UNIT 2“RULES TO LIVE BY”

1. Chapter 3 2. The Constitution 3. The Citizenship Handbook

Unit Focus Question:

What are the roles and responsibilities of governments

and citizens?

Chapter 3

Creating the Constitution1776-1791

Delegates from each state met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to “revise” the Articles of Confederation. The delegates decided that the

nation needed a stronger federal (central, national) government.

Creating the Constitution

• What is a “constitution”?1. the system of fundamental principles according to which

a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed.2. the document embodying these principles

• How were the states governed without one?– The Articles of Confederation – created in 1777

• How did our founders create our constitution?– Through compromise

A constitution is a set of rules.

Chapter 3, Section 1

Governing a New Nationp. 78-83

Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation convince leading

Americans that the country needs a strong central government.

3.1 SECTION FOCUS QUESTION:

How was America’s first government (under How was America’s first government (under the Articles of Confederation) both a success the Articles of Confederation) both a success and a failure?and a failure?

Government by the StatesMain Idea: The first state constitutions are designed to support the principles fought for in the American Revolution.

• To give more power to states, 11 new STATE constitutions (document stating the rules under which a government will operate) are written.

• First state constitutions minimize the power of state governors (executives)– person who runs the

government and sees that the laws are carried out (executed)

• More people can vote for legislators (law-makers) – Legislatures have more power than

executives. Why?Why?

Virginia’s constitution includes a Bill of Rightswhich seeks to protect individual “natural” rights. Becomes a model for other states.

p. 79

America’s Forgotten Constitution

• Bet you didn’t know…Bet you didn’t know…• Our first constitution was

written during the Revolution.– Adopted by Congress in 1777– Officially ratified Feb. 2, 1781– By all 13 states

• It was called the Articles of Confederation– “To all to whom these Presents shall come,

we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting.”

• It was pretty weak!Page 1 of Articles of Confederationcreated Nov. 15, 1777

The Articles of ConfederationMain Idea: The Articles of Confederation were designed to preserve liberty by restricting the powers of the federal government.

Powers Gov. did NOT have:Powers Gov. did NOT have: - NO power to raise taxes - Could NOT raise an army - Could NOT regulate trade

*National government could NOT enforce any laws on the states. It could only ask the states to enforce national laws.

– ““Pretty Please!”Pretty Please!”

What our government was like under the Articles:What our government was like under the Articles:• Had one branch – a one house legislature (Congress)

– No executive (no President) or Executive or Judicial Branch– All states (big and small) were equal, one vote each– Needed 9 of 13 states to approve new laws

Powers of Government:Powers of Government:– make treaties– make laws* – declare war– coin or borrow money – run a postal service

STATES had WAY more

STATES had WAY more

power than National Gov.

power than National Gov.

Settling the Western LandsMain Idea: The ordinances of 1785 and 1787 create a way for national lands to be sold to the public.

• States give up western land claims. (see map on p. 81)

• Land Ordinance of 1785: Divides public lands into townships (a grid with 6 mile squares) and sold at no less than $1 an acre. - see page 84-85– One section set aside for schools

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787:• 3-step process to statehood:

1. Congress appoints governor to territory

2. 5,000 voting free adult males = can form its own state legislature

3. 60,000 free voting adult males = can apply for statehood.

• No slavery allowed!

The old Northwest(see p. 84-85)

Growing ProblemsMain Idea: The Articles of Confederation deny the central government the power to deal effectively with several key issues facing the nation.

• Not enough power for central gov.• Economic problems: each state has its

own financial policy– States print their own money &

discourage trade with other states– economic depression – a period of

slow business activity, high unemployment

• Foreign Affairs: Europeans look at America with scorn (thought we were weak)– Britain still occupies forts in the

Northwest Territory– Spain closes the Mississippi River to

American traders Under the Articles of Confederation,

state governments had more power than the central government.

Shays’ Rebellion – Jan. 25, 1787

• Former Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays rallies discontented farmers.- They were being over-taxed.- They shut down the courthouse

in North Hampton, MA - fall 1786

• 1800 “Regulators” march on the armory seeking weapons- It’s protected by state militia

who inflict 24 casualties.- “Regulators” scatter -

eventually get amnesty - http://shaysrebellion.stcc.edu/index.html

Shay’s “Regulators”march on the arsenalin Springfield, MA.It was defended by 4400 militia.

Fought at Lex./Concord, Bunker Hill, and Saratoga

Shay’s Rebellion - Aftermath• How did Shay’s Rebellion How did Shay’s Rebellion

lead to our 1lead to our 1stst President? President?• Rebellion demonstrated the

weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. How?How?– Unrest showed the need for a

STRONG central government.

• George Washington knew his retirement would have to wait.– Only he could lead us.

• Congress meets in Philadelphia Congress meets in Philadelphia for the for the ConstitutionalConstitutional Convention -Convention - May 1787 May 1787…….…….

1st Inauguration of George Washington- April 30, 1789

Federal building New York, New York - April 2011

3.1 SECTION FOCUS QUESTION

How was America’s first government (under the How was America’s first government (under the Articles of Confederation) both a success and a Articles of Confederation) both a success and a failure?failure?

Despite being weaker than state governments, the federal government established a congress, won independence and passed the land ordinances. Its failures included a weak central government with no executive or court system and no power to tax or stop public unrest.