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Organizing a New Government While the Revolutionary War was being fought, leaders of the 13 colonies worked to change them into independent states and.

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Presentation on theme: "Organizing a New Government While the Revolutionary War was being fought, leaders of the 13 colonies worked to change them into independent states and."— Presentation transcript:

1 Organizing a New Government While the Revolutionary War was being fought, leaders of the 13 colonies worked to change them into independent states and create a new national government.

2 State Governments The former colonies each wrote their own constitution that was adopted by the state legislature The former colonies each wrote their own constitution that was adopted by the state legislature Most had the following in common: Most had the following in common: 1.) List of rights (jury trial and freedom of religion) for all citizens 1.) List of rights (jury trial and freedom of religion) for all citizens 2.) Separation of Powers (3 branches) 2.) Separation of Powers (3 branches) 3.) Voting (white, male and owned land) 3.) Voting (white, male and owned land)

3 The Articles of Confederation At Philadelphia in 1776, when Jefferson was working on the Declaration, John Dickinson of PA drafted the first constitution of the new nation At Philadelphia in 1776, when Jefferson was working on the Declaration, John Dickinson of PA drafted the first constitution of the new nation Congress modified the plan to protect the powers of individual states Congress modified the plan to protect the powers of individual states The document was called: The Articles of Confederation The document was called: The Articles of Confederation It was adopted by Congress in 1777 and submitted to the states for ratification It was adopted by Congress in 1777 and submitted to the states for ratification

4 Ratification of the Articles of Confederation Ratification was delayed by a dispute over the vast stretches of wilderness extending westward beyond the Alleghenies Ratification was delayed by a dispute over the vast stretches of wilderness extending westward beyond the Alleghenies Several colonies claimed the same land Several colonies claimed the same land When VA and NY finally agreed to give up their claims, the Articles were ratified in 1781 When VA and NY finally agreed to give up their claims, the Articles were ratified in 1781

5 Structure of Government The Articles established a central government that consisted of just one body, a congress The Articles established a central government that consisted of just one body, a congress In this unicameral (one-house) legislature, each states given one vote, with at least 9 votes out of 13 required to pass important laws In this unicameral (one-house) legislature, each states given one vote, with at least 9 votes out of 13 required to pass important laws No separate executive No separate executive No separate judiciary No separate judiciary

6 Powers The Articles gave the Congress the power to wage war, make treaties, send diplomatic representatives, and borrow money The Articles gave the Congress the power to wage war, make treaties, send diplomatic representatives, and borrow money Certain important powers NOT given to the Congress were the power to regulate commerce or to collect taxes Certain important powers NOT given to the Congress were the power to regulate commerce or to collect taxes To finance its decisions, the Congress had to rely upon taxes voted by each state To finance its decisions, the Congress had to rely upon taxes voted by each state Congress did not have executive power to enforce its laws Congress did not have executive power to enforce its laws

7 Accomplishments Despite its weaknesses, the Congress under the Articles of Confederation did succeed in the following accomplishments: Despite its weaknesses, the Congress under the Articles of Confederation did succeed in the following accomplishments: 1.) Winning the war and negotiating a favorable peace treaty 1.) Winning the war and negotiating a favorable peace treaty 2.) Land Ordinance of 1785. This was a policy for surveying and selling western lands 2.) Land Ordinance of 1785. This was a policy for surveying and selling western lands

8 Accomplishments 3.) Northwest Ordinance of 1787. For the territory lying between the Great Lakes and the Ohio R.. Congress passed an ordinance (law) that set the rules for creating new states. The Northwest ordinance granted limited self- government to the developing territory and prohibited slavery in the region 3.) Northwest Ordinance of 1787. For the territory lying between the Great Lakes and the Ohio R.. Congress passed an ordinance (law) that set the rules for creating new states. The Northwest ordinance granted limited self- government to the developing territory and prohibited slavery in the region

9 Problems with the Articles The 13 states intended the central governments to be weak – and it was! The 13 states intended the central governments to be weak – and it was! Weaknesses included: Weaknesses included: 1.) Financial. war debts not paid, worthless paper money. Congress had no taxing power and could only request that the states donate money 1.) Financial. war debts not paid, worthless paper money. Congress had no taxing power and could only request that the states donate money 2.) Foreign. Little respect from other countries 2.) Foreign. Little respect from other countries 3.) Domestic. Shays’ Rebellion, 13 states argued over commerce and land 3.) Domestic. Shays’ Rebellion, 13 states argued over commerce and land

