Creating a NationEQ: What were the strengths and weaknesses of

the new American government?

YAY WE WON THE WAR…

The Articles of Confederation

1. Popular sovereignty: By consent of the governed

2. Bicameral: Two parts or houses

3. Ratified: Approved

4. Confederation: Voluntary associate of states

5. Ordinance: A law

6. Right of deposit: Permission to put goods

ashore for transfer to ocean ships

United States First Plan of GovernmentWhat were the parts of each state constitution?1) Legislative Branch (usually bicameral): to make

laws 2) Chief Executive: a governor3) Court System: judges4) A Bill of Rights: a guarantee of certain freedoms Why was there a need for a national government?

States (colonies) realized they needed to work together to deal with issues like maintaining an army

What was the Articles of Confederation?

The first constitution of the United States that established a central government with a one-house legislature called Congress

What powers did it have?1. Conduct foreign affairs2. Maintain armed forces3. Borrow money4. Issue currency

TIM & MOBY TIME!

What were its Strengths and Weaknesses?

Strengths Weaknesses

1) No power to tax: couldn’t

demand

2) No executive branch- no

president

3) Couldn’t enforce laws

4) States had a lot of power

5) Law to pass need 9 out of 13

states

6) To amend, need all 13 states

(unanimous vote: 100%)

1) The Northwest Ordinance

Scenarios of Weaknesses:

1. Who is going to handle border or trade disputes between states?

2. Congress could issue currency but what was stopping the states from doing the same?

3. Need to have an army but how are you going to pay for it if you can’t tax?

4. If a foreign nation wants to make a treaty, who represents the United States?

What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?

•A way for the Congress to raise money for debt and costs •A “democratic model” for organizing new territory in the west that extended same rights to people settling there•Put forth the requirement for a territory to become a state (need 60,000 people to petition for statehood)

Northwest Ordinance Map

Early “Troubles for the

United

States

1) Economics?•Declining value of currency because of printing•High war debt wasn’t getting paid•Depression: slowed economy2) Britain?•British troops/ forts on American soil protect fur trade•Trade policy kept American merchants out of West Indies3) Spain?•Closed the lower Mississippi to western settlers•Wanted a right of deposit

Shay’s Rebellio

n

Who?•Daniel Shay•1,000 Farmers

When?Between August 1786 to January 1787

What? Why Significant?•In Massachusetts, state officials were seizing farmers’ land to pay for tax debt and putting in jail•Armed farmers protest and militia use force, killing 4

•The rebellion “frightened” national leaders•Worried the national government wasn’t strong enough to prevent this type of situation

Washington said, “mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.”

What was the Constitutional Convention? An assembly of 55 delegates who meant in PhiladelphiaWho?George Washington (Convention President), Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, Edmund RandolphWhat was its purpose?To address problems governing the United States under the Articles of Confederation

Anatomy of the U.S. Constitution

Constitution

Articles

Amendments

I: Legislative (Congress)II: Executive (Presidency)III: Judiciary (Courts)IV: States/RepublicV: Amendment ProcessVI: Debt, Supremacy, etc...VII: Ratification

1-10: Bill of Rights12, 20, 22, 23, 25: Presidency11: Judiciary17, 20, 27: Congress13, 14, 15: Slavery/ Civil Rights15, 19, 24, 26: Voting Rights16: Income Tax18, 21: To Drink or Not to Drink

What are the Six Goals of

the Constitutio

n?

Use the information on Pages 219-221 to fill the diagram

What are the Six Goals of

the Constitutio

n?

“To form a more perfect

union:” States need to

cooperate

“Establish Justice:” A

court system to handle disputes

“Insure Domestic

Tranquility:” To keep the

peace

“Secure the Blessings of

Liberty:” Protect

individual freedom

“Promote the General

Welfare:” Regulate

commerce, granting patents

“Provide for Common Defense:”

Armed Forces

Legislative Branch: Article I

Fixing Congress: How were the delegates divided about representation in the legislative branch?

Virginia Plan (Big State):

1)

2)

New Jersey Plan (Little State):

1)

2)

3) William

Paterson

State Total Population

Amount in Slavery

% Slave

Virginia (1) 747,610 292,627 39Massachusetts (2) 378,787 0 0

Pennsylvania 434,373 3,757 1North Carolina (3) 393,751 100,571 26

New York 340,120 21,324 6Maryland 319,728 103,036 32

South Carolina 249,073 107,094 43Connecticut 237,946 2,764 1New Jersey 184, 139 11,423 6

New Hampshire 141,885 158 .1Georgia 82,548 29,264 35

Rhode Island 68,725 948 1Delaware 58,094 Not

Available

Legislative Branch: Article IHow were the delegates divided about representation in the legislative branch?

Virginia Plan (Big State):

1) Two-house legislature: lower house chosen by people; upper house by the legislature

2) Proportional representation: number of representatives based on size of state

New Jersey Plan (Little State):

1) One house legislature: each state would get one vote (equal representation)

2) Give Congress power to tax and regulate trade

3) Congress elect a “weak executive”

How will all states be

represented fairly and

equally at the same time in the national

government?

The Delegates Decide on a “Great Compromise!”

Virginia PlanN

ew Jersey

Plan

1) Two-house Congress: House of Representative (# of Reps based on population) and Senate (2 from each state)

2) House of Representatives is chosen by popular vote

3) Senate is chosen by state legislatures (constitution later amended to popular vote as well)

Issues between Northern and Southern States!Southern States:

Wanted to include slaves in their population to get more representation

Northern States:

Objected and felt slaves were property and should be taxed

Three-Fifths Compromise1) Only three out of every five

slaves will be counted for taxation and representation

2) Agreed Congress would not interfere with the slave trade until 1808.

Who wrote the final draft of the Constitution?

Gouverneur Morris

When was the Constitution finally ratified by all 13 States?

May 29th 1790

Mini-Constitutional Convention

• You and your table groups have been selected as delegates for your states

• You will try to answer questions and “solve” problems to benefit your state

• At the convention, you will try to “sell” your solutions to the other states

Roles

• Each person at the state should have a role:– Recorder– Facilitator– Errand Monitor/Time-Keeper– Presenter

• During your “state” meeting, you will:– Answer as many questions as you can– Make sure your solutions benefit your state– Take turns sharing

• During the convention meeting, you will:– Take turns sharing ideas(no shouting over each other)– After all ideas are shared out, all colonies will vote on their preferred

choice• Participation points will be based on– How well you listen– How active you are at participating (this does NOT always have to be a

verbal participation)– How well you are willing to work with one another