ANGLAIS CPGE - M.Delaby
Fiches culturelles
CHAPITRE 1
HISTOIRE DE LA CONSTITUTION DES ETATS UNIS At the beginning of the 17th century two major movements settled in the New World, to develop commerce with England. A chart of conduct was quickly drafted to organize society and preserve the peace there. The first enfranchised men enabled a representation system in local meetings. Direct democracy was born in America. In most of the 13 colonies the system was similar; with a clear separation between executive / legislative / judicial power (checks and balances to guarantee surveillance of each power) and a bicameral system of two houses for the legislative one. MILESTONES - 1606 : King James’s Charter to establish a colony (Virginia Company of London) - 1607 : first landing in Jamestown, Virginia - 1620 : Pilgrim Fathers land in New England, permanent settlement. - Establishment of the Mayflower Compact, a charter for a Civil Body Politic. Local councils, elections guarantee a new form of democracy. - 1679 : Habeas Corpus (individual liberties)
Gradually difficulties appeared, particularly with the British government, since autonomy became commonplace in more and more commercial areas. New acts were imposed between 1760 and 1775, which were the fuel for protests and a claim for independence. The Boston Tea Party (May 1773) epitomizes this case, as it stirred the revolutionary spirit of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).
- 1763 : restrictions from England on the colonies : trade, taxation, movement
Congresses in Philadelphia gathered the grievances of the protestors, among whom many Presidents to come. In 1777, the first articles were published for a Confederation of States, with unfortunate shortcomings
- 1765 - 1767 : Stamp Act, revoked because of protests, Townshend Acts (tax on imports/exports)
and limits. Under America’s first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, the national government was weak and states operated like independent countries with only one chamber of Parliament. But in 1787 the Continental Congress completed a new Constitution, ratified by all States in 1790.
- 1770 : The Boston Massacre - 1773 : Boston Tea Party. Series of laws seen as punitive measures stir the revolution atmosphere - 1774-75 : Continental Congresses in Philadelphia. - 1776 : interruption of all bonds with the Crown. declaration of Independence on July 4th. - 1777 : Articles for the Confederation and Perpetual Union, ratified 1781
The two diverging trends are about the autonomy of each state, or on the contrary a strong central government. Originally, The new U.S. Constitution established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, presided over by George Washington. Also at the 1787 convention, delegates devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches along with a similar system of checks and balances (mutual control). But still, a bill of rights lacked. James Madison then proposed that the lower chamber would be elected by the people, and the upper one by the representatives of the lower. VIDEOS : http://www.history.com/topics/constitution
- 1787 : Continental Congress, new constitution ratified 1790. two diverging trends : federalists and AntiFederalists.
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