Shaping the New Nation

It is much easier to destroy an old system of government than it is to create a new one

How much power should the national government have???

Governments Constantly Try To Balance……….

LIBERTY

Can you think of modern day examples?

PROTECTION ORDER SAFETY

Which side do the A of C err on??

Attempt #1 – Articles of Confederation, March 1781

Taxes Can’t tax a state or person No $$

Army/navy Rely on states for troops No national military

Trade Can’t regulate inter-state trade States tax each other

Money Can’t print $$$ States print; Gov $ worthless

Land NW Ordinance 1787 Entry of new states

Power 1 vote per state Jealousies/rivalries

Amending Need unanimous vote Impossible to change

Disputes Can’t settle or enforce States quarrel constantly

Judiciary No national court system Can’t settle legal disputes

Enforcement No Executive No real power to enforce laws

Which weakness do YOU think is the greatest?

Why??

Articles of Confederation Establishes US as a confederation of sovereign

states What does this mean?

Loose “league of friendship” between states Doesn’t use term “nation” at all States operate as independent countries – no real

national unity (remember Franklin’s cartoon??)

STATE GOV more powerful than NATIONAL GOV

Land Ordinance 1785 and NW Land Ordinance 1787

A of C greatest achievement Land W of App and N. or Ohio River – rich

land for settlement

Survey the land Divide into territories Set requirements for admission of new states

Signs of Trouble – Shay’s Rebellion

Daniel Shay – Veteran of Rev War - returned to farm western MA Carried debt – faced debtors prison Demands courts close so farmers like him don’t lose

their farms to creditors (every state has debt ridden farmers)

1786/87 Shay leads army of farmers 1,200 strong to arsenal at Springfield , MA

MA State Militia kills 4 rebels and scatters rest

Significance of Shay’s Rebellion?

National Gov can’t put the rebellion down because can’t raise an army

Rebels - act against gov when gov acts against people’s wishes (heavily taxed)

Example of chaos and disorder cause by a weak gov. People fear lawlessness – must act soon to strengthen gov.

US Constitution

Constitutional Convention – 1787Delegates from all states but RI meet in Philadelphia

(same room where they signed the Declaration 11 years earlier). Washington elected President by

unanimous vote.

Big States V. Small States – The Great Compromise

North V. South – how to count the slaves? 3/5 Compromise

Federalism – Division of Power

Federalism divides power between the national gov and the state gov Enumerated powers – those granted to the

national gov. Such as….? Reserved powers – those kept by the states.

Such as…..?

Shared powers – right to tax, borrow money, pay debts, establish courts

Montesquieu – Separation of Powers

Executive branch – (President) carries out the law

Legislative branch – (Congress) makes the law

Judicial branch – (Supreme Court/courts) interprets the law

Checks and Balances

Electoral College Distrust of popular sovereignty led the

framers of the Constitution to create a complicated system of electing the president College of representatives (electors) would get

the last say Each state chooses electors (= to number of

senators and representatives) and electors cast ballots for the candidates

Possible to win popular vote and lose electoral college (Bush/Gore 2000)

James Madison – known as the father of the Constitution because of his pivotal role in its drafting and ratification. He also drafted the Bill of Rights. Future 4th President of the US.

Ratification????Official approval requires

agreement of at least 9 states

The Federalist Papers

Series of 85 essays published in NY newspapers between 1787/1788

Defended the Constitution Published under pseudonym “Publius” Later revealed authors – Madison, Hamilton, Jay

Ratification

Delaware = first to ratify New Hampshire – fulfills ratification as 9th

state

Problem – VA and NY had not voted and new gov needs these large, powerful states

VA and NY finally vote – becomes reality 1789

Bill of Rights