Lesson 1 Post War Problems

• 1. Lesson 1 Post-Revolution ProblemsBellringer: What problems do you think plagued the US after the AmericanRevolutionary War was won?

2. These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we screwed up the endgame. - Charlie Wilson 3. Back Story CIA led a covert operation against the Russian invasion in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The operation successfully pushed the Russian troops out of Afghanistan, but following the victory, the US failed to help establish any infrastructure in the country. An extremist group, the Taliban, came in and filled the power void, starting an oppressive, militant regime which lasted until 2001. These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we screwed up the endgame. Revolutions are hard and oftenfail. Why did America succeed? 4. Guiding Questions Guiding Questions What type of government was set up following theAmerican Revolution? What was the country like following the Revolution? Keep in mind during lecture 5. Discussion: John Locke What kind of government is best? Why do we need government? How do we create it? Founding Fathers studied philosophers and history when coming up a government Locke and Two Treaties ofGovernment State of Nature; a condition inwhich no government or lawsexisted What would a state of nature look like? 6. Discussion: John Locke What would life look like in a state of nature? What might be some advantages and disadvantages? What rights, if any, do you expect to have? How would human nature fit into this model? What would daily life be like? 7. Lockes Discovery Imagining a state of nature helped Locke imagine the best type of government for all. Came up with life, liberty , and property Natural rights; have these rights simply because theyare human Locke felt the best way to govern and still protect naturalrights was to live under a government and giver thatgovernment the power to make and enforce laws Power derived from the people Social Contract Give up all rights for security What rights do we give up? How much shouldwe give up? 8. Post-War Problems 13 very different states made up the US Each state had their own constitution May 1176, the Continental Congress requested allthe states draft their own constitutions All made different constitutions 9. State Constitutions The states were very wary of one party having too much power Drafted constitution to limit power in the hands of a single ruler Pennsylvania set up a council of 12 States divided power between the governor (or executive leader) and the legislature (i.e. the Congress) Hosted frequent elections 10. State Constitutions States included similar themes Natural rights Social contract Popular sovereignty; peopleare the highest authority Representation; electedofficials Separation of power Checks and balances 11. Problems System was not working Going from dependent colonies to self- governing states created problems Even harder to create a unified, national government States wanted a republic; basically the head of state is not a monarch Favored weak national government; states would be like small, independent countries 12. Fixing the Problems 2nd Continental Congress appointed a committee to plan a national government Adopted the Articles ofConfederation US first constitution Approved March 1, 1781 Created the ConfederationCongress as the nationalgovernment; very limitedauthority 13. How did the new governmentwork? Only set up a Congress This congress could only approve things withapproval from the states Each state had1 vote and ConfederationCongress needed 9 votes to pass 14. Problems with ConfederationCongress No money or power to raise money No power over states or citizens Not following Locke No one giving up any power 15. What COULD they DO? Firm League of Friendship; each state remained independent National government would conduct foreign affairs,maintain armed forces, borrow money, and issuecurrency It could NOT regulate trade, draft to the military, orimpose taxes Could ask states for money, but there was no chiefofficer to enforce 16. Still Fixing the Problems Other issues All states had 1 vote, but bigger states wanted moresay The national government was weak 9 states to pass a law Too weak to deal with problems Financial issues, worthless money, unable tocollect taxes, food prices rose, riots, debt Confederation asked states to revise theArticles to allow the Congress the power totax Needed all 13 states to revise Articles Did not pass 17. More Issues Great Britain still occupied the Great Lakes region Kept America out of globaltrade Spain closed shipping tolower Mississippi Depression, limited trade, limited agriculture due to war damages 18. Too Weak Confederation could do little to deal with the problems Little more that the shadow without substance. Farmers could not sell goods States seized their landswhen they couldnt paytaxes Led to rebellions 19. Shays Rebellion Massachusetts Daniel Shay led an armed mob and closed the courts in the city. Fought the state militia 20. Shays RebellionWorrisome; the government was losing control Country could fall towidespread anarchy Could a country continue ifit couldnt maintain law andorder? 21. Slavery Issues Forced contradiction between liberty and enslavement 11 states outlawedslavery, but thesouthern economy wasstill dependent Quakers = abolitionists People beganquestioning theFederal government 22. Starting Over Failed revolutions: Russia and France Read article about revolutions: Failed revolutions: Maos China, Lenins Russia, Khomeinis Iran. Is Egypt next? 23. Questions EXIT CARD Why couldnt the Articles of Confederation workaccording to Locke? Guiding Questions 24. Primary Sources Read Articles of Confederation In partners Summarize Articles Discuss