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