Confederation to Constitution
Download
Report
Transcript Confederation to Constitution
CONFEDERATION TO
CONSTITUTION
Chapter 8
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10eSXRFsTM
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How did the Americans create a national
government that respected both the
Independence of states and the rights of
individuals?
SECTION 1 IMPORTANT TERMS
Shay’s Rebellion: uprising of Massachusetts farmer who
demanded debt relief.
Northwest Territory: Land NW of App. Mts. Covered by the
land ordinance of 1785
Articles of Confederation: plan for national government
ratified in 1781.
Confederation Congress: national legislative body formed
by the Articles of Confederation.
Land Ordinance of 1785: law that est. A plan for dividing
the federally owned lands west of the App. Mts.
Northwest Ordinance: law that described how the
Northwest Territory was to be governed.
Republic: state, country, or nation which people elect
representatives to govern.
Ratification: act of official confirmation
Levy: impose or raise a tax
Arsenal: place where weapons are stored
THE CONFEDERATION ERA
After Revolutionary War – to have were
economic hardships- states continue to have high
taxes.
Shay’s Rebellion: -uprising of farmers
protesting against unfair taxation.
GOVERNMENT
People before opposed a harsh rule from a
distance.
Goal was to prevent governmental tyranny in a
new nation.
Agreed the new national to be a republic- a
country in which people choose representatives to
govern them.
Property owners –white males who could vote
African Americans and women could not vote.
STATE CONSTITUTION LEAD THE WAY
Each state was to create their own government
Farmers wanted to make colonial systems more
representative
Some states gave different powers to different
parts of the government.
Limited powers of Governors
1st constitutional document – (Virginia’s
Constitution of 1776)
It protected
Freedom of Press
Freedom of Religion
Realized they had to form a United Government
Diplomat John Dickinson- “By united we stand,
by divided we fall.”
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Delegates disagreed on how each state gets one
vote or by population
Disagreed on control of the Northwest Territory
Congress agreed on a plan of Articles of
Confederation
National Government would be run by legislative
Body called Confederation Congress
POWERS OF CONGRESS
Wage war
Make Peace
Sign treaties
Run Indian affairs
Issue money or borrow money
Each state had one vote in congress
States Powers
Set taxes
Enforce National laws
Articles sent to Ratification (approval)
But some states refused to sign because didn’t
have land claims in Western Frontier.
1. sell lands to pay debts- disadvantages to small.
Worried big states would become to powerful
In 1781 finally ratified after states gave up claim from
Western Lands
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE
ARTICLES
Realized Confederation Congress was to weak to
deal with most national issues.
Land Ordinance of 1785
To lay out land in a six mile square plot / townships/
lands Northwest Territory
Ohio
Indiana
Michigan
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota
PLEASE WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecfS2AeNavo
NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Outlined how the Northwest territory was to be
governed
60,000 people could apply to be a state
Freedom of Religion
Rivers open to all
Trial by Jury
Helped with orderly growth of the United States.
PROBLEMS WITH BRITAIN AND SPAIN
Britian competed against America fur trade.
Britain banned American ships in British waters.
Spain banned American ships in Carribbean
Spain refused to allow Americans to use
Mississippi River or deposit goods in New
Orleans.
Spain and Congress argued over boundary of
Florida.
Problems with foreign relations – revealed
weakness in National government.
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND SHAY’S
REBELLION
Trade weakened – serious economic crisis
Didn’t have power to levy or collect taxes(national government)
State sent little money could not afford (states
and people)
Hoped to solve problems by giving more power to
national government.
SECTION 2
Creating the Constitution
o Call for a Constitutional
Convention
o 1786
Delegates from 5 states
meet in Annapolis, Maryland.
1. promote trade among states“High tax amongst states
o 2 creating a trade laws- National
would help economics.
o
They would have to amend “Articles of
Confederation”
Because National Government had no regulations on
trade among states.
