AMERICA POST-REVOLUTIONARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION-CONSTITUTION

The Democracy Conundrum

Direct Democracy- Citizens directly participate in political decision-making; No elected officials PROBLEM: Are masses educated enough to make

informed decisions? PROBLEM: Majority Tyranny (James Madison)

Many Americans were in favor of a Republic: Government in which citizens rule though elected representatives

Colonial fears of democracy, combined with their desire to not give 1 entity too much power resulted in Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

Est’d loose alliance between the 13 States Each state had 1 vote in Congress regardless of

population (Problem?) National Government

Declare War Sign Treaties Borrow Money Set Weights & Measures Standards Establish Postal Service

Weaknesses of Articles

What does every government need in order to function? TAXES (Congress could not enact or collect taxes) No Taxes- No infrastructure, military, etc.

9 of 13 States had to consent to pass laws All States must approve of amendments to A of C NO EXECUTIVE BRANCH- Congressional laws not enforced NO NAT’L COURT SYSTEM Lack of National Unity in a new nation with several enemies

Result: 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA

FAIR REPRESENTATION

VIRGINIA PLAN Proposed by James Madison

Called for bicameral legislature

Membership based on state’s population

More power to more populous states

NEW JERSEY PLAN Proposed by William Paterson

Single-house legislature Each state had equal

vote

More power to small states

GREAT COMPROMISE

Roger Sherman- suggested ‘Great Compromise’ Bicameral legislative branch

Each state would have equal representation in Senate

State’s population determines the amount of congressional members in House of Representatives

Legislative Appointments: H.O.R voted on by voters in state population

Senate members chosen by state legislatures (for now)

Problem: Slavery

Result: 3/5 Compromise- 3/5 of state’s slave population were counted as general pop.

AVOIDING TYRANNY

Constitutional framers leery of placing too much power in hands of single entity

Problem with A of C: No power for Federal government

Answer: Federalism: Division of power between national and state governments

Delegated Powers(Enumerated): Power granted to Nat’l Gov

Example: Foreign affairs, interstate commerce

Reserved Powers: Not specifically granted to Nat’l Gov, kept by States

Example: Education

3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Legislative Branch: Congress; create laws Executive Branch: President; execute and carry out

laws Judicial Branch: Supreme Court; interpret laws based

on constitution Checks and Balances: System that prevented any

one branch of government from controlling the other two branches

RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION

9/13 States had to Ratify, or approve, the Constitution 2 Groups emerged that made ratification difficult

Federalists: Supporters of Constitution’s balance of power between state and federal government

Antifederalists: Opposed strong central government; against Constitution

Demanded Bill of Rights due to their fear of strong central government

Believed that Constitution did not provide for protection of individual or state rights

December 1791: 10 Amendments ratified to the Constitution Known as the Bill of Rights