American Government and Politics –
Summary
Elise Nizette
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Revolutionary War ............................................................................. 3
Thirteen Colonies ........................................................................................................................ 3
Timeline to Declaration of Freedom .............................................................................................. 3
British reaction to Articles of Confederation .................................................................................. 8
Ar#cles of Confedera#on and Perpetual Union ................................................................................. 9
Chapter 2 – The Constitution .............................................................................. 11
The Confederation to the Constitution ........................................................................................ 11
The Constitution ........................................................................................................................ 13
Chapter 3 – On Federalism ................................................................................. 17
Chapter 4 – Separation of Power......................................................................... 21
Background/Doctrine................................................................................................................. 21
Checks and Balances ................................................................................................................ 22
Legislative Supremacy ............................................................................................................... 22
Judicial Review .......................................................................................................................... 22
List of Checks and Balances ...................................................................................................... 23
Chapter 5 – The Legislative Branch ..................................................................... 25
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 25
The US House of Representatives ............................................................................................... 25
The Senate ................................................................................................................................ 26
Powers of Congress ................................................................................................................... 27
Law making process .................................................................................................................. 29
Chapter 6 – The Executive Branch....................................................................... 31
Powers ...................................................................................................................................... 31
Chapter 7 – The Judicial Branch .......................................................................... 33
Federal Courts System ............................................................................................................... 33
Supreme Court .......................................................................................................................... 34
'Coordination with the political branch?' ..................................................................................... 36
Chapter 8 – History of Civil Rights ....................................................................... 37
Missouri Compromise and expansion to the west ........................................................................ 37
1860 Presidential elections: Lincoln wins Republican nomination ................................................ 38
Reconstruction .......................................................................................................................... 39
Case rulings .............................................................................................................................. 41
Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 42
Chapter 9 – Foreign Policy .................................................................................. 45
Pennsylvania Avenue Diplomacy ................................................................................................ 45
Structural relationship in five key areas of foreign policy politics................................................... 45
Executive branch Politics ........................................................................................................... 51
Chapter 10 – Foreign Policy 1796-1945 ................................................................ 53
Washington Farewell Address, 1796 ........................................................................................... 53
1
, Louisiana Purchase, 1803 .......................................................................................................... 53
War of 1812 ............................................................................................................................... 53
Monroe Doctrine, 1823 .............................................................................................................. 54
Oregon Territory (1846), Annexation of Texas, Mexican War, Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1845-
1848) ........................................................................................................................................ 54
Mahan: The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1890 ............................................................... 55
Spanish-American War, 1898 ..................................................................................................... 55
Roosevelt Corollary, 1904 .......................................................................................................... 56
US Entry into World War I, 1917 .................................................................................................. 57
Wilson's Fourteen Points, 1918................................................................................................... 57
Paris Peace Conference, Treaty of Versailles (1919), League of Nations ........................................ 58
Kellogg-Briand-Pact, 1928 .......................................................................................................... 58
Stimson Doctrine ....................................................................................................................... 58
Neutrality Acts ........................................................................................................................... 59
Japan, China and the US, 1937-41 .............................................................................................. 59
Internationalism ........................................................................................................................ 60
