1. Creating the New American Government

2. Main Idea Sheet
Ideas about government
Articles of Confederation

3. I. The Articles of Confederation
The first governing document created to govern America
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on November 1777
It was designed to create a weak central government

4. A. Who had the power under the Articles of Confederation?
1. Between The States Of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
2. ARTICLE I The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America".
3. ARTICLE II Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
Sovereignty=governmental power
Delegated=given

5. B. A of C Strengths/Weaknesses
Most power held by the states
National government could not force states to obey laws
To declare war and make peace
Single branch of government
No system of checks and balances
To coin and borrow money
No executive branch (enforce laws)
No judicial branch (interpret laws)
To engage with foreign countries and sign treaties
No power to tax
No power to regulate commerce between states A C D F G H I J B E H

7. C. Ratification *Ratify: to confirm or approve
1. States kept most of their power (just as things were before the revolution); this way they would join the government
2. Written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a conservative, the Articles were to create a loose union of the states under the authority of the Congress
3. It would not take effect until all colonies ratified it; Maryland ratified the A.O.C. in 1781

8. i. Why did it take so long to ratify?
The colonies quarreled over who controlled the lands west of the Appalachians
Maryland refused to ratify the Articles of Confederation until Virginia gave up its land claims in the west
Jefferson persuaded Virginians to drop their claims

10. D. Structure of the Government under the Articles of Confederation
The government consisted of only one branch, the Congress
The unicameral (1 House) legislature had delegates elected by state legislatures
One vote per state, but 9 out of 13 are needed to pass a law
To change the Articles all 13 states had to unanimously agree

11. E. Powers of the Government under the Articles of Confederation
Congress could declare war
Raise armies to fight in the war
Make treaties
Borrow money
Send diplomats to foreign countries

14. F. Accomplishments
Winning the War---the government worked well enough to:
Raise an army
Get foreign support and alliances
Negotiate a favorable peace treaty

15. F. Accomplishments (Cont.)
2. Land Ordinance of the only way to raise money was to sell land:
This law established the surveying of land and how it was to be divided into townships
Each town would be 6 miles by 6 miles and divided into 36 sections, 1 section was set aside for public education

18. F. Accomplishments (Cont.)
3. Northwest Ordinance (1787):
Worksheet

19. F. Accomplishments (Cont.)
3. Northwest Ordinance (1787):
Created new territory north of Ohio River and east of Mississippi River
Set terms for when the territories could become state:
Lesson 1 The Northwest Ordinance
No Slavery Allowed

20. Poster: A)Basics – who, where, when B) What did the Articles of Confederation say? C) Strengths? Weaknesses? D) express in pictures

21. A.O.C. Poster
Sample
2nd C.C. on
Who:
When
Say? 1st +: -
1781

22. II. America at the Time When the Articles of Confederation Weren’t Working
A. Financial Problems $:
America was in debt having taken loans from foreign nations
Trading again with Britain=
a) American goods sold to British colonies in the Caribbean had to be carried on British ships
b) British goods with inexpensive prices causes American artisans to lose their jobs

23. A. Financial Problems $ (Cont.):
3) No Standard Currency---every state had their own money making it difficult to trade, the money was not backed up by gold or silver:
a) Inflation occurs
b) Paper money became worthless
4) States taxing each other---states were acting like independent countries establishing taxes on each others goods

24. B. Foreign Problems Foreign presence:
a) Spain: disputed the border between Georgia and Spanish Florida
b) Britain: they maintained forts south of the Great Lakes
2) Foreign Debt: France, America’s ally, was owed money; Spain closed the Mississippi River and New Orleans to all American goods

25. C. Domestic Problems
States were acting like their own independent countries: They taxed each other, quarreled over land and water, made their own currency
2. America’s Economy was horrible: inflation, unemployment, debt
3. Shays’ Rebellion---Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786 led by former Continental Army Captain Daniel Shays

26. Imagine you are a farmer returning from the Revolutionary War---what is your farm like, what do you need to make money, how will you get money for the things you need?

