Questions 1. When was our state constitution adopted? What was the ratifying vote? How many constitutions have we had in all? Have any proposed constitutions ever been rejected? 2. How may our constitution be amended? How many amend ments have been adopted for the present constitution? To what do they refer ? Were any submitted to the voters at the last election? If so, were they adopted or rejected? 3. Make a list of the important statutes in the constitution. 4. Is the bill of rights in our constitution long or short? What provisions of the United States Constitution are copied ? 5. Give the provisions regarding religious freedom, freedom of speech, and right in trials. Name any important rights given in the constitution, but not mentioned in this chapter. PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNORS, AND GUESTS Probably the most notable group of United States Statesmen ever photographed First row, seated, left to right Senator Newlands Governor Harris of Ohio Governor Hughes of New York Andrew Carnegie William J. Bryan James J. Hill President Roosevelt Vice President Fairbanks Mr. Justice Harland Mr. Justice Brewer Mr. Justice White Mr. Justice McKenna Mr. Justice Holmes Mr. Justice Day Mr. Justice Moody General Mackenzie, Second row, standing, left to right Governor Post of Porto Rico Governor Proctor of Vermont Governor Fort of New Jersey Governor Blanchard of Louisiana Governor Burke of North Dakota Governor Folk of Missouri Governor Woodruff of Connecticut Governor Deneen of Illinois Governor Comer of Alabama Governor Brooks of Wyoming Governor Buchtel of Colorado Governor Gooding of Idaho Third row, standing, left to right Chief of Engineers of Army Governor Ansel of South Carolina Governor Lea of Delaware Governor Dawson of West Virginia PART II THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CHAPTER XIV THE BEGINNINGS OF UNION We Conditions ment. 172. The Development of our National Government. cannot have a national government without a united people to be gov- affecting its erned. There was in consequence no national government in America developduring the colonial period, because the colonies were separate from one another. During the Revolutionary War, a central government for the union of the new States became necessary to raise armies, obtain money, and look after foreign affairs, but the government was not truly national. It was only in 1787, when the present Constitution of the United States was proposed by a convention at Philadelphia, and ratified by conventions in the States, that a national government was formed, which has grown more powerful and more useful to the Nation as the people have become more united. TEMPORARY UNIONS BEFORE 1781 Channing, 173. Colonial Unions. In colonial times, the chief cause of New Engunion among the colonies was a fear of the Indian tribes. In 1643 the land Confederation. four little New England colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven-none of which covered as much as two thousand square miles of settled territory — organized The New England Confederation for mutual defense against the Dutch and the Student's Hist., Indians. The central government was nothing more than an advisory body, composed of two commissioners from each colony. It was expressly forbidden to interfere with the government of the colonies, and had only power to suggest how much money and how many men were needed for intercolonial protection. This Confederation, which nominally lasted about forty years, was able to accomplish very little, but showed the colonies that by uniting they might render one another valuable help in time of need. During the wars that the English were obliged to wage with the French settlements in Canada and around the Great Lakes, several congresses were held to devise plans for attack or defense. The most §§ 72, 73. Frothing ham, Rise of the Republic, 39-43. Albany plan of Union (1754). |