Week 2: Origins of the Presidency

In week 2, we examined the three basic forms of government identified by Aristotle (384-322 BC) and how these forms were modified by the British national government and the American colonies. Events leading up to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were highlighted to include: the Continental Congresses, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation, French and American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, peace with England and the Treaty of Paris.  During the Constitutional Convention, three proposals to select a president were considered and seven times the method was changed. Finally, the  indirect election method was chosen in which popular sentiment could be expressed by voting for intermediaries called presidential electors which were to be chosen by states in a manner designated by each state legislature.  During the period from the drafting and the proposed federal Constitution in 1787 to its ratification in 1789, there was an intense debate on ratification in the colonies and the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist papers played an important role in debating how this new government would operate and why this form of government was the best choice for the United States of America. A copy of the handout used in Class 2 and homework assignment can be found on the right hand side of the blog. To answer the homework assignment, you can use the Useful Links found on the bottom right of this blog. Next week we will look at the Evolution of the Presidential Office.