Creating agovernment1
Post on 25-Dec-2014
145 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Transcript
Creating A Government 1777-1791
Articles of Confederation
Articles of ConfederationWe won the war now we must govern ourselves 1777-1787
Overview
Second Continental Congress proposed for adoption 1777
Approved 1781
Formed a confederation of states, each had a separate government
John Dickenson-Author of A o C
Decentralized Government
States possessed the powerCould Veto national lawsVoluntary participation
Specific elements of the Articles of Confederation
Single chamber national Congress-unicameral Each state had one voteNo executive branchNo judicial branch
Provided for a weak national government
Successes
Fought and Won the Revolution
Land Ordinance of 1785
Established unit of settlement for townships6 square miles, divided into 36-640 acres each, one would be a source of income for schools
Successes Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Steps for admission of new states
3 stages
During settlement years-Congress appoints territorial governors and judges
When reaches 5,000 adult males-write temporary constitution-and elect representatives
When it reaches 60,000 write state constitution-Congress approves for statehood
Forbid slavery in NW territory-states could decided later
Fail! - EconomicCould request funds from states
Could not tax unless every state approved
Could not regulate interstate/overseas commerce (trade)
Provided for no common currency
7 different currencies
Fail! – Shay’s RebellionEconomic conditions for farmers in Massachusetts were bad, because of taxes
1786 a group of 100+ farmers lead by Daniel Shays decided to close down the courts in Massachusetts, so the courts could not close their farms
They decided to take control of an arsenal in Springfield
The rebellion was defeated, but it sent a shockwave across the country
Government was too decentralized to deal with major problems
Could not raise military to put down Shay’s rebellion
The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional ConventionAmerica needed a change, the Articles were not working1787
The Delegates The Confederation Congress requested the delegates be sent form every state to a convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation
55 Delegates from 12 states attended, Rhode Island did not attend (who were they)
Average age 42WhiteMaleHad money
Who was thereWashington, Franklin, Madison
Who wasn’tJefferson & Paine (France), Henry (opposed)
The Convention May 25, 1787 the convention begins
The Framers decided to write a new constitution
They decided Government should have limited powersIt should protect the basic rights of people and promote the common welfareA need for a strong national governmentA need for a republican government The government needs to have a system of checks and balances
In less than four months they created a government that has lasted over 200 years
George Washington
Chairman of the Convention
Seldom participated
Lent his prestige to the proceedings
James Madison Father of the Constitution
Virginian
Lead the debates
Kept notes of the proceedings
Authored the Virginia Plan
Later authored much of the Bill of Rights
Compromise
Key Compromises The framers had to overcome some differences to create the new government
Problem: Representation in the
National CongressLarge States
Favored
Virginia PlanStates get
representation based on
population
Small States Favored
New Jersey Plan
Each state received the
same number of votes (equal
representation);
Solution: The Great Compromise
Virginia
Plan
New Jersey Plan
The Great
Compromise
The Connecticut Plan• Bicameral legislator (two house)• Upper house, the Senate, each state receives
the same number of vote (2)• Lower House, House of Representatives,
representation is based on population
3/5 Compromise Problem
Southern states wanted to count slaves in their population-more representation in Congress
Solution Slave would count as 3/5 a person towards representation and taxation
Commerce Clause
ProblemGranting Congress the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade
Solution Congress could control Foreign & Domestic trade
Tax imports (good coming in)
but not state’s exports
Constitution
Articles of the Constitution The Constitution specifically outlines the powers of the Government
Separation of Powers
Article 1: Legislative Branch
Congress (House and Senate)
Senate approves people hired by President
Approves taxes
Senate approves treaties
Declares war
Makes laws
Article 2: Executive Branch
President & Departments
Approves and vetoes laws
Heads armed forces
Hires cabinet and other chief officials
President and Cabinet make policies
Civil Service: carries out day to day functions of the government
Article 3: Judicial Branch
Supreme Court & Federal Courts
Interprets the laws
Declares constitutionality
Hears appeals
Separation of PowersChecks and Balances Keeps one branch from gaining too much power over the others
Article 4: The States
Federalism: the relationship between states and the federal government
Article 5: Amendment Process
Allows the government to make changes, called amendments, to the Constitution.
Two thirds of both houses of Congress must agree to propose an amendment. It takes a positive vote by three fourths of the states to make an amendment law
Article 6: Supremacy Clause • Makes the Constitution the
Supreme Law of the land• States can’t pass laws that
over rule the Constitution
US
Constitution
Acts of
Congress
State
Constitutions
State Statues
City/Local
Ordinances
Article 7: Ratification
Established that the document must be ratified by the States (3/4) for It to become law
Ratification
Ratification Once delegates left the convention that had to get their states to ratify the Constitution1787-1791
OverviewProcess established by Framers – Article 7
Debate occurred: between the Federalist and Anti-Federalist
Delegates elected to state conventions to accept or reject the Constitution (bypass state Legislators)
Nine states had to accept, before it could be ratified
FederalistFavored strong national government sharing power with the states
Believed that separation of powers (3 branches of government) had built in checks and balances
Believed that federal powers were needed to manage trade, defense, and foreign relations
Believed that factions balanced each others’ power-
Believed Citizen’s rights were implied-no need for Bill of Rights
Federalist Papers:A collection of 85 essays that argued the positions of the Federalist
Anti-Federalist
Believed that the federal government would favor the interest of the rich and powerful and ignore the rights of the masses
Believed that one central government would be too powerful and would threaten individual rights and liberties
Believed that individual rights must be protected in a Bill of Rights
Virginia Documents and Freedom How VA helped make the Bill of Rights
Virginia Declaration of RightsAuthor George Mason
1776
It guaranteed certain rights that the government can not take away (what are these called)
ExamplesFreedom of worshipFreedom of speechThe right to a fair trial
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Author Thomas Jefferson
1786
Established separation of Church and state
Eliminated official state church
Church could no longer received money from taxes
Established principals of religious liberty
Bill of Rights Authored by James Madison
Created because of the efforts of the Anti-Federalist
Guaranteed the rights of individual citizens, the new federal government could not take away
Without addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, it may not have been ratified
Bill of Rights very similar to the Virginia Declaration of Rights and Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
First 10 amendments to the Constitution
top related