Atlantic Conference & Charter, August, 1941 .............................................................................. 60
Wartime Conferences, 1943-45 .................................................................................................. 61
Bretton Woods, July 1-22, 1944................................................................................................... 62
Chapter 11 – Foreign Policy since 1945 ............................................................... 63
George F Kennan: 'X-article' (Foreign Afairs) ............................................................................... 63
Truman Doctrine, 1947............................................................................................................... 63
Marshall Plan............................................................................................................................. 63
NSC-68 ..................................................................................................................................... 64
Suez Crisis, 1956 ....................................................................................................................... 64
Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957 ........................................................................................................ 65
Kennedy Doctrine, 1961 ............................................................................................................. 65
Johnson Doctrine....................................................................................................................... 66
US and the Vietnam War ............................................................................................................ 66
Nixon Doctrine, 1969 ................................................................................................................. 67
'Nixon Shock' ............................................................................................................................. 68
Reproachment with China, 1972 ................................................................................................ 68
Jimmy Carter and Human Rights................................................................................................. 68
Carter Doctrine, 1980 ................................................................................................................ 69
Reagan Doctrine, 1985 ............................................................................................................... 69
Clinton Doctrine ........................................................................................................................ 70
Bush Doctrine ........................................................................................................................... 70
Obama Doctrine ........................................................................................................................ 71
Trump Doctrine.......................................................................................................................... 71
Biden Doctrine .......................................................................................................................... 72
2
,Chapter 1 – Revolutionary War
Thirteen Colonies
• Three kinds of colonies
o The New England Colonies (New Hampshire, Massachusse<s, Rhode Island,
Connec?cut)
o The Middle Colonies (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware = former Nieuw
Nederland)
o The Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)
• Bri?sh America, all belong to Great Britain (also the Floridas, the Caribbean, present-day
Canada)
o First one, Virginia, founded in Jamestown 1607
o Mercan?lism: state wants to foster its own economy by s?mula?ng export, more
export than import
Timeline to Declaration of Freedom
• 17th Century
o 1643-1684: The United Colonies of New England / New England Confedera/on
o 1660 Restora?on King Charles II
• Restora?on of monarchy
• King wanted to streamline the rule on the colonies much more, more control
§ Monarchy did not like what was happening in the colonies
• Murderer of King Charles I fled to North America and were
protected there
• Naviga?on acts
§ Britain controlled economic rela?ons between mainland and
colonies
§ Colonies couldn't trade with others
• Mercan?lism
o 1686-1689: Dominion of England (picture in next slide)
• Appointed royal governor for more control
• Strict governing and rule of England
o 1689: Glorious Revolu?on
• New dynasty installed since colonies didn't like strict governing
• 18th Century
o 7-year war
• French and Indian Wars
§ France had a lot of territory in North America
§ War between France & Great Britain: 7 year war (1956-1963)
• Not only in Europe but also other con?nents (first world
war)
§ French had a lot of allies in na?ve Americans
• Albany Congress
§ Idea of thirteen colonies to work together
§ How can we defend ourselves much be<er, how do we make a
defense colony against the French troops and their allies
• Albany Plan of Union --> Grand Council
• Benjamin Franklin (founding father of America) ar?cle in Pennsylvania
Gaze<e: cartoon 'Join or Die'
3
, § Every part of the snake stands for a colonie, you should come
together and make a whole otherwise you will die
§ Should be 2 members for each colonie (American federalism?)
§ Was rejected by colonies because they did not want to make a
council, wanted to keep their economy and were afraid of a central
government
o Timeline
• 1758 Louisburg
§ French fortress conquered by English
• 1759 Fall of Québec (New France) --> 1763 Treaty of Paris
§ Beginning of end of French power in colonies
§ Treaty of Paris as end of 7 years war
§ Excep?on of New Orleans, but all other territory to England
• 1763 Pon?ac's War
§ Some na?ve American tribes made an alliance and fought the
English but were defeated
• Proclama?on of 1763 (King George III)
§ The territory west of Appalachian mountains now in English hands
§ He closed this territory for se<lment since situa?on was not yet
secure there
§ Some colonies wanted to expand to this territory but was forbidden
for security reasons
• Angered colonies
o Aner 7 years war, Bri?sh hada lot of debts but wanted the colonies to help pay them
off, so tax system
• Bri?sh Prime Minister George Grenville
• Sugar Act 1764
§ New tax on molasses
§ Substances arrived from sugar beets (rum)
• Stamp act 1765
§ Tax on legal documents (news papers, property documents)
§ Must be printed on watermarked paper by England
§ <--> 'no taxa?on without representa?on'
• Not decided by colonies with their consens so they were
mad
o October 1765, New York City Stamp Act Congress
• Colonies representa?ves came together against new taxes
§ They are English, but they are not represented
§ Declara/on of Rights and Grievances
§ Pe??ons to King George III
• Answer of England
§ 1766 March 18: The Parliament repeals the Stamp Act, but
Declaratory Act: denied the claims of American assemblies to ‘the
sole and exclusive right of imposing du?es and taxes in the colonies’.