27. Effect Chart for Farmers
With less people to grow food production was down, thus a greater demand for food and prices were higher
Farmers borrow money from banks to buy land, animals, and tools
Farmers grow more food, but prices decline because food is more available
Farmers go in debt and are sent to debtors’ jail, in jail they can’t make money to pay off their debts

28. 3) Shays’ Rebellion video
Farmers were in debt and taxes were being raised
Shay leads a rebellion that closed down courts so they couldn’t place farmers in jail
Boston businessmen paid for an army to stop the rebellion
This rebellion causes American leaders to realize that the Articles give the national government to little power to keep order
“Revolt against a monarch is one thing, but a revolution against a republic is a crime punishable by death.”---Sam Adams
“A little rebellion now and then is a good thing…the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”---Thomas Jefferson

29. What Constitutional Convention?
Why was it needed?

30. III. Constitutional Convention
May 1787
Philadelphia, PA
President of convention: George Washington
Goal: improve the Articles of Confederation
Result – an entirely new constitution (U.S. Constitution)
Ratification: December 7, 1787 (DE); May 1790 (RI)

32. A. Virginia Plan (missteps along the way…)
VA – big or little state?
Edmund Randolph
Proposed an all-powerful central government Bi-cameral legislature (two houses) w/ representatives based on state population
Who would appear to have more power in a system like this?
Who is likely to disapprove this plan?

33. B. New Jersey Plan (missteps along the way…)
William Patterson
Unicameral legislature – one-house w/ an equal number of representatives from each state Federal government could tax citizens in all states Federal government could regulate interstate commerce
What size state do you think proposed this plan? Why?

34. Virginia
New Jersey
Whose plan or plans do you think won in the end? Who’s in the background?

35. C. Great Compromise Roger Sherman Bicameral legislature
Congress will consist of 2 houses: Senate and House of Representatives
2 representatives per state regardless of their size in the Senate(upper house) –appealing to the smaller states
Representation in the House of Representatives(lower house) is based on a state’s population (appealing to the LARGER states)
States with large or small populations received fair representation in gov’t

37. D. The Slave Issue
How would slaves be counted in a state’s population?
3/5 Compromise: a slave was to count as 3/5’s a person or 5 slaves = 3 people
Slave Trade---was allowed for another 20 years (1808) then it was to be outlawed; this could be taxed
The nation’s new capitol was to be built in the South so the South would agree to the Constitution

39. IV. The Constitution Branches of the Government
Executive Branch---President is chosen to serve for 4 years by the electoral college
Legislative Brach (AKA Congress)---a) House of Representatives chosen for 2 years by people; b) Senate chosen for 6 years by state legislatures
Judicial Branch---serve for life, chosen by President and approved by Congress

40. Includes VP and Cabinet
U.S. Government
Constitutional Principle?
Congress
Constitutional Principle?
No Age Required
Includes VP and Cabinet

41. U.S. Government Article? Article? Branch? Branch? Purpose? Purpose?
What was the underlying principle that ensured that no one branch would become too powerful?
Branch?
Branch?
Purpose?
Purpose?
Congress
Title?
What was the underlying principle for creating the three branches?
House?
House?
# of members?
Member Title?
Member Title?
No age required
# of members?
# of members?
Length of term?
Age Requirement?
Age Requirement?
Title of Leader?
Length of term?
Length of term?
Title of Leader?
Title of Leader?
Article?
Branch?
Purpose?
Leader Age Requirement?
Leader Title?
Leader length of term?
Includes VP and Cabinet

