Unit 2Creating the Constitution and the New Republic

Problems after the War

1.The former colonies, now states, needed a new form of government (chose Republic)

2. Which laws to create for the 13 new states

3. What powers would states have and what powers would the national (republic) government have?

4. New land and national debt issues

The Articles of Confederation

•1781-the Articles of Confederation were ratified as the government of the United States

•Articles formed a loose alliance between the states

•Articles provided unified front for the country but Articles has no real power

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

1.Congress could not enact and collect taxes 2. Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade3.Regardless of population, each state had only one vote

in Congress4.Two-thirds majority-9 out of 13 states needed to agree to

pass important laws5. Articles could be amended only if all states approved6. There was no executive branch to enforce the laws of

Congress7. There was no national court system to settle legal

disputes8. There were 13 separate states that lacked national unity

Economic Failures of the Articles of Confederation

•The United States faced economic crisis due to the Articles of Confederation’s inability to tax.

1.Foreign Debt▫Nation owed 190 million dollars to foreign

countries for their assistance during the war

2.Foreign relations▫Britain stationed troops in the Great Lakes;

Spain closed trade on the Mississippi River due to money owed by the U.S.

Shay’s Rebellion

• Rebellion led by Daniel Shay

• Based on high debt after the war in Massachusetts

• Shay’s Rebellion showed the inability of the government to act

• Also showed the weakness of the government with financial and military problems

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KGG9afW7XY

ActivityIn the words of George Washington…

“The consequences of.. [an] inefficient government are too obvious to be dwelt upon. Thirteen sovereignties pulling against each other, and all tugging at the federal head will soon bring ruin on the whole… Let us have [government] by which our lives, liberty, and property will be secured or let us know the worst at once.”

- Explain what Washington was saying in your own words.

- Do you believe Washington would be proud of our current government (the politicians, the laws, etc.) if he were alive today?

Barney Fife(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuPQgV8yBM) 2:00

The Constitutional ConventionMay of 1787

• Philadelphia was chosen as a symbolic location to hold the convention. (Independence Hall)

• George Washington was chosen by unanimous decision to be President of the convention.; however, James Madison will be given the title of “Father of the Constitution” due to his detailed notes of the proceedings.

• He was chosen because of his prestige and leadership.

• Rhode Island was the only state that did not send delegates.

Major Issues at the Convention

Representation Representation

Virginia Plan- Set up three branches of government- Bicameral legislature with the number of representatives based on the state’s population- Congress would have the right to tax and regulate foreign and interstate commerce- Congress could veto any state law- Called for a strong president

New Jersey Plan- Unicameral Congress with each State having an equal vote- Congress could tax and regulate commerce- No power to veto state laws

3/5 Compromise• Proposed to solve

North/South issue of representation and taxation

• To benefit the North, compromise made slaves worth 3/5 of a person to lesson number of representatives from Southern states

• To benefit the South, less taxation due to smaller population

The Great Compromise- After 4 months the convention created a constitution with an amendment process- Needed 9 states to ratify- approve it- Issue is no “Bill of Rights”

Branches of GovernmentExecutive: President (enforces

laws)

Legislative: Congress (makes laws)•Senate-upper house( equal representation)•House of Representatives- lower house (representation based on population of the state)

Judicial: Supreme Court (interprets laws)

Stop and Think!

•How is this different from the Articles of Confederation?

• http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=245088

Building a New Nation

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Trouble over the Constitution

• Main controversy-power given to the national government vs. state government

• Controversy forms two opposing groups-Federalists and Anti-Federalists, each with their own interpretations of the Constitution

The Federalist View The Anti-Federalist View

1.Favored strong National Government that shared power with states

2.Believed checks and balances would keep all branches of government equal

3.Believed a central government was needed to facilitate trade, conduct foreign relations, and provide national defense

4.Believed that having a strong national government was necessary for a nation the size of the U.S.

5. Felt that a bill of rights would be unnecessary due to all the state constitutions already containing their own and the Constitution would not infringe on people’s rights.

1.Believed that one central government was unable to control the interests of the entire nation

2.Felt that the power of the nation should rest in the hands of the local and state governments

3.Believed that a central government would only serve the best interest of the privileged minority

4.Afraid the rights of the common man would be taken away without a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution

5. Demanded a Bill of Rights be included or else they would not ratify Constitution

Federalist Leaders

George Washington

John Jay

James Madison

Alexander Hamilton

Anti-Federalist Leaders

Patrick Henry Richard Henry Lee

Samuel Adams

Documents that influenced the Bill of Rights

• The Bill of Rights was initially based on the Virginia Declaration of Rights

• The Virginia Declaration of Rights was written by George Mason

• Much of the Bill of Rights can be credited to George Mason

• The first amendment of the Bill of Rights (Freedom of Religion), was influenced by the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

• Thomas Jefferson, the author of this work, declared that a government may not establish a national religion nor support a favored church.

