Aim: How was the new nation’s government run under the Articles of Confederation?

DO NOW: What issue do you think this quote referring to:“How is the one exalted, and the other depressed, by the contrary modes of education which are adopted! The one is taught to aspire and the other is early confined and limited. As their year increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother is led by the had through all the flowery paths of science.” -Judith Sargent Murray, quoted in Founding Mothers

A Republic A political system without a

monarch “Rule with the consent of

the governed” Not including women, African

Americans, Native Americans, and poor white laborers

Republican motherhood—a shift in women’s role—encouraged mothers to educate children in civic virtues and responsibilities

Articles of Confederation

Adopted by Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781

America’s first national government

Confederation—an association of independent, sovereign states with certain common goods

Articles of Confederation

Weak national government, states retained most of their power Each state had a legislative, executive, and judicial branch

Central government had only one branch—the Continental Congress (which was a legislative body)

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Congress could not impose taxesCongress could not regulate trade9 of 13 states needed to agree to

pass lawsAll states had to agree to amend the

ArticlesNo executive branch to enforce laws

passed by CongressNo judicial branch to interpret laws

passed by Congress

Developing Western Lands

Northwest Territory

Developing Western Lands

Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 Western lands divided into six-mile

squares called Townships Each township was then divided into 36

sections of 640 acres each▪One square to support public schools, the others sold to settlers

The Northwest Ordinance

Divided the Northwest territory into smaller territories, each governed by a territorial governor

With 5,000 free adult males, it could elect its own legislature

With 60,000 could apply to become a state

Shays’ Rebellion

Massachusetts judges ordered farmers to sell their land and livestock to pay off their debts

Farmers rebelled (led by Daniel Shays) and marched on the national arsenal but were stopped by Massachusetts militia troops

Aim: How did the Constitutional Convention change US government?

DO NOW: Do you think it is fair to set minimum age requirements for certain government offices? If so, for which offices and what age?

Constitutional Convention

Delegates from each state met in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation

55 delegates from 12 states attended (RI boycotted)

Elected George Washington as president of the convention

The Father of the Constitiution

James Madison of Virginia

Secrecy

They agreed to keep whatever was said in the meeting room a secret until their work was done

Independence Hall

Constitution

Delegates agreed to throw out the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution Constitution—a written plan that provides the

basic framework of a government Where should governments power come

from.. The states or the people?

The Virginia Plan

Developed by Madison Strong national government with three

branches Legislative Branch—Congress to make laws Executive Branch—To carry out “execute” the

laws Judicial Branch—System of courts to apply

and interpret the laws Congress would have 2 houses—the

House of Representatives and the Senate Number of lawmakers depended on its

population

New Jersey Plan

Everything the same except… Would have one house, not two Each would have an equal vote in

Congress, no matter the size

Issue #1: How should states be represented in the new government?

Option A: The number of representatives a state sends to Congress will depend on the state’s population.

Option B: Each state will have equal representation in Congress, regardless of the state’s size.

Option C: The number of representatives a state sends to Congress will depend partially on the wealth of the citizens of the state.

Issue #1: Resolution

The Great Compromise By Roger Sherman of Connecticut Kept a 2-house Congress:

House of Representatives—would represent the people based on state’s population

The Senate—would represent the states (2 senators) elected by their state legislatures

Slaves

Should slaves be counted as people or property?

Northern states started to ban slavery Southern economy depended on the

labor of enslaved African Americans

Issue #2: Should slaves be counted as part of a state’s population?

Option A: Count slaves as property to be taxed like other property.

Option B: Count slaves as people to determine representation in Congress.

Option C: Count slaves as both people for representation in Congress and property for taxation.

Option D: Do not count slaves as either people for representation or as property for taxation

Issue #2: Resolution

Three-fifths Compromise Count each slave as three fifths of a

person Agreed to give Congress power to control

trade, but with two limitations Congress could not place any tax on exports

going to other countries Congress could not interfere with the slave

trade for 20 years (until 1808)—at which time slave trade could be forbidden

Executive Branch

One executive or three from different parts of the country?

Agreed to one to be called the President Term for 4 years (to keep from being to

kinglike) Vice president to take over if president

dies in office

Issue #3: How should the national executive be elected?

Option A: Have the people directly elect the executive.

Option B: Have Congress elect the executive.

Option C: Have the state legislatures or governors elect the executive.

Option D: Have the people or state legislatures choose electors who will elect the executive.

Issue #3: Resolution

The Electoral Congress—the group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president—voters in each state choose their electors

Checks and Balances

Enables the three branches of Government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate Legislative: House of Representatives

and the Senate—makes the laws Executive: The president and his

advisers—carries out those laws Judicial: The Supreme Court and lower

courts—interprets the laws as they relate to the Constitution

Approving the Constitution

Completed September 17, 1787 (Constitution Day)

39 delegates from 12 states signed the Constitution

Now its time for the American people to approve: The Constitution would be ratified at

special conventions by delegates elected by the people in each state

Ratify—to formally approve a plan or an agreement. The process of approval is called ratification

Approving the Constitution

Federalists—Supporters of the Constitution

Antifederalists—Opponents of the Constitution

Federalists

Strong leaders—James Madison, John Dickinson, Alexander Hamilton

Believed that a strong national government was necessary for the survival of the republic Argued separation of powers put limits on

government power

Antifederalists

Leaders: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee

Distrusted any central authority: Would lead to tyranny Would abuse both states rights and individual liberties Did not trust government to protect people’s rights Favored the educated and wealthy over ordinary

citizens Led them to demand the addition of a Bill of

Rights

The Federalists or The Federalist Papers Essays written to convince New Yorkers

to ratify the Constitution Written under the pen name Publius

(James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay)

Ratification

Delaware first to ratify—December 7, 1787

Several states only ratified because they were promised a bill of rights

Bill of Rights—the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1791