American Government Aim: Explain the problems that arose as a result of the Articles of Confederation. Do Now: What is a constitution? Why does a country need a constitution?

State Government 1776 – states form their own governments Republic – people choose representatives to govern them Continental Congress – leaders of American government

National Government 13 states united in war Articles of Confederation – document adopted by Continental Congress that outlined the government of America 1st constitution Of America

Articles of Confederation Government had few powers Wage war, make peace, sign treaties, issue money States had most important powers Tax Enforce laws

Weaknesses of Articles No power to tax Couldn’t repay debts No power to enforce laws Debt Congress borrowed money during war Owe money to soldiers

Northwest Ordinance Who claims western lands gained from war? Land Ordinance of 1785 – surveyors stake six-mile-square plots in the Western lands Northwest Ordinance – as territory grew in population, it would gain rights

Northwest Ordinance 5,000 people – elect an assembly 60,000 people – could apply to be a state Slavery outlawed Freedom of religion and trial by jury guaranteed

Shay’s Rebellion Massachusetts – high taxes People in debt Thrown in jail if can’t repay Mass. Gov’t refuses to stop taxes People rebel Led by Daniel Shays

Shay’s Rebellion 1787 – Shay and his men march on arsenal (place that stores weapons) State militia puts down rebellion Need to strengthen national government

American Government Aim: How did leaders of the new nation plan to fix the problems of the Articles? Do Now: Explain the problems with the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention Articles need changes Meeting in Philadelphia – 1787 55 delegates (representative) Framers – men who framed/created Constitution Founding Fathers (Founders) of U.S.A. Washington, Franklin, Madison

Constitutional Convention President of Convention – Washington Convention would be secret Questions Strong federal government? Representation? Small states vs. Large states

Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph of VA 3 branches of government Legislative – make the laws Executive – enforce the laws Judicial – interpret the laws Two house, bicameral, legislature Representation based on population

New Jersey Plan William Paterson of NJ One house legislature Same amount of representatives in each state More power to the states

American Government Aim: How was the question of representation for the states solved? Do Now: What was the Virginia and New Jersey Plans?

Great Compromise Bicameral legislature Senate – same amount of representatives House of Rep. – representation based on population

Slavery Should slaves be counted as population in south? South – Yes Count slaves then North – No more representative in South Three-Fifths Compromise 3/5 slaves would be counted Slave trade couldn’t be banned until 1808

Ratification Ratification – approval – of Constitution 9 out of 13 states must accept Each state will vote on joining the new Constitution

Federalism Federalism - System of government in which power is shared between the national government and the states Federalists – those who supported signing the Constitution Anti- Federalists – opposed the Constitution

Federalism Federalists favored loose construction – a flexible interpretation of the Constitution Anti-Federalists favored strict construction – a strict interpretation of the Constitution Interpreting the Constitution word for word

Federalist Papers Essays that appeared in newspapers to convince people to accept the Constitution Written by Alexander Hamilton James Madison John Jay

Anti-Federalists Thought freedoms were not guaranteed Too much power in national government Afraid president could be king Campaigned for people to oppose ratification

Ratification Bill of Rights - First Ten Amendments Guarantees citizens’ basic freedoms Constitution is ratified in 1789