Ch. 4.2 Growth of Federalism in America

• Since 1787– United States federal

and state governments have tried to work together peacefully.

– It doesn’t always work out that way.

Growth of Federalism, A Brief History…

• 1781– Articles of Confederation in place

• No federal government at all• Only 13 states working together in a confederacy!

• 1789– US Constitution signed

• Established strong republic government based on federalism– Federalism

» a division of legal authority between state and national governments

Then our first disagreements begin…

• Texas joins US in 1846 as a slave state

• Great Compromise of 1850– Allowed new states from Great Plains joining the US

to decide whether or not to allow slavery• Called popular sovereignty

– Idea that states could chose how they dealt with slavery.

• Remember NW Ordinance of 1787• Didn’t allow slavery in NW territories.• New states felt it did not deal with them since they were not

in that area of the US.

Slavery is first major issue to deal with federalism

• By 1860, USA has 36 states– 21 free states– 15 slave states

• November of 1860– Election of Abraham

Lincoln

• Won with 42% of popular majority

• 11 states secede from the Union

– Secede = leave

The Effects of the Civil War

• Had the South won1. Federal government

would no longer exist in South

2. Each state would have equal rights

3. Articles of Confederation would be re-established

The Effects of the Civil War

• Because the North won!1. Federal government

remains sovereign!1. Becomes the

almighty!

2. State rights will forever be weakened!1. Must answer to the

federal government

And the Federal government continues to grow in strength

• Between Civil War (1861) and end of WWII (1945)

– Federal government controls most of what is happening in United States

– Example: • Local police forces must answer to FBI

And the Federal government grows… Government Projects

State Universities get built

And the Federal government grows… Government Projects

CCC men work for government

And the Federal government grows… Government Projects

TVA builds dams for electricity!

The Grant System

• Why do state governments do what the federal government asks them to do?

– The Grant System• Federal government can give money to states.

Why would they? 1. Federal government owns a lot more money than

states.

2. Won’t share with them if they do not do what federal government tells them to do.

This leads to federal mandates

• Federal mandates– Requirements that the federal government

imposes on state and local governments.

– Examples:• Laws directing states to take certain action dealing

with a specific issue. – Asbestos Response Act of 1986

» Forced local schools to close until asbestos was cleaned out!

Federal Mandates

• Example 2– Give states the right to

deal with situations on their own or have federal government do it for them.

• 1970 Clean Air Act– Illinois

» government set up programs

– Ohio

» Set up E-Checks in every other county

Federal Mandates

• Example 3– Federal government will attach ‘strings’ to

federal aid going to states. • Forces them to do certain things for federal

government.

• Example: – 1986

» Congress wanted drinking age in US to be 21 everywhere!

» Louisiana said no! We love Mardi Gras!

Louisiana Highways, 1986

Louisiana Highways, 1990

Louisiana Levies, 2005

Hurricane Katrina, 2005

Federalism works!

• ONLY WHEN STATES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORK TOGETHER!