The Bri?sh Parliament asserts through the act the ‘full power and
authority to make laws and statutes’ within the colonies ‘in all cases
whatsoever’
§ Townshend Acts
• England did not give up right to tax
§ Writs of assistance
4
Summary
Elise Nizette
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Revolutionary War ............................................................................. 3
Thirteen Colonies ........................................................................................................................ 3
Timeline to Declaration of Freedom .............................................................................................. 3
British reaction to Articles of Confederation .................................................................................. 8
Ar#cles of Confedera#on and Perpetual Union ................................................................................. 9
Chapter 2 – The Constitution .............................................................................. 11
The Confederation to the Constitution ........................................................................................ 11
The Constitution ........................................................................................................................ 13
Chapter 3 – On Federalism ................................................................................. 17
Chapter 4 – Separation of Power......................................................................... 21
Background/Doctrine................................................................................................................. 21
Checks and Balances ................................................................................................................ 22
Legislative Supremacy ............................................................................................................... 22
Judicial Review .......................................................................................................................... 22
List of Checks and Balances ...................................................................................................... 23
Chapter 5 – The Legislative Branch ..................................................................... 25
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 25
The US House of Representatives ............................................................................................... 25
The Senate ................................................................................................................................ 26
Powers of Congress ................................................................................................................... 27
Law making process .................................................................................................................. 29
Chapter 6 – The Executive Branch....................................................................... 31
Powers ...................................................................................................................................... 31
Chapter 7 – The Judicial Branch .......................................................................... 33
Federal Courts System ............................................................................................................... 33
Supreme Court .......................................................................................................................... 34
'Coordination with the political branch?' ..................................................................................... 36
Chapter 8 – History of Civil Rights ....................................................................... 37
Missouri Compromise and expansion to the west ........................................................................ 37
1860 Presidential elections: Lincoln wins Republican nomination ................................................ 38
Reconstruction .......................................................................................................................... 39
Case rulings .............................................................................................................................. 41
Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 42
Chapter 9 – Foreign Policy .................................................................................. 45
Pennsylvania Avenue Diplomacy ................................................................................................ 45
Structural relationship in five key areas of foreign policy politics................................................... 45
Executive branch Politics ........................................................................................................... 51
Chapter 10 – Foreign Policy 1796-1945 ................................................................ 53
Washington Farewell Address, 1796 ........................................................................................... 53
1
, Louisiana Purchase, 1803 .......................................................................................................... 53
War of 1812 ............................................................................................................................... 53
Monroe Doctrine, 1823 .............................................................................................................. 54
Oregon Territory (1846), Annexation of Texas, Mexican War, Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1845-
1848) ........................................................................................................................................ 54
Mahan: The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1890 ............................................................... 55
Spanish-American War, 1898 ..................................................................................................... 55
Roosevelt Corollary, 1904 .......................................................................................................... 56
US Entry into World War I, 1917 .................................................................................................. 57
Wilson's Fourteen Points, 1918................................................................................................... 57
Paris Peace Conference, Treaty of Versailles (1919), League of Nations ........................................ 58
Kellogg-Briand-Pact, 1928 .......................................................................................................... 58
Stimson Doctrine ....................................................................................................................... 58
Neutrality Acts ........................................................................................................................... 59
Japan, China and the US, 1937-41 .............................................................................................. 59
Internationalism ........................................................................................................................ 60
