Articles of Confederation/U.S. Constitution

1
Articles of Confederation/U.S. Constitution
2
Articles of Confederation

• Constitution rules and laws that form a
  government
• 1776 2nd Continental Congress began work on
  creating government
• Were influenced by English Law Magna Carta
  and Enlightenment-John Locke
• Republicanism citizens elect representatives
  responsible to the people
• Limited government even leaders had to obey the
  law, no one has total power
• Suffrage Right to vote taxpaying or
  property-owning white men
• Articles of Confederation Americas first
  constitution (plan of government) Committee of
  13

3

• National government would be a republic
• States would join in a Confederation loose
  union states would have more power than
  national govt.
• A. All states had to ratify (approve) before it
  became constitution
• B. 9 out of 13 states had to agree on new laws
  or major decisions
• C. All 13 states had to agree to amend (change
  or add) the articles
• D. Only states had the power to tax and enforce
  law
• E. No president 3 person committee chosen by
  Congress very limited powers John Hanson

4

• F. Uni-cameral (one house) legislature each
  state had one vote
• G. No system of national courts
• H. Weaknesses no military, could not regulate
  trade, national congress responsible to the state
  legislatures not the people
• I. Powers of national government could make
  and borrow money, foreign relations (wage war,
  make peace), Indian affairs
• J. Articles are not ratified until March of 1781
  disputes over land claims
• Land Ordinance of 1785/Northwest Ordinance of
  1787 created a system for bringing new states
  into the country had to have a population of
  60,000

5
(No Transcript)
6
Important Founding Sources

• 1. Magna Carta - 1215 limited government, no
  one is above the law
• 2. English Bill of Rights - 1689 Peoples
  representatives should have strongest voice in
  government
• 3. Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom - 1777
  Separation of Church and State
• 4. New England Town Meetings 1600s to today
  Forum for the people to express their views and
  participate in decisions
• 5. Mayflower Compact - 1620 first attempt at
  self-government in the colonies

7

• Identify a weakness of the Articles of
  Confederation and describe how that weakness
  impacted the government.

8
Problems in the New Nation

• 1. National government could do little to
  enforce laws or protect citizens
• 2. Trade problems
• A. Tariffs taxes on imported and exported
  goods
• B. Britain was forcing U.S. to pay high tariffs
  on goods sold in Britain
• C. Britain closed many ports to Americans and
  forced them to use British shipping
• D. Confederation Congress could not pass tariffs
  to punish Britain

9

• 3. Congress could not regulate interstate trade
• 4. Each state printed its own money many began
  printing large amounts of paper money to pay off
  war debts
• 5. Inflation increased prices on goods and
  services reduced value of money
• 6. Depression period of low economic activity
  and high unemployment
• 7. Debtors people who owe money or taxes
• 8. Creditors people who lend money
• 9. Shays Rebellion September 1786
• 10. Many people in the states saw that the
  Articles were not working
• New Constitutional Convention would be held in
  Philadelphia in May of 1787

10

• Which was the greatest problem facing the nation
  that would lead to the desire for change?

11
Constitutional Convention

• 1. Philadelphia Convention
• A. Date May 1787
• B. Purpose To discuss trade issues and reform
  Articles of Confederation James Madison,
  Alexander Hamilton
• C. Plan revise Articles to give national
  government increased powers to solve nations
  problems
• D. Decision create a new plan of government
  (Constitution)

12
Virginia Plan Large-state plan

• A. Three Branches of government
• 1. Legislative makes the laws Two-house
  (bi-cameral) legislature
• 2. Executive carries out and enforces laws
  President and his cabinet (advisors)
• 3. Judicial interprets the laws court system
  (Supreme Court)
• B. Written mostly by James Madison
• 1. Known as the father of the Constitution
• 2. His proposal system of checks and balances
  between the branches so no one branch would
  control the entire government

13

• C. Congress Bi-cameral number of
  representatives based on state population
• 1. Division How elected
• A. Lower house House of Representatives
  elected by the eligible voters of each state
• B. Upper House Senate elected by lower house
• Conflict The larger a states population, the
  more representatives it would have. Smaller
  states thought it was unfair since larger states
  would control the Congress

14
New Jersey Plan Small-state plan

• A. One-house (Uni-cameral) legislature each
  state would send the same number of
  representatives equal representation
• B. Who proposed the plan? William Paterson.
  Smaller states like New Jersey, Delaware etc.
• C. How elected? Representatives would be chosen
  by the state legislatures
• This plan was very much like the Articles of
  Confederation

15

• Which of the two plans do you think was a more
  fair solution to the problem of representation?
  Why?

