1. Forming a Government
Chapter 5

2. Section 1: The Articles of Confederation
Ideas about Government
A. English Laws and the Enlightenment
1. *Magna Carta-1215
a. Document signed by King John
b. Made the king subject to the laws (he had to follow the laws)
Until the Magna Carta the laws did not apply to kings and queens. They did what they pleased.

3. King John

4. English Bill of Rights-1689 a. Gave Parliament power
b. King or queen could not change laws
c. Parliament had to approve changes
d. Gave people a stronger voice in government
Kings and queens had the power to make any law they wanted whether it was new taxes or forcing a certain religion on people.

5. Enlightenment
a. Emphasized use of reason
b. Political rulers and people should have social contact
c. Liberty must come through separation of governmental powers

6. American Models of Government
1. * Constitution
a. A set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government
b. First written in 1639 in Connecticut for the colonies

8. Declaration of Independence
a. Set in writing beliefs on which government should be based

9. State constitutions
Limited governments-all leaders have to obey the laws
Laws to protect rights of citizens
Protect those accused of crimes
Some banned slavery

10. Thomas Jefferson
a. * Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
b. No person could be forced to attend a particular church
c. Should not be required to pay for a church with tax money

11. Right to Vote
1. *suffrage-the right to vote
a. Under English rule only free, white men
who owned land could vote
b. states expand: any white man who paid taxes
could vote

12. c. Only land owners could hold office
d. Some states let women and free African Am.
vote
e. Those rights were soon taken away

14. Articles of Confederation
A. * Articles of Confederation
1. One member from each colony on committee
2. assigned to draft a national constitution

15. 1. became a branch of government
Congress
1. became a branch of government
2. limited powers to protect liberties of people
3. each state has one vote in Congress
What Congress could to: settle conflicts among states, issue coins, borrow money, make treaties. Could ask states for money and soldiers, but states could refuse

16. 3. by 1779 all states ratified the Articles, except Maryland
*Ratification
1. official approval
2. each state must vote
3. by 1779 all states ratified the Articles, except Maryland
4. Maryland ratified in 1781
Maryland wanted the other states to give up their western land claims. Jefferson said the land would become new states no current state would keep the land.

17. Northwest Territory
A. *Land Ordinance of 1785
1. system to survey and divide western lands
2. land split into townships of 36 sq. miles
a. Land then divided into 36 lots
b. One reserved for public school
c. 4 lots for veterans
d. Rest to be sold

18. *Northwest Ordinance of 1787
1. established the Northwest Territory
2. area includes: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin
3. goal was to bring new states into the Union

20. Becoming a state
a. Territory divided into smaller territories, governor appointed by Congress
b. When population reached 60,000 could draft a state constitution
c. Could apply to become a state
d. Slavery was banned in territories

21. Section 2: The New Nation Faces Challenges
Relations with Other Countries
A. Trouble with Britain
1. Britain slow to turn over forts
2. U.S. wants forts to protect land and
fur-trade routes
Britain warns the U.S. not to try to take by force, troops in Canada will quickly respond.

23. 1. *Britain closed many of its ports to American ships
Trade with Britain
1. *Britain closed many of its ports to American ships
2. British force American merchants to pay high
*tariffs-taxes on import or exports
Explain how tariffs cause prices to rise for the consumer.

24. Trade with Spain
Spanish close the lower Mississippi River to U.S. ships
2. Farmers and merchants could not send goods to the eastern markets
3. Congress can not work out an agreement with Spain

25. Many states start to criticize the national
government
Some believe if U.S. had a stronger military
power Spain would continue to negotiate

26. Impact of Closed Markets
1. American exports drop, British goods increase
2. caused serious economic problems for U.S.
3. Congress does not have authority to pass tariffs

27. States could offer little help
a. If one state passed a tariff, Britain would
simply sell their goods in another state
b. States were working for their own good,
not to improve trade for the whole country

28. 1. interstate commerce-trade between two or more states
Economic Problems
A. Trade Among States
1. interstate commerce-trade between two or more states
2. Congress had no power to regulate interstate commerce
A. States followed their own trade interests so trade laws differed from state to state. Made it difficult for merchants to do trade across state lines.

29. 1. States printed large amounts of paper money to pay off war debts
Inflation
1. States printed large amounts of paper money
to pay off war debts
2. *inflation-increase in price of goods and
services combined with decrease in the value
of money
Paper money was worth less because there was not enough gold or silver to back up the paper money that was printed. Congress had no power to stop states from printing more money and stop the inflation.

30. Weak Economy
1. Rhode Island print large amounts of paper money
Money was almost worthless
*depression-a period of low economic activity combined with a rise in unemployment

31. Shay’s Rebellion
A. Heavy Debts for Farmers
1. Farmers have trouble paying new taxes
2. courts force them to sell their property
3. some served time in debtors prison

32. Farmers Rebel-Massachusetts
Farmers in 3 counties revolt
Angry citizens closed down the courts
3. With courts closed no one’s property could be taken

33. Shay was a farmer and Revolutionary
War Veteran who protested an unfair
tax policy

35. Calls for Change
A. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
1.* weak central government to blame for
economic problems
2. a plan to revise the Articles of Confederation
in May 1787

36. A plan to revise the
Articles
All states are asked to
send representatives to
the meeting

37. Section 3: Creating the Constitution
Constitutional Convention
A. May 1787-Independence Hall
B. Goal-improve the Articles of Confederation

38. Independence Hall

40. II Great Compromise
A. Virginia Plan
1. would give supreme power to the central
government
2. bicameral legislature-two houses
chosen based on state populations
3. larger states would have more representatives

41. New Jersey Plan
1. unicameral-one house legislature
2. each state had equal #of votes, equal voice in government
3. federal government can tax all states & regulate commerce

42. Compromise is Reached
1. debate for a month, no decision reached
2. Great Compromise
a. Two house legislature
b. House of Representatives based of state’s population (lower house)
c. Senate-each state has two reps
(upper house)

43. Three-Fifths Compromise
A. Representation Debate
1. South wants slaves to be counted as of population giving them more representation and power in Congress
2. Northerners disagree
a. Slaves numbers should determine taxes
b. Should not count for representation

44. Three-Fifths Compromise
a. Three-fifths of a state’s population would count for representation

45. The Living Constitution
A. Federalist Government
1. *Federalism-the sharing of power between a central government and state government
2. each state must obey the authority of the federal government

46. States control over functions not assigned to the federal government
Things not controlled by the federal government: educations, create and oversee civil and criminal law, supervision of religious bodies

47. Checks and Balances
1. legislative branch-responsible for proposing and passing laws
2. executive branch-president and departments that help run the government; a. make sure laws are carried out

48. judicial branch-all national courts, responsible for:
a. interpreting laws
b. Settling disputes between states
Checks and balances-keeps any one branch from
Becoming too powerful
The Constitution was completed in September 1787 and of the 42 delegates present only 3 did not sign it.

49. Section 4: Ratifying the Constitution
I. Federalists and Antifederalists
A. Antifederalists
1. people who oppose the Constitution
2. many were small farmers and laborers
3. felt Constitution should have a bill of rights

50. Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution
Many were planters, farmers, and lawyers

51. Federalist Papers
A. Essays
1. series of essays supporting the Constitution
2. written anonymously
B. Ratifying the Constitution
1. only need 9 states to pass it, Delaware the first in Dec. 1787
2. ratified by 1790

52. Bill of Rights
A. Amendments
1. Bill of Rights was promised if states ratified
2. Amendments are additions to the Constitution
3. Bill of Rights-10 proposed amendments to protect citizens’ rights