1. Creating a New Government in the Nation and in Georgia

2. Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States.
Designed to have weak central government
Protected States Rights
Unicameral legislature
Ratified in 1781

3. Weakness National government cannot impose or collect taxes
No national currency
No national court system
No executive branch
One vote per state regardless of population
Two-thirds majority to pass laws
Unanimous consent needed to amend the Articles of Confederation
There was no national army or navy.

4. Strengths
1 To declare war and make peace. 2 To coin and borrow money 3 To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties 4 To operate post offices

5. GA Constitution of 1777 Savannah, May 1777
Replaced “Rules and Regulations” that governed the colony during the Revolutionary War.
Modeled after the AOC
Selected John Treutlen as the first governor

6. GA Constitution 1777 Unicameral legislature
Appoints judiciary branch
Appoints executive branch (governor)
Governor is appointed for 1 year
Governor is selected by an Executive Council (12 members from the legislature)
Weakness: Legislature too powerful

7. Constitutional Convention of 1787
Virginia ask for a meeting to discuss trade problems among the states.
1st Constitutional Convention accomplishes nothing.
2nd Constitutional Convention called to Philadelphia, Pa. May 1787 to discuss issues with the AOC
Rhode Island does not attend: oppose a strong central government.

8. Virginia Plan 3 branches of government
Legislative, executive, judicial
Congress – 2 houses
House of Representative – elected by the people
Senate – elected by the House of Rep.
Representation base on State population
Favored by the large states

9. New Jersey Plan Congress – unicameral
Levy taxes, trade, laws, treaties – state law could not override congress.
Executive – consists of several people; elected by congress
Judicial – appointed by excutive
Representation is equal for each state

10. The Great Compromise Called for a bicameral congress
House of Rep – based on population
Senate – equal representation
3/5 Compromise
Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for population count
Slave trade to end in 20 years
Fugitive slaves will be returned to their owners

11. US Constitution Replaced the Articles of Confederation
Ratified September 17, 1787
Antifederalist insisted on the Bill of Rights – approved in 1791
Bill of Rights written to protect the rights of the citizens.

12. Georgia Signers on the US Constitution
Abraham Baldwin William Few
Georgia calls special convention to quickly approve the Constitution. Georgia was the 4th state to ratify the Constitution on Jan. 2, 1788.

13. Georgia ratifies constitution
Georgia becomes the 4th state to ratify the US Constitution.
Georgia was moving westward into land occupied by Indians.
Georgia needed strong national government to help protect it from Indian threat.
US Constitution ratified Jan. 2, 1788 by a vote of 26-0.

14. Think in Three’s Describe the Virginia Plan
Describe the New Jersey Plan
Describe The Great Compromise
Explain how The Great Compromise settled the debate over the US Constitution.