Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution Unit 3

Articles of Confederation Postwar depression Weakness of the Articles -Congress could not Levy taxes and Regulate Trade/ Commerce Challenges Under The Articles of Confederation Debt All 13 states required to approve changes to the Articles

The states sent delegates to the convention in Philadelphia to solve the problems of the Articles of Confederation. Our first national government—under the articles of confederation— was characterized by a weak central government that caused commercial and political problems within the country. Convention at Philadelphia, 1787 (1823), artist unknown

Cause and Effect of the Constitutional convention Causes Immediate Effects Weaknesses of the Articles of confederation Strain of economic problems Shays’ Rebellion Establish 3-Branch Government Stronger central government Establish federalism Long-term Effects Increased confidence in national/ central government Debate over States’ Rights

Geography: United States Western land claims The Land Ordinance of 1785 called for surveyors to measure and divide the Northwest Territory into townships. The Northwest Ordinance determined how the Northwest Territory was to be governed and described how territories could become states.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Territory Illinois Indiana Ohio

SHAYS’ REBELLION, AN ARMED REVOLT OF Pennsylvania farmers, helped America's leaders realize that a change in the national government was needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOR9O 9mUObE The constitutional convention was originally called in 1787 in Philadelphia to revise the articles of confederation. Eventually, the articles were abolished altogether, and a new constitution was written. The colonies modeled their representative government after parliament, Britain’s legislative body.

Confederation to constitution 1776-1791 1777 Continental Congress passes the Articles of Confederation. 1777–1781 States debate ratification of the Articles of Confederation. 1781 Articles of Confederation go into effect. 1786 Annapolis Convention is held. 1786–1787 Shay’s Rebellion occurs. 1787 Constitutional Convention is held in Philadelphia. 1788 U.S. Constitution is ratified. 1789 Government created by the new Constitution takes power. 1791 Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution.

Delegate contributions at the constitutional convention James Madison Took notes on the Convention; earned the nickname “Father of the Constitution” George Washington Presided over the Convention Edmund Randolph Offered the Virginia Plan William Paterson Offered the New Jersey Plan

The Virginia plan The Virginia plan, which provided for three branches of government with a 2- house congress (senate & House of Representatives), was the basis for the new constitution. Because his Virginia plan became the basis for the constitution, James Madison is widely considered the “father of the constitution.”

compromises Compromises dealing with slavery as well as political representation enabled the constitution to be written. The great compromise at the constitutional convention settled the issue between large and small states on how they would be represented in congress. The 3/5 compromise settled the issue of how slaves would be counted for representation in congress and taxation.

7 Basic principles of government Popular Sovereignty the governments right to rule comes from the people Limited Government the government has only the powers that the Constitution gives to it Separation of Powers the Constitution divides the government into three branches: Congress-legislative branch makes laws President-executive branch carries out the laws Courts-judicial branch explains and interprets the laws

Popular Sovereignty The power to rule comes from the people. “Consent of the Governed” The Constitution established popular sovereignty in the preamble, “We the People. . . establish this Constitution for the United States of America.“

Limited Government In the American government everyone, citizens and powerful leaders alike, must obey the law. Individuals or groups cannot twist or bypass the law to serve their own interests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHN3IJ_j8A

Separation of Powers Established in order to avoid having too much power might fall into the hands of a single group This principle creates the division of basic government roles into 3 branches. No one branch is given all the power. Articles 1,2, and 3 of the Constitution detail how powers are split among the three branches *Article 1 *Makes Laws *Congress *Article 2 *Enforce Laws *President *Article 3 *Interprets Laws *Supreme Court

7 Basic principles of government Checks and Balances each branch of government has the power to check or limit the actions of the other two Federalism division of power between the federal government and the states Republicanism citizens elect representatives to carry out their will Individual Rights The Constitution protects individual rights- 1st amendment Rights such as freedoms of speech, press, religion, Petition, and peaceful assembly.

Checks and Balances Based on the philosophy of Baron de Montesquieu, an 18th-century French thinker, "Power should be a check to power.“ Each branch of government can exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches. Though the branches of government are separate, they rely on one another to perform the work of government. This ensures that the branches work together fairly.

Federalism Federalism is a system of government in which the states and national government share powers. The Framers used federalism to structure the Constitution. The Constitution assigns certain powers to the national government. These are delegated powers. Powers kept by the states are reserved powers. Powers shared or exercised by national and state governments are known as concurrent powers.

Federalists and antifederalists *Stronger national government *One person to head the executive branch Both *Different branches of the government *Supported a Bill of Rights Antifederalists *Stronger state government *Feared a strong executive branch

Republicanism Republicanism is based on the belief that people exercise their power by voting for their political representatives. Article 4, Section 4, of the Constitution also calls for every state to have a "republican form of government." A republic is a form of government in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them. In a republic, people elect others to represent them in the government.

Individual Rights The first ten amendments to the Constitution shield people from an overly powerful government. These amendments are called the Bill of Rights. the Bill of Rights guarantees certain individual rights, or personal liberties and privileges. 1st Amendment includes Freedom of speech, press, religion, petition, and assembly.

Federalist papers Federalists, such as alexander Hamilton and James Madison, favored ratification of the constitution because they favored a strong central government. The federalist papers were essays describing why citizens should ratify the constitution. Written by alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and john jay Anti-federalists oppose ratification of the constitution because they believed it made the state government too weak, and it had no bill of rights. The bill of rights, the first 10 amendments to the constitution, guarantees inalienable rights and freedoms to Americans.

Problems and solutions Western lands States give up Western claims. Congress passes laws to organize the territories. Postwar depression Annapolis Convention is called to discuss problems of commerce. Representation in the new government Philadelphia convention is held. Delegates agree to Great Compromise to settle issue of representation. slavery Three-Fifths Compromise addresses issue of slavery and representation. Congress delays discussion of banning the slave trade.

Articles of confederation to us constitution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8 Crash course: constitution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceb1wkSamG4 Liberty’s kids: we the people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XMzIExVT5M School house rocks: preamble to the constitution