Background to the Constitution
Queen Asaro
6th Grade
Enlightenment Background
Video – (FLOCABULARY)What is the Enlightenment?
– a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition
– Movement away from Monarchy and religion– Toward Democracy/ Individual rights and science
Government by the States
11 of the 13 states created constitutions (document stating rules under which a government will function).
Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to use colonial charters-removed references to king
Power of governors reduced-state legislatures (elected by people) given most power
Cont’d
Governors served as state executives (those who run the government and see that laws are carried out)
More people allowed to vote under state constitutions-most states still barred African Americans
NJ allowed some women to vote until 1807
Protecting Rights
To prevent violation of rights (as Britain had done to the colonists), states set up bills of rights
1776-Virginia was the first state to add a bill of rights to its constitution-included freedom of press, trial by jury, freedom of religion
Articles of Confederation-Video
1777-Continental Congress set up Articles of Confederation to create a national government
One branch-legislature called CongressNo courts, no executiveStates had one vote a piece-nine votes
needed to pass a law
Cont’d
Articles wanted to limit the power of the central gov’t
Power remained in the hands of the states-Congress could not regulate trade or collect taxes. Money voluntarily given by states
Congress could deal with foreign nations and Native American groups, make laws, declare war, print money, run a postal service
Could not enforce laws
Settling Western lands
Articles had to be approved by all 13 states Not all would agree until issue of western lands was
settled (some states claimed these areas) 1781-Virginia gave up western claims-Maryland
agrees to Articles. Land given to federal government Land Ordinance of 1785- Townships set up &
divided into 36 squares. Squares were then sold One section set aside for schools-reflected nation’s
leaders belief that democracy depended on education
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Set up a process for admitting new states in the Northwest Territory-present day states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio
Congress appointed governor, three judges, and a secretary
When an areas population reached 5,000 adult males-they could elect a legislature
When it reached 60,000-it could request statehood
Slavery outlawed
Problems with Articles- Video
Economic- State taxes and currencies made trade between
state difficult- Federal government could not tax-had little
money (had to be voluntarily given by states)Foreign-America seemed weak-Britain kept troops in
Northwest Territory, Spain refused to let Americans use Mississippi River
Shays’ Rebellion- Video
1780’s-economic depression hit United StatesMany farmers could not pay taxes. State
governments began seizing farmsMassachusetts farmers demanded legislators stop
seizing land and print more money-they did notAugust 1786-Daniel Shays and 1,000 farmers
rebelled and tried to seize arms from a state warehouse. State militia put down rebellion, arrested Shays
Effect of Shays’ Rebellion-Video
Shays’ Rebellion showed weakness of government under Articles of Confederation
Many feared future rebellions and called for a stronger central government
1787-Congress sent delegates to a convention in Philadelphia to revise Articles of Confederation