Creating a New Government in the Nation and in Georgia

Creating a New Government in the

Nation and in Georgia

Articles of Confederation

• The first constitution of the United States.

• Designed to have weak central government

• Protected States Rights• Unicameral legislature• Ratified in 1781

Weakness1. National government cannot impose or collect

taxes2. No national currency3. No national court system4. No executive branch5. One vote per state regardless of population6. Two-thirds majority to pass laws7. Unanimous consent needed to amend the

Articles of Confederation8. There was no national army or navy.

Strengths

1 To declare war and make peace.2 To coin and borrow money3 To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties4 To operate post offices

GA Constitution of 1777Savannah, May 1777

• Replaced “Rules and Regulations” that governed the colony during the Revolutionary War.

• Modeled after the AOC• Selected John Treutlen as the first

governor

GA Constitution 1777

• Unicameral legislature– Appoints judiciary branch– Appoints executive branch (governor)Governor is appointed for 1 yearGovernor is selected by an Executive Council (12 members from the legislature)

• Weakness: Legislature too powerful

Constitutional Convention of 1787

• Virginia ask for a meeting to discuss trade problems among the states.

• 1st Constitutional Convention accomplishes nothing.

• 2nd Constitutional Convention called to Philadelphia, Pa. May 1787 to discuss issues with the AOC

• Rhode Island does not attend: oppose a strong central government.

• 3 branches of government– Legislative, executive, judicialCongress – 2 housesHouse of Representative – elected by the

peopleSenate – elected by the House of Rep.Representation base on State populationFavored by the large states

Virginia Plan

New Jersey Plan

• Congress – unicameral Levy taxes, trade, laws, treaties – state law could not override congress.• Executive – consists of several people;

elected by congress• Judicial – appointed by excutive Representation is equal for each state

The Great Compromise

• Called for a bicameral congress– House of Rep – based on population– Senate – equal representation

• 3/5 Compromise – Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for population

count– Slave trade to end in 20 years– Fugitive slaves will be returned to their owners

US Constitution

• Replaced the Articles of Confederation• Ratified September 17, 1787• Antifederalist insisted on the Bill of

Rights – approved in 1791• Bill of Rights written to protect the

rights of the citizens.

Georgia Signers on the US Constitution

• Abraham Baldwin William Few

Georgia calls special convention to quickly approve the Constitution. Georgia was the 4th state to ratify the Constitution on Jan. 2, 1788.

Georgia ratifies constitution

• Georgia becomes the 4th state to ratify the US Constitution.

• Georgia was moving westward into land occupied by Indians.

• Georgia needed strong national government to help protect it from Indian threat.

• US Constitution ratified Jan. 2, 1788 by a vote of 26-0.