CHAPTER 7 Creating a Republic

AFTER THE REVOLUTION Written constitutions  Lay out organization of govt.  Spell out rights of citizens  Limit power of govt.

POWERS UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION  Declare war  Appoint military officers  Coin money  Responsible for foreign affairs  9 of 13 states had to approve laws

LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785  System for settling NW Territory  Divided land into townships of 36 sections  One section was for public school

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE  Set up system for governing the territory  Guaranteed basic rights  Outlawed slavery there  60,000 free settlers=new state

LIMITS OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION  One vote per state  Could not regulate trade  No common currency & no power to tax  No court system to settle disputes between states  No president to carry out laws (execute)  Loose alliance of 13 states

RESULTS  Weak central government  Foreign countries had no respect for U.S.  Possibility of rebellion

NEED TO REVISE  Shays’ Rebellion proved new govt. not working  Met to revise Articles of Confederation

THE CONVENTION  55 Delegates from 12 of 13 states (not Rhode Island)  Private talks (no extra pressure)  Met in Philadelphia, Penn. on May 25, 1787  Intended to revise Articles of Confederation  Wrote a new plan of govt.

FOUNDING FATHERS  George Washington-55 President of the Convention  Ben Franklin-81oldest delegate  James Madison-36 “Father of the Constitution”

“CONSTITUTIONAL” CONVENTION  Agreed, disagreed, argued, & compromised  Outcome=The US Constitution

REPRESENTATION?  The Virginia Plan  3 Branches  2 Houses of Legislature- population (big states)  The New Jersey Plan  3 Branches  1 House of Legislature-one vote per state (sm. states)

THE GREAT COMPROMISE  Presented by Roger Sherman  3 Branches  2 Houses of Legislature  Senate (Upper)-each state sends 2 representatives  House of Representatives (Lower)-based on population

HOW WOULD SLAVES BE COUNTED?  North & South disagreed  End Slave trade?  3/5 Compromise  3/5 of slaves counted for taxes & representation  Ending slave trade would ruin the South

WHERE DID AMERICANS GET THEIR IDEAS?  Rome-republic & public service  Britain-Magna Carta- Leaders obey laws & citizens have rights  Britain-Habeas Corpus- can’t be imprisoned w/o being charged first

OTHER INFLUENCES  The Enlightenment  John Locke  natural rights  social contract between ruler & people  Montesquieu  separation of powers

RATIFICATION ARGUMENTS  Federalists-favored Constitution as it was  Favored strong national government  Believed states’ rights would be protected  Wrote Federalist Papers to defend the Constitution

RATIFICATION ARGUMENTS  Anti-Federalists-opposed Constitution as it was  Weakened states  President had too much power  A bill of rights would protect citizens’ rights

THE CONSTITUTION  Signed on Sept. 17, 1787  Could be amended (changed)  Bill of Rights-limit the government’s power & guarantee due process  Ratified by ALL states (needed 9 of 13)