1. Founding A Nation

3. Based on this list and what you have learned, how would you design the new govt? Be specific.
Proclamation Line of 1763
Sugar Act
Stamp Act
Townsend Act
Tea Tax
Intolerable Acts
-Boston Massacre
-Quartering Act
-Battles of Concord and Lexington
-Revolutionary War

4. I. Articles of Confederation, 1781
What kind of govt will work best for the new nation?
Balance between: 13 united but individual states vs. need for centralized power
Confederation = a group of states united under a weak central govt
One-house Congress
Each state representative cast one vote

5. No president
No judiciary
Major decisions needed approval of 9 of 13
Could declare war, conduct foreign affairs, make treaties with other govts, but could not draft troops
Could coin money but could not levy taxes or regulate commerce
To amend Constitution required unanimous consent- never happened

7. III.
The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever.

9. II. Constitutional Convention
May 1787, 55 delegates from 12 states (except Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation
Strategically, many strong govt supporters had plans…
Madison star of the show
Washington chosen as presiding officer
Hamilton’s obnoxious proposal: The “rich and well born” must rule for the masses “seldom judge or determine right”

10. II. Constitutional Convention
Strong nationalists convince CC to abandon Articles & construct a new constitution
Secret for 30 years
Constitutional govt with limited powers
Protect basic rights
Strong national govt
Republican govt

11. III. Virginia Plan
Federal power vs. state power and small vs. large states = first debate
Decided on stronger national govt with 3 branches
Virginia Plan proposed bicameral legislature, representation based on population
Lower house elected by ppl
Upper house elected by lower from candidates named by state legs.

13. III. Virginia Plan Executive branch have veto over Congress
Executive = person or committee???
Term limit???
Judicial branch have supreme judges & inferior courts chosen by legislature
Basic outline of US Constitution

14. IV. New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature
Plural executive elected by Congress
Judicial: Supreme Court chosen by executive
Each state gets one vote
Similar to Articles but more executive power
Supported by small states

15. V. Great Compromise
Roger Sherman proposed a bicameral legislature with a upper and lower house = Congress
Upper house (Senate) = equal representation, chosen by state legisl. (6 year term)
Lower house (House of Representatives) = representation based on population, elected by people (2 year term)

16. VI. Checks & Balances
All agreed on 3 branches- check and balances- Montesquieu
All agreed on single executive
All decisions checked by one or two of other branches

19. XIII. Federalism
Federalism is a system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments
10th amendment

21. XIV. Debate Over Slavery
Slaveholders vs. abolitionists
Slaves are property, they can’t vote but should they count as a state’s population for representation?
This issue could divide the nation…
Decision: Article I, Sec 9- delayed the issue for 20 years
Fugitive slave clause, Article 4, Sec 2

22. Article I, Section 9.
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

23. XV. Three-Fifths Clause
For determining seats in the House and electoral college, three-fifths of slave population count
South Carolina threatened disunion
Embedded slavery deeper into American society/politics
January 1, Congress prohibited slave importation

24. XVI. US Constitution Ratification needed 9 of 13 states
Certainly not a forgone conclusion
Some feared govt too strong and others felt it did not protect the people

25. XVII. The Federalist 100s of articles and pamphlets on both sides
Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay as Publius wrote 85 essays in support of the new Constitution
ns/fed10/