SS8H4a Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the.

SS8H4aAnalyze the strengths and

weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and

explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a

need to revise the Articles.

Concepts:GovernanceRule of Law

GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the U.S. CONSTITUTION

PAGE 29 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4a

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONWhat were the strengths and

weaknesses of the Georgia Constitution of 1777?

The student will understand that distribution of power

in government is a product of existing documents and laws combined with contemporary

values and beliefs.

How would you describe the distribution of power at Moses Middle School?

Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?

Why did the writers of the Georgia

Constitution of 1777 want to limit the power of the Executive branch

(Governor)?

Distribution of Power

GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777

STRENGTHS• Separation of

Powers• 8 Counties (local

government) each county had its own government, court, school, and militia

• Citizens were guaranteed freedom of religion, press, and trial by jury

WEAKNESSES• Uni-cameral legislature

(one house) had too much power – appoint (choose) the Governor and judges

• Governor served only a 1 year term

• Only white men 21 and over with property could vote

• Amending (changing) the constitution was difficult

GAConstitution

of 1777

EXECUTIVE

LEGISLATIVE

JUDICIARY

GOVERNOR

Appointed by executive council

1 year term

Very little

power

Appointed by legislature

Power to appoint

Governor and judges

Have most of the power

Uni-cameral (1 house) called

the House of Assembly

LEGISLATORS(lawmakers)

STATE JUDGES

Primary Source Document

GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777

Article IX. All male white inhabitants, of the age of twenty-one years, and possessed in his own right of ten pounds value, and liable to pay tax in this State, or being of any mechanic trade, and shall have been resident six months in this State, shall have a right to vote at all elections for representatives, or any other officers...

SS8H4aAnalyze the strengths and

weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and

explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a

need to revise the Articles.

Concepts:GovernanceRule of Law

GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the U.S. CONSTITUTION

PAGE 30 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4a

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONWhat were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation?

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

STRENGTHS• 1st constitution• Central

government• Federalism –

power divided between central (national) gov’t and individual state gov’t

• Congress could:– Declare war– Sign treaties– Deliver mail– Create money

WEAKNESSES• Weak national gov’t• State gov’t too strong• Uni-cameral legislature (Congress)• States only had 1 representative and

1 vote in Congress• No executive branch or president• No national court system• Could not tax the states to raise

money• Could not regulate (control) trade• Could not enforce laws• Each state had its own currency and

militia• Too difficult to amend (change) the

Articles

The student will understand that when there is conflict between or

within societies, change is the result.

Do all conflicts have to involve violence and war?

How did the Articles of

Confederation create a conflict?What changes were needed?

CONFLICT & CHANGE

READING ACTIVITY

• GREEN CRCT COACH BOOK page 218

• CRCT PREP BOOK page 50

• WE THE PEOPLE WORKBOOK page 40

The student will understand that when there is conflict between or

within societies, change is the result.

Do all conflicts have to involve violence and war?

How did the Articles of

Confederation create a conflict?What changes were needed?

CONFLICT & CHANGE

SS8H4bDescribe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787;

include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and

reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution.

Concepts:

Individuals – Groups – InstitutionsGovernance

Conflict and ChangeRule of Law

GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the U.S. CONSTITUTION

PAGE 31 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4b

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONWhat role did Georgia’s Abraham Baldwin and William

Few play in the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

The student will understand that when there is conflict between or

within societies, change is the result.

What does it mean to compromise? Give some examples from your own

experiences.

Why did states argue about the US Constitution, and what

changed as a result?

CONFLICT & CHANGE

Constitutional Convention of 1787

• Why did our Founding Fathers need to revise the Articles of Confederation?

To create a stronger Federal (national / central) government that would UNITE the young country together.

• What happened to the Articles of Confederation?

The Founding Fathers wrote a new constitution

SS8H4bDescribe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787;

include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and

reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution.

Concepts:

Individuals – Groups – InstitutionsGovernance

Conflict and ChangeRule of Law

ABRAHAM BALDWIN WILLIAM FEW

BOTH MEN WERE REPRESENTATIVES

FROM GEORGIA WHO HELPED

CREATE AND SIGN THE UNITED

STATES CONSTITUTION.

ABRAHAM BALDWIN PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE

GREAT COMPROMISE THAT HELPED CREATE A BI-

CAMERAL LEGISLATURE

WILLIAM FEW HELPED WRITE THE

CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION of 1787

Constitutional Convention

of 1787

CAUSE EFFECTARTICLES

OFCONFEDERATION

THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

• State governments had too much power

• National government could not levy taxes, enforce laws, or control trade

• No executive branch (President)

• No judicial branch (no federal courts to settle disputes between the states)

• Federal government becomes more powerful • Separation of Powers - Legislative branch

makes laws - Executive branch

enforce laws - Judicial branch

interpret laws

• Bi-cameral legislature• House of Representatives based on state population• Senate – 2 representatives from each state

• Great Compromise: Bi-cameral legislature benefits both big and small states (population) • 3/5ths Compromise:3 out of 5 slaves counted toward population and were also taxed

• Bill of Rights: 1st ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing rights for citizens

2 REPRESENTATIIVES FROM EACH STATE

REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH STATE BASED ON POPULATION

BI-CAMERAL

The student will understand that when there is conflict between or

within societies, change is the result.

What does it mean to compromise? Give some examples from your own

experiences.

Why did states argue about the US Constitution, and what

changed as a result?

CONFLICT & CHANGE

SS8H4bDescribe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787;

include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and

reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution.

Concepts:

Individuals – Groups – InstitutionsGovernance

Conflict and ChangeRule of Law

GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the U.S. CONSTITUTION

PAGE 32 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4b

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONWhy did Georgia ratify the new

U.S. Constitution?

RATIFYING THE US CONSTITUTION

Why did Georgia ratify the new U.S. Constitution?

• Wanted federal gov’t to have power to unite the country

• Needed federal gov’t to help fight Native Americans in order for Georgians to move westward onto new lands

• 4th state to ratify on January 2nd, 1788

The student will understand that in a democracy, rule of law influences the

behavior of citizens, establishes procedures for making policies, and

limits the power of government.

What are some rules in each of your classes? What are some rules in sports

or games that we play?

What part of the U.S. Constitution limits the power of government?

RULE of LAW

The student will understand that distribution of power

in government is a product of existing documents and laws combined with contemporary

values and beliefs.

What are some documents that distribute power? Which branch of government is

responsible for making laws?

What was wrong with the Articles of Confederation that influenced the states

to create a new U.S. Constitution?

Distribution of Power

The student will understand that as a society increases in

complexity and interacts with other societies, the complexity of

government also increases.

Think back to elementary school. How are the rules more complex in middle school? Do you think they’ll be more

complex in highschool?

The 13 states each had their own society and government. What are some

examples of states interacting together, which then made the national government more complex?

GOVERNANCE

SOURCES

• www.Glencoe.com

• http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/sscience/constitutionResouces.html

• http://www.usconsulate.org.hk/pas/kids/images/branches.jpg

• www.milan.k12.mi.us/.../image001.jpg

• http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/christy/