10 Shays’ Rebellion Summer of 1786, Captain Daniel Shays, a farmer from MA and Revolutionary War veteran, led other farmers in an uprising against high state taxes, imprisonment for debt, and lack of paper money Summer of 1786, Captain Daniel Shays, a farmer from MA and Revolutionary War veteran, led other farmers in an uprising against high state taxes, imprisonment for debt, and lack of paper money The rebel farmers stopped the collection of taxes and forced the closing of debtors’ courts The rebel farmers stopped the collection of taxes and forced the closing of debtors’ courts In January 1787, when Shays and his followers attempted to seize weapons from the Springfield armory, the state militia of MA broke Shays’ Rebellion In January 1787, when Shays and his followers attempted to seize weapons from the Springfield armory, the state militia of MA broke Shays’ Rebellion

11 Social Change No legislatures could grant titles of nobility, nor could courts recognize primogeniture No legislatures could grant titles of nobility, nor could courts recognize primogeniture Aristocracy weakened by confiscation of large estates owned by Loyalists Aristocracy weakened by confiscation of large estates owned by Loyalists Most states adopted principle of separation of church and state (no financial support to any religious group) Most states adopted principle of separation of church and state (no financial support to any religious group)

12 Social Change Abigail Adams Women: During the war, both sides relied on women to be cooks and nurses (some even fought) Women: During the war, both sides relied on women to be cooks and nurses (some even fought) Maintained colonial economy while men fought. They ran the family farms/businesses and provided food/clothing Maintained colonial economy while men fought. They ran the family farms/businesses and provided food/clothing Still held second class status Still held second class status Abigail Adams said, “I desire you to remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.” Abigail Adams said, “I desire you to remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.”

13 Slavery Contradicted “all men are created equal” Contradicted “all men are created equal” Some leaders recognized and began to take steps to correct this problem Some leaders recognized and began to take steps to correct this problem Most northern states began to end slavery, some in the South freed their slaves Most northern states began to end slavery, some in the South freed their slaves Most in the South believed slavery was necessary for the economy and began to use religious and political justifications to continue the practice Most in the South believed slavery was necessary for the economy and began to use religious and political justifications to continue the practice

14 The Annapolis Convention Washington hosted a conference at his home in VA in 1785 Washington hosted a conference at his home in VA in 1785 Representatives decided that the problems were serious enough to meet again at Annapolis, MD Representatives decided that the problems were serious enough to meet again at Annapolis, MD Only 5 states sent reps. to MD in 1786 Only 5 states sent reps. to MD in 1786 James Madison and Alexander Hamilton persuaded the others to hold another convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles James Madison and Alexander Hamilton persuaded the others to hold another convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles

15 Constitutional Convention In Philadelphia, 1787, delegates met from every state *except Rhode Island (they did not trust the other states) In Philadelphia, 1787, delegates met from every state *except Rhode Island (they did not trust the other states) “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation” “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation”

16 The Delegates 55 delegates 55 delegates White, males, early 40s, most were college educated, wealthy, active in politics White, males, early 40s, most were college educated, wealthy, active in politics Meetings held in secret Meetings held in secret Washington is chairperson Washington is chairperson Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, and John Dickinson Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, and John Dickinson All want to make the country stronger All want to make the country stronger John Jay, Jefferson and John Adams were not present John Jay, Jefferson and John Adams were not present

17 The Issues Most Americans distrusted government Most Americans distrusted government Delegates debated limits/checks on the national governments powers Delegates debated limits/checks on the national governments powers System of checks and balances System of checks and balances Larger states vs. Smaller states Larger states vs. Smaller states

18 Representation VA Plan: larger states should have more representation VA Plan: larger states should have more representation NJ Plan: Favored the smaller states NJ Plan: Favored the smaller states COMPROMISE! COMPROMISE! Great Compromise/Connecticut Plan : 2-house legislature Great Compromise/Connecticut Plan : 2-house legislature Senate: 2 reps./state Senate: 2 reps./state House of Representatives: represented by population House of Representatives: represented by population