Atlantic Conference & Charter, August, 1941 .............................................................................. 60
Wartime Conferences, 1943-45 .................................................................................................. 61
Bretton Woods, July 1-22, 1944................................................................................................... 62
Chapter 11 – Foreign Policy since 1945 ............................................................... 63
George F Kennan: 'X-article' (Foreign Afairs) ............................................................................... 63
Truman Doctrine, 1947............................................................................................................... 63
Marshall Plan............................................................................................................................. 63
NSC-68 ..................................................................................................................................... 64
Suez Crisis, 1956 ....................................................................................................................... 64
Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957 ........................................................................................................ 65
Kennedy Doctrine, 1961 ............................................................................................................. 65
Johnson Doctrine....................................................................................................................... 66
US and the Vietnam War ............................................................................................................ 66
Nixon Doctrine, 1969 ................................................................................................................. 67
'Nixon Shock' ............................................................................................................................. 68
Reproachment with China, 1972 ................................................................................................ 68
Jimmy Carter and Human Rights................................................................................................. 68
Carter Doctrine, 1980 ................................................................................................................ 69
Reagan Doctrine, 1985 ............................................................................................................... 69
Clinton Doctrine ........................................................................................................................ 70
Bush Doctrine ........................................................................................................................... 70
Obama Doctrine ........................................................................................................................ 71
Trump Doctrine.......................................................................................................................... 71
Biden Doctrine .......................................................................................................................... 72
2
,Chapter 1 – Revolutionary War
Thirteen Colonies
• Three kinds of colonies
o The New England Colonies (New Hampshire, Massachusse<s, Rhode Island,
Connec?cut)
o The Middle Colonies (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware = former Nieuw
Nederland)
o The Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)
• Bri?sh America, all belong to Great Britain (also the Floridas, the Caribbean, present-day
Canada)
o First one, Virginia, founded in Jamestown 1607
o Mercan?lism: state wants to foster its own economy by s?mula?ng export, more
export than import
Timeline to Declaration of Freedom
• 17th Century
o 1643-1684: The United Colonies of New England / New England Confedera/on
o 1660 Restora?on King Charles II
• Restora?on of monarchy
• King wanted to streamline the rule on the colonies much more, more control
§ Monarchy did not like what was happening in the colonies
• Murderer of King Charles I fled to North America and were
protected there
• Naviga?on acts
§ Britain controlled economic rela?ons between mainland and
colonies
§ Colonies couldn't trade with others
• Mercan?lism
o 1686-1689: Dominion of England (picture in next slide)
• Appointed royal governor for more control
• Strict governing and rule of England
o 1689: Glorious Revolu?on
• New dynasty installed since colonies didn't like strict governing
• 18th Century
o 7-year war
• French and Indian Wars
§ France had a lot of territory in North America
§ War between France & Great Britain: 7 year war (1956-1963)
• Not only in Europe but also other con?nents (first world
war)
§ French had a lot of allies in na?ve Americans
• Albany Congress
§ Idea of thirteen colonies to work together
§ How can we defend ourselves much be<er, how do we make a
defense colony against the French troops and their allies
• Albany Plan of Union --> Grand Council
• Benjamin Franklin (founding father of America) ar?cle in Pennsylvania
Gaze<e: cartoon 'Join or Die'
3
, § Every part of the snake stands for a colonie, you should come
together and make a whole otherwise you will die
§ Should be 2 members for each colonie (American federalism?)
§ Was rejected by colonies because they did not want to make a
council, wanted to keep their economy and were afraid of a central
government
o Timeline
• 1758 Louisburg
§ French fortress conquered by English
• 1759 Fall of Québec (New France) --> 1763 Treaty of Paris
§ Beginning of end of French power in colonies
§ Treaty of Paris as end of 7 years war
§ Excep?on of New Orleans, but all other territory to England
• 1763 Pon?ac's War
§ Some na?ve American tribes made an alliance and fought the
English but were defeated
• Proclama?on of 1763 (King George III)
§ The territory west of Appalachian mountains now in English hands
§ He closed this territory for se<lment since situa?on was not yet
secure there
§ Some colonies wanted to expand to this territory but was forbidden
for security reasons
• Angered colonies
o Aner 7 years war, Bri?sh hada lot of debts but wanted the colonies to help pay them
off, so tax system
• Bri?sh Prime Minister George Grenville
• Sugar Act 1764
§ New tax on molasses
§ Substances arrived from sugar beets (rum)
• Stamp act 1765
§ Tax on legal documents (news papers, property documents)
§ Must be printed on watermarked paper by England
§ <--> 'no taxa?on without representa?on'
• Not decided by colonies with their consens so they were
mad
o October 1765, New York City Stamp Act Congress
• Colonies representa?ves came together against new taxes
§ They are English, but they are not represented
§ Declara/on of Rights and Grievances
§ Pe??ons to King George III
• Answer of England
§ 1766 March 18: The Parliament repeals the Stamp Act, but
Declaratory Act: denied the claims of American assemblies to ‘the
sole and exclusive right of imposing du?es and taxes in the colonies’.
The Bri?sh Parliament asserts through the act the ‘full power and
authority to make laws and statutes’ within the colonies ‘in all cases
whatsoever’
§ Townshend Acts
• England did not give up right to tax
§ Writs of assistance
4
