Chapter 5: Shaping a New Nation

Fighting the war gave the states a common goal Reluctant about a strong central government

Shaping a New Nation

Predict: What challenges might a new nation face? What might colonists want from a new

government? How much power will the government receive? Who might be left out of the new government?

Choosing a form of Government

Democracy: Government directly by the people

Republic: Government where citizens rule through their

elected representatives Why didn’t Americans create a democracy?

Placed power in the hands of uneducated masses

Republican govt: put power in the hands of capable leaders

State Constitutions

Similarties: Limited the powers of government leaders Guaranteed specific rights for citizens Liberty over equality All reflected a fear of Strong Central Government

Differences: Right to vote

Continental Congress

Met to try and draft a constitution for the states as a whole Very difficult because of disagreement in the role

of Congress

Representation

States were unequal in land, wealth & population Each state allowed one vote regardless of

population

Power

Most people assumed government could not share power

Congress proposed a new government in the Articles of Confederation

Confederation or alliance Both State & National government shared power State govt. was supreme in some cases &

National in others

Articles of Confederation

Powers: Declare war make peace sign treaties borrow $ establish a postal service deal with Natives

Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses: Created a unilateral (one house) Congress

Each state only received 1 vote

Did not create an executive dept. to enforce acts of Congress

No national court system to decide meaning of laws Unable to pass taxes No power over states No ability to raise an army No power over interstate commerce

Shays’ Rebellion 1786-87

Movement led by Daniel Shay’s in western MA Shays & other poor farmers couldn’t pay their

debt in the required hard currency Government refused appeals for help

movement turns violent January 1787- Shays & others shut down

courthouse Led people to question the strength of national

government

Annapolis Convention September 1786

After Shay’s Rebellion - it was time to talk about a stronger national government

Meeting called to discuss Articles, weaknesses & what can be done Convened as private citizens Only 5 states showed & 12 individuals

James Madison & Alexander Hamilton included Nothing is accomplished

Another meeting is called

Homework

Use your notes & pages 132-133 1. Why didn’t American create a democracy? 2. What is a republic? 3. What were the Articles of Confederation? 4. List 8 Weaknesses of the Articles. 5. Who was Daniel Shays? 6. Describe Shays Rebellion.

The Constitutional Convention

May 25, 1787

Philadelphia

Constitutional Convention

Sanction of Congress- invited all 13 States 12 States send delegates (55 in all)

Rhode Island doesn’t show Sam Adams & Patrick Henry are no shows - they

each fear strong central government PURPOSE: to revise the Articles of

Confederation Delegates want to scrap articles & start from

scratch

Convention

Two important decisions are made 1. Elect George Washington to presiding officer of

convention 2. Deliberations were held in secret

No leaks to press, No talking Don’t want to upset public , no outside influence

Convention Issues

1. Large vs. Small States 2. Weak or Strong Central Government 3. Slavery

Issue #1: Large vs. Small State

Problem #1 - How should each state be represented in government?

Suggested Solutions to Problem #1

The Virginia Plan James Madison drew up the plan He suggested that Congress be a bicameral , or two

house, legislature Made up of the House of Representatives and the

Senate Representation in the House of Representatives

would be based on the population of the state

Virginia Plan

Voters would elect members to the House Representatives in the House would select members of

the Senate Both houses would vote for the president and judges

Congress would have power to override state laws and make laws for the states Heavily populated stated favored the plan, less

populated states rejected it

Suggested Solutions to Problem #1

The New Jersey Plan William Paterson drew up the plan He suggested that Congress be a single house

legislature All states would be represented by equally in

Congress State legislatures, not the people, would elect

members of Congress Less populated states favored the plan

The Solution to Problem #1

The Great Compromise Roger Sherman of Connecticut drew up the plan The structure of Congress was determined,

Congress would consist of two houses Senate (upper house) House of Representatives (lower house)

Solution to Problem #1

The House of Representatives States would be represented in the House

according to their population size The people would elect their Representatives

The Senate States would be represented equally in the

Senate State legislatures would choose Senators

Representatives & Senators would each have

Problem #2: How to Count slaves in the population of each state

Suggestions:

Southern Suggestion-Count slaves for population, but not for taxation

Northern Suggestion- Count slaves for both representation and population or not at all

The Solution to Problem #2

The Three-Fifths Compromise 3/5ths of the slaves would be counted as

population Southern states wanted to resume importing

slaves Congress could not prohibit the slave trade for

twenty years or until 1808 James Madison felt it should be addressed in the

Constitution

Problem #3- Who should have power in the new government?

Sovereignty: The source of a governments power or authority

Solution- The new system of government was a form of federalism- divided power between the national & state government This division created a balance of power

Problem # 3 - Who should have the power in the new government?

Solution #2 Separation of Powers

Create 3 branches of government and give each branch a specific job

Branches

The ____________ Branch - Congress Job is to make laws

The ______________ Branch- President Job: to execute or carry out the laws

Elected by the electoral college

The ____________ Branch- Supreme Court Job: interpret laws and declare laws & presidential actions

unconstitutional

Prevent any branch from becoming too powerful a system of __________________ was established

Homework pgs. 137-141

1. Define ratification 2. How many states were needed to ratify the

Constitution? 3. What name was taken by those who supported the

Constitution? 4. What name was taken by those who opposed the

Constitution? 5. What were the arguments of anti-federalists? 6. What were the federalist papers? What was their

message? 7. What is a Bill of Rights?

Ratification

Official approval by the people of the United States

How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution? 9

The Constitution

What name was taken by those who supported the Constitution? Federalists

Define Federalist People who favored the balance of government

between the state and national govt. What name was taken by those who opposed

the constitution? Anti-federalists

Anti-Federalist- Arguments

Feared a strong central govt; argued it would abuse its power

Believed the National Govt would serve interest of privileged minority (wealthy) & ignore the majority (poor)

Believed single govt. could not manage the affairs of the entire country

Believed Constitution lacked Individual rights

Federalist Papers

What were the Federalist Papers? Series of 85 essays defending the Constitution Published under the name “Publius” Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James

Madison What was their message?

Explained the protections offered by the Division of Powers and the Separation of Powers

Bill of Rights

What is a bill of rights? A formal summary of a citizen’s rights and

freedoms Did not appear in the Constitution

The federalists accepted ideas for amendments They promised that if the states ratified the

Constitution a Bill of Rights would be added

Conclusion

Constitution became the law of the land in 1789 Bill of Rights were passed in Sept. 1789 &

ratified December 1791