Civics Today Constitution Creation
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Transcript Civics Today Constitution Creation
Bell Ringer!!!
What
At
is your favorite pizza topping?
a “get-together” how do you
compromise so everyone gets
something that they like on the
pizza????
The Articles of Confederation
First
governing document of the United
States
Ratified
(approved) by all 13 States in 1781
Established
a Confederation
Group of independent States, mainly only came
together for protection
Each state kept its sovereignty (independence)
and most power
“firm league of friendship” between the states
Unicameral vs. Bicameral
Bicameral
Unicameral
1 house legislature
Quicker decision
making
Less debate on issues
2 house legislature
Both houses must agree
before laws passed
More opinions and
compromise necessary
The Articles of Confederation (Cont)
The entire Federal Government made up of a
Unicameral Congress
No President or King in charge
Each of 13 states got 1 vote
• 9 out of 13 necessary for approval
POWERS of the Federal Government:
Could make war and peace
Make treaties
Borrow money
Establish post offices
Build Army & Navy by asking states for troops
****All powers not listed were given to the states****
Obligations of the States
Each
state agreed to:
Treat citizens of other states fairly
Surrender fugitives wanted in other states
Allow travel between states
States free to do whatever else they wanted
Weaknesses of the Articles
Congress could not tax to raise money
Had to borrow or ask states for $$$
Couldn’t raise $$$ to pay for Revolutionary War
Congress couldn’t regulate trade between states
States could use their own currency
Congress could not enforce their own laws
Congress = 1 vote per state (no matter how big or
small)
No Executive branch = no power to enforce laws
States could ignore laws that they did not care for
Weaknesses of the Articles
9
out of 13 states had to agree to pass a law
ALL
13 States had to agree to Amend
(change) the Articles
No national court system existed
Shays Rebellion (1787) – Armed attack by
farmers/former soldiers on Federal weapons
arsenal
Stopped quickly, but prime example of problems the
U.S. faced under the Articles
Quick Quiz…..
Solving the Problems
Summer of 1787: 12 of 13 States (except Rhode
Island) sent delegates to convention in
Philadelphia
Original goal was to meet and amend Articles of
Confederation to give national govt more power
55 men, G. Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison
As summer progressed, agreed to eliminate
Articles of Confed. and draft a new Constitution
Constitution: American governing document
The Virginia Plan
Representation
Bicameral Legislative Branch/Congress : How
many reps each state gets in the House of
Representatives and Senate based on
population
Structure
3
branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Congress would choose the Executive and Court
Gave power to a true national government
Virginia Plan (Cont)
Powers of the Government
Congress keeps powers from the Articles
of Confederation, but also…
1.
2.
Veto State laws interfering with National Laws, by
force if necessary
Admit new states to the Union
The New Jersey Plan
Representation
Unicameral Congress, one vote per state
Structure
Legislature: Unicameral Congress
One vote per state similar to the Articles of
Confederation
Plural Executive (think several Presidents)
Single Supreme Court
The New Jersey Plan (Cont)
Powers
Similar to those in the Articles of Confederation
Limited power to tax
Limited power to regulate trade between States
Small
of Congress
States
Same voting power as large states since each state
receives the same amount of votes
The Connecticut Compromise
Suggested by Connecticut
What
parts of the Virginia Plan did it use?
Congress would be Bicameral
House of Representatives based on population
Federal Government is superior to the states
What
parts of the New Jersey Plan did it
use?
Each state equally represented in the SENATE (2
per state)
The Three-Fifths Compromise
Representation
Should House of Representatives be based on population,
including slaves?
Northerners said no, African Americans made up 25-45% of
Southern population.
Slaves counted for…
"all other persons" in the country are worth 3/5 of a vote
toward population (could also be taxed by Federal
Government)
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Limits on Congress
Banned from TAXING EXPORTS (tobacco, etc…) & said
that Congress could not make laws about Slave Trade for 20
years
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Limits on Congress
Banned from touched Slave Trade for 20 years
• Importing of Slaves into the Country
Should the new Constitution be ratified or not…
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Supported ratifying the
Constitution
Did not support the Constitution
Said Constitution needed Bill of
Rights
Feared states would lose power
= return of a king
Feared taxing power of Federal
Govt
Said U.S. was too big for a
federal govt (republic) to control
Bill of rights not necessary, not
possible to list all of people’s
rights
Believed power was divided up
so that nobody could gain too
much power
Said that size of U.S. meant that
no one faction (group with
common ideas) could take power
Government would have to rule
by force to make all people obey
Federalists
Anti – Federalists
James Madison
Patrick Henry
Alexander Hamilton
John Hancock