19 Slavery Will slaves be counted towards the population of a state? Will slaves be counted towards the population of a state? What will happen to the slave trade? What will happen to the slave trade? 3/5s Compromise: counted each slave as 3/5s of a person 3/5s Compromise: counted each slave as 3/5s of a person Guarantee that slaves could be imported for at least another 20 years (until 1808) and then Congress could vote to abolish it Guarantee that slaves could be imported for at least another 20 years (until 1808) and then Congress could vote to abolish it

20 Trade Northern states wanted the central government to regulate interstate commerce and foreign trade Northern states wanted the central government to regulate interstate commerce and foreign trade South feared export taxes would hurt its agricultural products South feared export taxes would hurt its agricultural products Commercial Compromise: allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, including placing tariffs on foreign imports, but it prohibited placing taxes on any exports Commercial Compromise: allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, including placing tariffs on foreign imports, but it prohibited placing taxes on any exports

21 The President Can veto acts of Congress Can veto acts of Congress 4 year term 4 year term No limit on number of terms No limit on number of terms Electoral college created because of the delegate’s fear that too much democracy might lead to mob rule Electoral college created because of the delegate’s fear that too much democracy might lead to mob rule States electors = States electors = Senate + House of Rep. Senate + House of Rep.

22 Ratification In Sept. 1787, after 17 weeks of debate, the Philadelphia convention approved a draft of the Constitution to submit to the states for ratification In Sept. 1787, after 17 weeks of debate, the Philadelphia convention approved a draft of the Constitution to submit to the states for ratification Anticipating opposition, the Framers (delegates) specified that a favorable vote of only 9 out of 13 would be required for ratification Anticipating opposition, the Framers (delegates) specified that a favorable vote of only 9 out of 13 would be required for ratification Each state would hold popularly elected conventions to debate and vote on the proposed Constitution Each state would hold popularly elected conventions to debate and vote on the proposed Constitution

23 Federalists Alexander Hamilton supported the Constitution supported the Constitution tended to be more numerous along the Atlantic Coast and in the large cities (NYC) tended to be more numerous along the Atlantic Coast and in the large cities (NYC) Washington, Franklin, Madison and Hamilton Washington, Franklin, Madison and Hamilton Need a strong central govt. to maintain order Need a strong central govt. to maintain order Articles have too many weaknesses Articles have too many weaknesses

24 Anti-Federalists John Hancock opposed the Constitution opposed the Constitution tended to be small farmers and settlers on the frontier tended to be small farmers and settlers on the frontier Patrick Henry, John Hancock and George Clinton Patrick Henry, John Hancock and George Clinton strong central government will destroy the work of the Revolution and restrict states’ rights strong central government will destroy the work of the Revolution and restrict states’ rights no protection of individual rights no protection of individual rights

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26 The Federalist Papers Highly persuasive essays written for a New York newspaper by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay Highly persuasive essays written for a New York newspaper by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay 85 essays, later published in book form as The Federalist Papers, presented reasons for believing in the practicality of each major provision of the Constitution 85 essays, later published in book form as The Federalist Papers, presented reasons for believing in the practicality of each major provision of the Constitution

27 Outcome DE, NJ and PA quickly ratified the Constitution DE, NJ and PA quickly ratified the Constitution there was a promise to add a bill of rights there was a promise to add a bill of rights In June 1788, NH became the ninth state to ratify In June 1788, NH became the ninth state to ratify VA, NY, NC and RI still held out VA, NY, NC and RI still held out Close voting ended in ratification Close voting ended in ratification May 1790, all 13 states had ratified the Constitution May 1790, all 13 states had ratified the Constitution

28 Free Response Questions To what extent was the Unites States Constitution a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation? To what extent was the Unites States Constitution a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation? Explain how the Constitution could be called a “bundle of compromises.” Explain how the Constitution could be called a “bundle of compromises.” Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of Confederation were effective in solving the problems that confronted the new nation. Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of Confederation were effective in solving the problems that confronted the new nation. Analyze the reasons for the Anti-Federalists’ opposition to ratifying the Constitution. Analyze the reasons for the Anti-Federalists’ opposition to ratifying the Constitution.


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