A More Perfect Union and The Constitution

Chapter 8-9

I. Articles of Confederation• A. America’s first written

form of government.• B. Every state had their

own constitution and acted independently.

• C. All of the power in the government was in the states because they wanted to limit the power of the national government after they had been abused by King George III.

.• D. Every state had its own militia.

• E. All national decisions had to be approved with each state.

II. Problems under the Articles of Confederation

• A. The United States of America was in debt from the American Revolution. Under the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. had very little taxing power to pay these debts, due to it weak central government.

• B. The two major weaknesses were weak national government and a weak national army.

•C. Made it difficult to deal with other nations, because all states had to approve decisions.

•D. Paper money became worthless.

Questions?????

• What was the first written form of government in the United States?

• Under this government, who had most of the power?

• Why was it set up like this?

• Why was the United States in debt?

• What were the two major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

III. Events in the early United States of America

• A. The Northwest Ordinance• 1. Created a Northwest Territory

that included all land north of the Ohio River and East of the Mississippi River.

……Or how the US got pregnant!!

• No fewer than three, or more than five, states would be formed

• Civil rights and liberties be guaranteed

• Education be encouraged

• Slavery and involuntary servitude be prohibited.

• The impact of this legislation was significant in several ways:

– The ordinance spurred the westward movement of American settlers

– It overturned the colonial idea that newly settled lands would be subservient to established areas

– It established the format for American land policy for years to come

– The law provided the first national limitation upon the expansion of slavery.

•2. When the territory reached 60,000 people the territory could apply for statehood.

B. Diplomatic Problems

•1. Britain refused to leave some areas east of the Mississippi River.

•2. Spain occupied Florida and lands west of the Mississippi River.

C. Shays’ Rebellion•1. Daniel Shays was a war hero from the American Revolution turned farmer in Massachusetts.

•2. He led a rebellion in Springfield Massachusetts over debt and taxes.

• 3. The rebellion showed the critical need of a strong national government with a strong national army. If the new nation struggled with a farmers rebellion, how would they defend an attack from a power like England?

Questions????

• What was the Northwest Ordinance? • Where was the Northwest Territory

located? • How does a territory become a state?• What were some diplomatic issues the

United States had to face? • What happened in Shay’s Rebellion?• What did Shay’s Rebellion reveal about

the Articles of Confederation?

IV. Change in Government

• A. A nationwide call for a stronger government was led by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

• B. A constitutional convention was called in May 1787 and went through the summer. 55 delegates attended.

• C. The convention took on more prestige when George Washington decided to support it.

D. James Madison• Known as the ‘Father

of the Constitution’ because he was the main author of it.

• His first attempt was called the Virginia Plan.

• It called for a two house legislature where representation was based on population.

E. – The New Jersey Plan

•The other plan proposed was called the New Jersey Plan.

•Each state would get one vote regardless of population.

•Gave the power to tax and regulate trade

•Also has a weak executive branch

The groups could not decide, which eventually lead to the………

V. Finalizing the new national government.

• A. The Great Compromise created a two-house legislature including a House of Representatives and a Senate.

• 1. The House representation would be based state population.

• 2. The Senate would have every state with two members, regardless of population.

B. The 3/5’s Compromise

• 1. Every slave was to count as 3/5’s of a person for population and taxation.

• 2. The slave trade would be left alone until 1808. Then Congress could choose to limit it if they wanted to.

C. Bill of Rights

• 1. Designed to protect

individual rights.

• 2. Were added to the

constitution in order for Virginia and Massachusetts to sign.

• 3. The Bill of Rights was based on England’s Magna Carta which was written in the 1200’s and stressed individual rights.

D. The new United States Constitution

was signed in 1787 in

Philadelphia.

Questions???

• What two men led the call for a stronger national government?

• Who is known as the Father of the Constitution?• What did the Great Compromise detail? • What was the 3/5 Compromise? • What could happen in 1808?• Why were the Bill of Rights put in place?• What were the Bill of Rights based upon? • When was the Constitution first signed?

VI. Government under the Constitution

• A. Our government is divided into three branches, Executive, Legislative, & the Judicial branches.

• B. The Constitution is divided into sections called articles.

• C. The first three articles of the Constitution describe the three branches and their powers.

D. Federalism – the sharing of powers between central and

state government.

E. The President is elected using an electoral college.

• 1. Every citizen in every state may vote for an elector.

• 2. The elector who receives the most votes casts that states vote for who they want to be President.

• 3. The candidate that receives the most electoral votes becomes President.

• 4. Presidents serve a four year term after being elected.

F. Check and Balances• 1. Every branch is designed to

check the powers of the other two branches.

• 2. This is to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and abusing their powers.

G. Ratify – to approve. H. Separation of powers – giving different powers to

different branches of the government!

• VII. 1st political parties

• A. Federalists– 1. Believed in the Constitution and a strong

central government.– 2. Supporters included James Madison,

John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.B. Anti-federalists 1. Believed in the Articles of Confederation

and strong state governments. 2. Supporters included Patrick Henry and

Thomas Jefferson.

Questions???

• What are the three branches of our government?

• Why are these branches divided up?• What is federalism? • How long does a president serve a term for? • What is checks and balances? • What did Federalists believe? • What did Anti-Federalists believe? • What does ratify mean? • What is the separation of powers?