
taxes

HOLT, RINEHART

no means to
regulate
trade with
foreign
countries

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 2: The First U.S. Government

Effects of a weak national government:

Had no power to operate effectively or settle

disputes
The country lacked a national identity.
The states quarreled over boundary lines and
trade.
The country looked weak to other nations.
11

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 3: A New Constitution

The Main Idea
The framers of the U.S. Constitution drew upon a history of
democratic ideals while developing a document that would
establish a new, stronger federal government.
Reading Focus
What historical principles of government influenced the
delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
How did the U.S. government become stronger under the
Constitution?
How did the viewpoints of Federalists and Antifederalists
differ, and how were these differences resolved?
12

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 3: A New Constitution

Principles of Great Britains government

that influenced the delegates:
Magna Cartafree people cannot be arrested without a

trial by jury of their peers; Parliaments rights are

protected; English citizens only judged by English laws
English Bill of Rightsright to petition a change of
laws; right to a fair punishment
Parliamentary governmenta bicameral body; a prime
minister administers the government and can be replaced
by a majority vote
13

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 3: A New Constitution

The U.S. government became

stronger under the Constitution.
A federal system was established.
Powers included the coining and printing of

money, raising armed forces, trade

regulations, and levying taxes.
Provisions for an executive and a judicial
branch were established.
14

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 3: A New Constitution

A STRONGER U.S.
GOVERNMENT

Powers of the National

Government
Print money
Raise armed forces
Regulate trade
Set taxes

15

Powers Dealing with Laws

Provide a president to carry
out the countrys laws
Establish the Supreme Court
and other national courts to
interpret laws

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Section 3: A New Constitution

Differences among Federalists and

Antifederalists:
Federalistsstrong national government would

keep the country united

Antifederalistsstrong national government
would not protect the peoples freedoms and
would take power from the states
A bill of rights was proposed to outline the rights
of the people under the Constitution.
16

HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT

Chapter 2 Wrap-Up

17

1. Whataretwoofthemajorfactorsthatshape
acountrysgovernment?
2. Howareademocracyandothertypesof
governmentsdifferent?
3. WhatwerethekeypurposesoftheDeclarationof
Independence?
4. Whatweresomeoftheproblemsthecountryfaced
afterindependencewasdeclared?
5. InwhatwaysdidthecolonistsEnglishpolitical
heritageinfluenceAmericanideasaboutgovernment
andindividualrights?
6. WhatwastheoutcomeoftheConstitutionalConvention?
7. WhatweretheargumentsoftheFederalistsand
Antifederalists?
HOLT, RINEHART

AND

WINSTON