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
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
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