42. Includes VP and Cabinet
U.S. Government
Article 1
Article 3
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
Constitutional Principle?
Checks and Balances
Interprets the laws
Makes Laws
Congress
Supreme Court
Constitutional Principle?
H. Of R.
Senate
9 on Supreme Court
Representative
Senator
Separation of Powers
435 members
100 (2 from each state)
No Age Required
25 years old
30 years old
Serve for life
2 years
Supreme Court Justice (Judge)
6 years
Speaker of the House
Vice President
Executive Branch
Enforce the laws
Article #2
35 years +
President
Serves 4 years= 1 term
Includes VP and Cabinet

43. B. Reducing Tyranny Federalism—
divides power between state and national government
2. Checks and Balances-
prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful

45. C. Ratification of the Constitution
States would hold conventions to ratify or reject the Constitution; 9 out of 13 needed for it to go into effect
The country is split:
a) Anti-federalists were against the ratification
b)Federalists wanted the Constitution ratified

46. 2. Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans(Anti-Federalists) (1798)
Issue
Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Economy?
Manufacturing
National Bank?
No Bank (too much federal power)
Interpret Constitution?
Broadly (is it expressly forbidden?)
Balance of Power?
States’ Rights
Foreign Policy?
Pro-British
Ratification?
Against- want Bill of Rights
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
John Jay
George Mason
Patrick Henry

48. C. Ratification of the Constitution (Cont.)
3. Federalist Papers: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote newspaper articles (anonymously) to
explain why constitution was needed
4. Anti-federalists oppose ratification because they fear it takes to much power from the states and there is
No Bill of Rights

49. Comparing the Articles of Confederation & the U. S. Constitution
Political Challenge
Articles of Confederation
U. S. Constitution
Mode of Verification or Amendment:
13 out of 13 states needed to agree
2/3 states Agree and 2/3 congress
Number of houses in the Legislature:
One
Two
1)House of representatives
2)Senate
Mode of Representation:
Equal (one state, one vote)
1) House is based on Population
2) Senate Equal (2 Per State)
Mode of Election & Term of Office
Legislative:
State Legislatures; One Year Term
1) House of Reps. Picked by Voters and serve for 2 years
2) Senators are picked by State Legislatures and serve for 6 years
Executive:
(The President)
NONE
Picked by Electoral College and serve for 4 years
Judiciary:
(Supreme Court and other Courts)
Picked By President (approved by Senate) Serve for Life
Taxation:
None
Can Tax
Regulation of Commerce:
Can Tax Imports not Exports

50. Bill of Rights

52. Amendments Changes to the Constitution
Article V (of the U.S. Constitution)
Provided a way to change the document when necessary to reflect the will of the people
Amendments must be approved by 3/4 majority of both houses or ratified by 3/4 of state conventions

53. Bill of Rights
Delegates took ideas from past grievances (abuses by the King)
Created to protect citizens’ individual rights

54. Bill of Rights Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Freedom of speech; right to protest/petition; disagree with the government; freedom to exercise religion

55. Bill of Rights Amendment II
A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.
Right to bear arms (weapons) in a household

56. Bill of Rights Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Citizens can not be forced to house soldiers

57. Bill of Rights Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
You nor your property can be searched or seized without a warrant issued by a court

58. Bill of Rights Protects the rights of the accused
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Protects the rights of the accused
Plead the fifth – do not have to be a witness against yourself Double jeopardy - can not be tried for the same crime twice

59. Bill of Rights
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
The accused has the right to a fair and speedy trial by a jury of his peers (impartial)

60. Bill of Rights Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Common law – rules established by judges in past cases (precedent)
If a lawsuit is being sought after for more than $20, there is the right to a jury trial

61. Bill of Rights Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Bail – money the accused leaves with the court as a pledge to appear for trial. Excessive – too high
Forbids courts to set bail unreasonably high

62. Bill of Rights Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
People have rights not listed in the Constitution. This Bill of Rights does not limit the rights of people to just those listed.

63. Bill of Rights Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Limits the power of the federal government
Powers not specifically given to the federal government belong to the states (powers given to the state governments are not listed in the Constitution)