Alexander Hamilton- Convention in Philadelphia- all
sent delegates (except Rhode Island)
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
May 25, 1787- Convention Opened
Delegates voted for George Washington (President of
the Convention)
James Madison – Virginia delegate – shaped the
constitution. He took detailed notes –on ideas from
the proceedings.
WHO WAS THERE?
Constitutional Convention - 55 delegates
Delegates known as Founders or Founding
Fathers of the U.S.
Popular Sovereignty- Is a government system in
which people rule.
Who was missing?
Jefferson and Adams- oversees diplomat posts.
Patrick Henry – refused to go –said, “He smelled a
rat towards monarchy.”
Convention did not reflect on diversity of U.S.
Population
Native mericans
African Americans
Women
In the future will give full rights to all American
citizens
SOME CHALLENGES OF THE CONVENTION
People and states that have conflict need
government order
Government that protects people’s rights but
does not oppress them.
DISAGREEMENTS OVER REPUTATION
Two forms of New Government
Virginia Plan – Edmund Randolph
1. executive branch---- enforce the laws
2. judicial branch----- interpret the laws
3. legislative branch---- Create the laws
1. Upper house
2. Lower House
Number of representatives based on population
or its wealth
Checks and balances- Controlling power of
government
New government designed to limit abuse
Small states objected the plan
Gave more power to larger populations
NEW JERSEY PLAN
William Paterson
Like the Articles of Confederation
Single House government
Each state had a single vote
The Great Compromise
1787 passed plan
Roger Sherman –deal Great Compromise
Each state had an equal number of votes
House of Represenatives – it was based on population
CHALLENGES OVER SLAVERY
House of represenatives based on population.
How to decided about slaves.
3/5 Compromise
Southern states had more slaves than the
northern states.
South- wanted slaves counted and disagreed on
banning slavery
North- Did not want slaves counted, only for
taxation. They wanted slavery outlawed.
Compromised that 3/5 slaves would be counted.
1. Representation in legislation
2. taxation
South Carolina and Georgia said they would not
sign anything. The right to import slaves would
be untouched.
Congress agreed that they couldn’t ban slavery
until 1808.
SECTION 3
RATIFICATION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Anti Federalists: People who opposed
constitution
Pamphlet: sent out by Mercy Otis Warrenconcerns about people ruling the nation.
Once the pamphlet was circulating the farmers
wanted to ratify the constitution at once.
CONCERNS OF THE FEDERALISTS
Take too much power away from the states
Federalism- is a system of government shared
power by federal and state government.
Federalist- people who supported the
constitution.
The Federalist Papers: Promoted and answered
their critics about the Constitution.
Writers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay
Reasons why people should ratify constitution.
CONCERNS OF THE ANTI-FEDERALISTS
Too much power taken away from states.
Didn’t guarantee rights to people.
Strong President be declared king.
Feared Senate to powerful, liberties be lost.
Rural areas supported- Anti- Federalist – do to
Tax Burden
Large states and strong economies- Had more
freedom under Articles of Confederation.
BATTLE FOR RATIFICATION
Constitution had nothing to protect the Rights of
People.
Thomas Jefferson wanted to add Bill of Rights- A
summary of Citizen’s Rights and Freedoms – set
amendments to the Constitution.
CALL FOR A BILL OF RIGHTS
Patrick Henry and George Mason- were ant
federalist
Wanted Guarantee that people would have
Freedom of speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Press
Trial by Jury
Right to Bear Arms
Federalists yielded to demand. Added the Bill of
Rights
Majority Rule
BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE CONSTITUTION
Madison proposed ten amendments to
constitution (Bill of Rights)
Bill of Rights
1st nine amendments – Basic individual Rights
Government shall not favor one religion over another
or interfere with anyone’s religious Freedom.
1st amendment (separation of church and state)
Protects people from government abuse
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
2/3 of each house of Congress or State Legislative
to propose a amendment
To become a law ¾ approval of states
Bill of Rights – 1st ten amendments – 17
amendments have been added since.