The Bill of Rights• The Bill of rights was

added to the Constitution which led to ratification in 1788.

• The Bill of Rights, also known as the Ten Amendments, guaranteed the rights of American citizens.

• The principle author of the Bill of Rights was James Madison.

Activity

• In groups, you will construct and fill out the “My Bill of Rights Booklet.”

•Read Amendments 1-10 on pages 179-181 and fill in Amendment, definition(in your own words), and a present day example.

•Once the booklet is complete, you will be given a daily grade.

The New Republic

Nation Political Divisions and Foreign Conflict

1789-1816

Washington’s Presidency http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti2hV7BfYBo

• George Washington took office in 1789 as the first President of the U.S.

• First challenge-shape the judicial branch by creating the Supreme Court through the Judiciary Act of 1789.

• John Jay-First Chief Justice

• Washington also appointed advisors to help him make decisions to run the country- the Cabinet.

• Most notable Cabinet members were Alexander Hamilton(Secretary of the Treasury) and Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State)

Federalists vs. Democratic Republicans

Federalists Democratic-Republicans

• Leader: Alexander Hamilton

• Supporters: Wealthy Northerners

• Characteristics: Desired a National Bank, economy based on shipping and banking, government led by well-educated, wealthy individuals, strong national government

• Leader: Thomas Jefferson• Supporters: Common

Southerners• Characteristics:

No National Bank, economy based on agriculture, government led by the common man, strong state and local governments

Bank of the United States• The National Bank was proposed by Alexander Hamilton to be

jointly operated by the government and private investors to generate income.

• Federalists supported the bank because it benefited the wealthy elite and the federal government.

• The Democratic-Republicans were opposed to the Bank because it gave economic power to the Federal Government and the Northern merchants (Northerners = creditors, Southerners= Debtors)

• To resolve issue, Hamilton suggested the National capital be located in the South in order to calm the fears over the National Bank.

• This led to the creation of Washington D.C.

Protective Tariffs•To encourage American citizens to buy

American manufactured goods, protective tariffs were placed on ALL imported goods.

•Tariffs angered southern farmers because they relied on equal trade with European countries.

•Southerners were forced to pay extra for foreign goods while Northerners enjoyed cheaper American goods.

Foreign Relations with France http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH2GuzV_6_U

• The American Revolution caused the French Revolution.

• The French declared war on all monarchies including England’s, and asked the U.S. to support.

• Federalists in American government pressured George Washington to declare the U.S. to stay neutral because of good relations with England.

Jay’s Treaty

• John Jay•Background: since U.S. was neutral, U.S.

expected free shipping rights. Great Britain began seizing U.S. ships and began the impressments policy- forcible seizure of men for military service

•Treaty called for the British to abandon posts in northwest region of U.S.▫ NOTHING about impressments- angered people!

Election of 1796

•John Adams is elected.

Administration begins with problems

Possible war with France

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp7dVjNWPJI

X Y Z Affair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw0KcA59_8s

• This was a meeting between American delegation and low level French officials nicknamed X, Y, Z who tried to bribe the Americans in order to meet with the top French foreign minister.▫Led to the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts-

charge anyone speaking out against the government (jail time)

▫Led to the passing of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which stated that states could nullify an act of the federal government.

• Creates Navy and authorizes U.S. ships to seize French ones (undeclared war)▫ Many want war to expand, but Adams doesn’t▫ Tries to negotiate: no more treaty, pay for damages, no more

seizing ships• Adams gets peace, but ruins his political career

Results of Foreign Affairs

•Napoleon Bonaparte become emperor of France

•Tensions eased between two nations

•Argument over state and national powers still raged on!

Pause-Star-Rank

•Review your notes and place stars beside the most important concepts.

•Select the three most important concepts/ideas and create a summary sentence for each one.

•Next, rank your three summary sentences in order of importance (1-most important).

•Turn in your work with your name on top!▫By re-reading your notes, you are more apt

to process the information!

Caricature Activity▫Color the Caricature of Alexander Hamilton

and Thomas Jefferson Around each of them, draw 5 things that

describe them You must color the pictures and I should CLEARLY be able to tell what you drew!