Section 1 Articles of Confederation

• State Constitutions– Cont. Congress asked all states to organize

const.– Experience with British rule made them

cautions about abuse of power– Limited power of government

Limiting Power

• Bicameral legislatures• State legislatures more power than governor• keep power in the hands of the people not

states• Restricted power of governor

Planning a new government

• Articles of Confederation- first constitution. Limited power of govt.

• Congress could not impose taxes, regulate trade or force citizens to join army

• March 1, 1781 Articles official govt. of US

Problems

• Articles didn’t provide a strong govt.- states were hesitant to give up power

• Congress had limited authority-no president, no judicial branch, weak executive

• Pass law..9 out of 13• Amend 13 out of 13

*** Gained independence under articles and provided a new way to expand west***

New Land Policies• Ordinance of 1785- est. a way to

survey and sell the western lands- townships

• Northwest Ordinance 1787- created NW territory and carved 5 smaller territories out of it– 60,000 pop apply for statehood– Outlawed slavery– Come in on equal footing

Trouble on 2 fronts

• Financial problems- we are in debt.• Inflation, depreciated money• We could not pay our debts b/c the govt.

could not TAX

Problems with Britain and Spain

• England would not withdrawal troops from the Ohio River Valley

• Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American shipping 1784

• Articles proved that they were unable to handle problems in the country effectively

• Something had to be done~ New Government

Review

• What was our first constitution as a nation?

• What were it’s weaknesses?• What were it’s 2 strengths?• What was our economy like?

Section 2Convention and Compromise

• After Rev. war, US went thru depression– Economy bad, money worthless, no one would

trade with us as a result

• Shay’s Rebellion- farmers upset about debt, and seizure of farms to pay it

• Shay’s Rebellion showed the US that the Articles didn’t work-could not control violence

Slavery

• Plantation system in South based on Slave labor

• South feared it would ruin their economy• North abolished slavery

– Quakers led the charge against slavery

• Slavery divided the North and South• Leaders had decided articles needed to be

strengthened

Call for change

• Some thought weak govt. was good• Others thought strong govt. • Madison, Hamilton active in movement for

change proposed a convention • Needed to reform the Articles

Constitutional Convention

• May 1787, Philadelphia• Hottest summer on record• 55 delegates-leaders of Revolution present• George Washington chosen

president• Met in secret• Met to reform Articles of Confederation

Virginia Plan

• Edmund Randolf proposed, Madison author• 2 house legislature• Chief executive, chosen by legislature • Court system• Lower house elected by people,

based on population• Upper house chosen by lower• Favored large states

New Jersey Plan• One house legislature• One vote for each state no matter what the

pop.• Congress could set taxes• Congress elect weak executive branch

The great Compromise

• Delegates had to decide if they were revising Articles or writing new document

• Roger Sherman Great Compromise– 2 house legislature– House of Reps- based on population– Senate each state has 2 members

Three Fifths Compromise

• Count slaves 3/5 of a free person for taxation and representation purposes

• Every 5 slaves would equal 3 free

Slave trade

• North had banned slave trade, wanted the south to do the same

• South considered it essential to economy• North agreed that congress can’t interfere

with slave trade until 1808

Bill of Rights

• George Mason proposed the Const. have a Bill of Rights, but others said the Constitution provided adequate protection

• Proposal defeated

Constitution

• Sept. 17, 1787 delegates sign Constitution• 9 out of 13 states had to ratify

Sec 3 New Plan of Government

• Many ideas for the constitution came from European political writers

• Magna Carta 1215 limit power of govt. • English Bill of Rights • John Locke, Montesquieu-

enlightenment thinkers

•Locke everyone has natural rights

Montesquieu

• Spirit of Laws declared that powers of government should be separated and balanced

• Keep one person from gaining too much power

Federal Systemor federalism

• Sharing of powers between federal and state governments-- or federalism

• Federal govt. could– Tax– Regulate trade– Declare war

Federalism cont.

State governments– Regulate trade in borders– Est. local govt. and schools– Power to build roads and tax

• POWERS THEY SHARE– TAXING– BUILDING ROADS

Organization of Govt.

• Divided into 3 branches• Legislative- makes laws• Executive- carry out law• Judicial- interprets laws

Legislative branch

• Lawmaking branch • Congress- House of Representatives and

Senate• Powers: collect tax, coin money, declare

war, raise and support armies

Executive Branch

• Carry out laws• Headed by President• Electoral College- cast votes for president

and V.P>

Judicial Branch

• Court system• Supreme court• Lower courts

Checks and balances

• Checks and balances- 3 branches have roles that check or limit others

• One branch will not dominate• President can veto, congress can override-

example

Constitutional Debate

• 9 out of 13 needed to ratify• Federalist- supported ratification• Washington, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton• Federalist papers explaining and defending

const.

Antifederalist- wanted a Bill of Rights

Protecting rights

• Criticism of Constitution no bill of rights• Federalists feared disorder w/o strong

central govt.• Antifederalists feared oppression more than

disorder

Adopting the Constitution

Patrick Henry said it didn’t limit the power of government

By 1790 all 13 states ratified- approved

Bill of Rights promised as amendment-or to add

Constitution and Article Family• You will be comparing and contrasting the Articles vs. the Constitution

using the bodies given to you• The baby bodies will be used to write all of the powers granted under

each document in our government. 3 branches, powers of each and checks and balances.

• You will need to write branches and checks and balances and federalism and then further distribute power from there on the Constitution babies-I will explain.

• You will give me 2 checks on each branches power and 2 examples of federalism. 3 for state, 3 for federal and 3 shared powers

• Article and Constitution babies- color state powers blue and federal powers pink. Shared powers can be both colors.

• Cut out the babies and the big bodies and glue to construction paper and you have your family!

• Big bodies will be the Articles and the Constitution– Inside you will put the date in which these documents ruled us

Constitution Tree

• Constitution tree will contain the following*3 branches-duties of each branch

*Checks and balances – must have 2 checks on each branches power

*Federalism- 3 examples of federal, state and shared powers within