An End to the Articles of Confederation and The Writing of the Constitution.

An End to the Articles of Confederation

and The Writing of the

Constitution

Shay’s RebellionPost-Revolutionary farmers grew upset because the courts kept taking their farms.

Due to farmer debt under the Articles of Confederation

The farmers organized the nation’s first protest.

The Massachusetts state militia met 1,200 armed farmers.

Results of Shay’s RebellionCaused panic and surprise throughout the nation.

Every state had debt-ridden farmers—would rebellion spread?

And the government had no power to stop them!

Under the Articles of Confederation the federal govt. had no ability to help.

The nation cried for a change!

A Call for ChangeA meeting was organized to discuss the Articles of Confederation.

Goal was to fix them.

Each state sent delegates (55 total) to Philadelphia in May, 1787

Who was there?George Washington was elected chairman to preside over the meeting.Some revolutionary patriots did NOT attend—Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams (they liked the Articles).Other influential leaders (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson) were overseas.

First vote of the Convention

The meetings would be held in secrecy.

No one could discuss what was going on at the Convention until

all things had been decided.

The Articles give way….It was finally decided that the Articles of Confederation could not be changed, but instead needed to be thrown out!

The “Father of the Constitution”James Madison brought

the main ideas to the convention.

1.The National govt. need to be stronger than the states.

2.There should be a separation of powers within the government—so no one group can get too powerful

Major Issue: Representation

States fought over how representation in the govt. should work.Small states wanted equal representation per state.Big states wanted representation based on population.

Constitutional Compromise: “The Great Compromise”

Decided that there would be two houses of Congress!

The Senate: based on equal representation per state (2)The House of Representatives: based on population

Major Issue: SlaverySlave-owners wanted

their slaves to count as

population—wanted more

representation in the House of

Representatives.

Constitutional Compromise: The 3/5 Compromise

Slaves would count as 3/5 of a person for representation purposes in the House of Representatives.

Equality was sacrificed for union.Also, it was voted that the African slave trade would end in 1808 (20 years from date).And, the Constitution included a slave provision which allowed southerners to cross state lines to reclaim their “property.”

The Electoral CollegeIt was a common perception that the mass public was not educated enough to fully engaged in proper politics.The writers of the Constitution decided to have an Electoral College to elect the President rather than a direct vote by the people.

Electors would be chose by the state.This excluded a vast majority of the people (white, males) from voting.

The Principles

of the United States

Constitution

1. Popular SovereigntyThe people hold the ultimate authority.A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

2. Limited GovernmentThe Constitutional framers wanted to guard against tyranny.

To posses absolute power/authority.Government is limited to only the power given them in the Constitution.The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed.

3. FederalismThe division of power between the State and National Governments.

Some powers are sharedThe National Government has the “supreme power.”

VS.

4. Separation of PowersNo one holds “too much” power.

Legislative branch makes the lawsExecutive branch carries out the lawsJudicial branch interprets the laws

The Legislative Branch

Legislative BranchWashington D.C.—Capitol BuildingThe Senate and House of Representatives (together called Congress)

Make our lawsAppropriate MoneyRegulate ImmigrationEstablish Post Offices and RoadsRegulate Interstate Commerce and TransportationDeclare War

The Executive Branch

Executive BranchWashington D.C.—the White HouseThe President of the United States

Chief ExecutiveChief of StateChief LegislatorCommander in Chief

The Cabinet: the President’s top advisors.

The Judicial Branch

Judicial BranchSupreme Court and other Federal CourtsPreserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.Considers cases involving national laws.Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional.”

The Supreme Court Justices

5. The System of Checks and BalancesPrevents the abuse of power in government.Each branch can “check” the other branches.

Executive ChecksPropose laws to CongressVeto laws made by CongressNegotiate foreign treatiesAppoint federal judgesGrant pardons to federal offenders

Legislative ChecksCan override the president’s vetoRatify treatiesConfirm executive appointmentsImpeach federal officers and judgesCreate and dissolve lower federal courts

Judicial ChecksDeclare executive acts unconstitutional.Declare laws unconstitutional.Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional,The Supreme Court holds the final check!

Agencies at the Federal (Washington DC) Government Level

Executive Branch = President & Vice-President & CabinetLegislative Branch = House of Reps & Senate Judicial Branch = Supreme Court & other Federal Courts around the U.SFederal Enforcement Agencies= FBI, ATF, FDA, CIA, IRS, etc.

President Bush & VP Cheney

NV Senator Harry Reid

NV Senator John Ensign

Dean Heller—Northern NV House

of Rep.

Agencies at the State & Country (NV & Washoe) Government LevelExecutive Branch =Governor & Lt. GovernorLegislative Branch = State House of Reps & State Senate Judicial Branch = State Supreme Court & District CourtState Enforcement Agencies= NV Hwy. Patrol, Sheriff, etc.

Nevada’s GovernorJim Gibbons

Nevada’s Lt. GovernorBrian Krolicki

NV Supreme Court

Washoe CountyCourthouse in Reno

Agencies at the Local (Sparks) Government LevelExecutive Branch = MayorLegislative Branch = City CouncilJudicial Branch = City CourthouseLocal Enforcement Agencies= City police, fire, etc.

Sparks Mayor Geno Martini

Ward 1John MayerWard 2Phil SalernoWard 3Ron Smith

Ward 4Mike CarriganWard 5Ron Schmitt