16
The Great Compromise

• Also called the Connecticut Compromise Roger
  Sherman took parts of both plans
• A. From the Virginia Plan Bi-cameral
  Legislature lower house representation based on
  population elected by the people to represent
  the people rest of government as proposed by
  Madison
• B. From the New Jersey Plan Upper house would
  have equal representation two reps per state
  chosen by state legislatures to represent states

17
Three-Fifths Compromise

• A. What was the Compromise? For every five
  slaves, three would count for taxation and
  representation
• B. Who benefited? Southern States
• C. How did they benefit? More representation in
  Legislative branch also meant more influence in
  choosing President
• Three-fifths compromise acknowledges that slavery
  exists Slavery is never specifically mentioned
  in Constitution until 13th Amendment in 1865

18

• How could the 3/5ths compromise lead to future
  conflict?

19
Role of the President

• A. Commander-in-chief of armed forces and
  responsible for foreign relations (dealing with
  other countries), also sets guidelines for
  domestic policies (our country)
• B. Veto Power
• C. Also appoints judges and other federal
  officials Supreme Court and Cabinet (advisers)
• Can be elected to two 4-year terms
• Must be 35 and a natural-born citizen

20
Williamsons Contributions

• Hugh Williamson NC delegate to Constitutional
  Convention Anti-federalist(opposed to strong
  national government)
• A. Impeachment removal of President for
  wrong-doing
• B. Two-thirds majority vote would override a
  Presidential veto

21

• What do you think is the most important role that
  the president serves? Why?

22
Legislative Branch

• Congress two-house legislature (bi-cameral)
• 1. Senate 100 members each state gets two
• Elected to a six-year term unlimited
• Must be 30
• 2. House of Representatives 435 members
  based on state population
• Elected to a two-year term unlimited
• Must be 25

23
Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court has final say on all legal
  matters cannot be overruled by President or
  Congress
• 9 members nominated by President, approved by
  Senate
• serve for life on good behavior

24

• Which of the three branches of government plays
  the most important role in governing the nation?
  totesLPiner

25
Trade Compromise

• A. Issue Who would control foreign trade?
• North wanted Congress
• South Each state should set its own rules
• B. Compromise Congress had the power to
  control trade with other countries and could tax
  imports, but not exports. Congress could not do
  anything about the slave trade for 20 years.
  After that, it would be outlawed. Congress could
  regulate trade between the states
• Constitution becomes law in 1788 when New
  Hampshire becomes 9th state to ratify it.
• North Carolina 12th state to ratify
  Constitution - 1789

26
Ratification of the Constitution

• 1. Popular Sovereignty final political power
  rests with the people
• 2. Federalism strong national government that
  shares power with the states
• 3. First political parties were created
• 4. Federalists
• A. Leaders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison
• B. Favored strong national government with
  loose interpretation of the Constitution
• C. Domestic policy(in your country)
• I. Supported national bank
• II. Favored high tariffs to provide money for
  government
• III. Favored limited freedom of speech and press

27

• D. Foreign policy(dealing with other countries)
  - Favored the British, were opposed to the
  French
• E. Bill of Rights was not needed each state
  constitution would protect individual rights
• F. Favored by the wealthy, manufacturers,
  shippers, business people, urban areas
• G. Alexander Hamilton-
• Secretary of the US Treasury/created National
  Bank
• Excise taxes to repay debt from Rev. War (leads
  to Whiskey Rebellion)
• Killed by the VP Aaron Burr in a duel
• Founder of modern governmental spending and
  budgetary fiscal responsibility

28
Alexander Hamilton
29

• 5. Antifederalists AKA Democratic-
  Republicans
• A. Leaders Thomas Jefferson, George Mason
• B. Favored States Rights, weak national
  government, strict interpretation of the
  Constitution
• C. Domestic Policy
• I. Opposed to national bank
• II. Tariffs should be low
• III. More rights for the people

30

• D. Foreign policy Favored the French, were
  opposed to the British
• E. Bill of Rights was extremely important to
  protect the rights of the people needed to
  protect the minority from the will of the
  majority
• F. Favored by farmers, planters, rural areas
• 6. NC was mostly antifederalist
• 7. Main issue for several states before they
  would ratify the Constitution was to include a
  Bill of Rights to protect the rights of
  individuals

31

• 8. Amendments additions to the Constitution
• A. Have to be approved by two-thirds of
  Congress, signed by President, and ratified by
  three-fourths of states 27 amendments today
• B. Electoral College some delegates did not
  trust the people to elect the President
• I. Decided against direct election of the
  President
• II. Each state would choose electors (qualified
  voters) to elect President and Vice-president
• III. Number of electors would be equal to a
  states representation in Congress
• IV. Today popular vote determines how
  electoral votes are awarded. In most states,
  popular winner gets all electoral votes

32

• 9. Constitution is ratified by all states by
  1790 worlds oldest written Constitution
• 10. 1791 Bill of Rights is ratified
• George Washington 1st president 1789-1797 was
  opposed to political parties and foreign
  involvement trade only - dies in 1799
• State of Franklin 1784-1790 John Sevier