Confederation to Constitution

1. Confederation to Constitution Chapter 8

2. Essential Question • How did the Americans create a national government that respected both the Independence of states and the rights of individuals?

3. Section 1 Important terms • Shay’s Rebellion: uprising of Massachusetts farmer who demanded debt relief. • Northwest Territory: Land NW of App. Mts. Covered by the land ordinance of 1785 • Articles of Confederation: plan for national government ratified in 1781. • Confederation Congress: national legislative body formed by the Articles of Confederation. • Land Ordinance of 1785: law that est. A plan for dividing the federally owned lands west of the App. Mts. • Northwest Ordinance: law that described how the Northwest Territory was to be governed. • Republic: state, country, or nation which people elect representatives to govern. • Ratification: act of official confirmation • Levy: impose or raise a tax • Arsenal: place where weapons are stored

4. The Confederation Era • After Revolutionary War – to have were economic hardships- states continue to have high taxes. • Shay’s Rebellion: -uprising of farmers protesting against unfair taxation.

5. Forming a New Government • People before opposed a harsh rule from a distance. • Goal was to prevent governmental tyranny in a new nation. • Agreed the new national to be a republic- a country in which people choose representatives to govern them. • Property owners –white males who could vote • African Americans and women could not vote.

6. State Constitution Lead the Way • Each state was to create their own government • Farmers wanted to make colonial systems more representative • Some states gave different powers to different parts of the government. • Limited powers of Governors • 1st constitutional document – (Virginia’s Constitution of 1776) • It protected • Freedom of Press • Freedom of Religion

7. Realized they had to form a United Government • Diplomat John Dickinson- “By united we stand, by divided we fall.”

8. The Articles of Confederation • Delegates disagreed on how each state gets one vote or by population • Disagreed on control of the Northwest Territory • Congress agreed on a plan of Articles of Confederation • National Government would be run by legislative Body called Confederation Congress

9. Powers of Congress • Wage war • Make Peace • Sign treaties • Run Indian affairs • Issue money or borrow money • Each state had one vote in congress • States Powers • Set taxes • Enforce National laws

10. Articles sent to Ratification (approval) • But some states refused to sign because didn’t have land claims in Western Frontier. • 1. sell lands to pay debts- disadvantages to small. Worried big states would become to powerful In 1781 finally ratified after states gave up claim from Western Lands

11. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles • Realized Confederation Congress was to weak to deal with most national issues. Land Ordinance of 1785 • To lay out land in a six mile square plot / townships/ lands Northwest Territory • Ohio • Indiana • Michigan • Illinois • Wisconsin • Minnesota

12. Northwest Ordinance • Outlined how the Northwest territory was to be governed • 60,000 people could apply to be a state • Freedom of Religion • Rivers open to all • Trial by Jury • Helped with orderly growth of the United States.

13. Problems with Britain and Spain • Britian competed against America fur trade. • Britain banned American ships in British waters. • Spain banned American ships in Carribbean • Spain refused to allow Americans to use Mississippi River or deposit goods in New Orleans. • Spain and Congress argued over boundary of Florida. • Problems with foreign relations – revealed weakness in National government.

14. Economic Problems and Shay’s Rebellion • Trade weakened – serious economic crisis • Didn’t have power to levy or collect taxes- (national government) • State sent little money could not afford (states and people) • Hoped to solve problems by giving more power to national government.

15. Section 2 Creating the Constitution • Call for a Constitutional Convention • 1786 Delegates from 5 states meet in Annapolis, Maryland. • 1. promote trade among states- “High tax amongst states • 2 creating a trade laws- National would help economics.

16. They would have to amend “Articles of Confederation” • Because National Government had no regulations on trade among states. • Alexander Hamilton- Convention in Philadelphia- all sent delegates (except Rhode Island)

17. Constitutional Convention • May 25, 1787- Convention Opened • Delegates voted for George Washington (President of the Convention) • James Madison – Virginia delegate – shaped the constitution. He took detailed notes –on ideas from the proceedings.

18. Who Was There? • Constitutional Convention - 55 delegates • Delegates known as Founders or Founding Fathers of the U.S. • Popular Sovereignty- Is a government system in which people rule. • Who was missing? • Jefferson and Adams- oversees diplomat posts. • Patrick Henry – refused to go –said, “He smelled a rat towards monarchy.”

19. Convention did not reflect on diversity of U.S. Population • Native mericans • African Americans • Women • In the future will give full rights to all American citizens

20. Some Challenges of the Convention • People and states that have conflict need government order • Government that protects people’s rights but does not oppress them.

21. Disagreements over Reputation • Two forms of New Government • Virginia Plan – Edmund Randolph • 1. executive branch---- enforce the laws • 2. judicial branch----- interpret the laws • 3. legislative branch---- Create the laws • 1. Upper house • 2. Lower House

22. Number of representatives based on population or its wealth • Checks and balances- Controlling power of government • New government designed to limit abuse • Small states objected the plan • Gave more power to larger populations

23. New Jersey Plan • William Paterson • Like the Articles of Confederation • Single House government • Each state had a single vote • The Great Compromise • 1787 passed plan • Roger Sherman –deal Great Compromise • Each state had an equal number of votes • House of Represenatives – it was based on population

24. Challenges Over Slavery • House of represenatives based on population. How to decided about slaves. • 3/5 Compromise • Southern states had more slaves than the northern states. • South- wanted slaves counted and disagreed on banning slavery • North- Did not want slaves counted, only for taxation. They wanted slavery outlawed.

25. Compromised that 3/5 slaves would be counted. • 1. Representation in legislation • 2. taxation South Carolina and Georgia said they would not sign anything. The right to import slaves would be untouched. Congress agreed that they couldn’t ban slavery until 1808.

26. Section 3Ratification and The Bill of Rights • Anti Federalists: People who opposed constitution • Pamphlet: sent out by Mercy Otis Warren- concerns about people ruling the nation. • Once the pamphlet was circulating the farmers wanted to ratify the constitution at once.

27. Concerns of the Federalists • Take too much power away from the states • Federalism- is a system of government shared power by federal and state government. • Federalist- people who supported the constitution. • The Federalist Papers: Promoted and answered their critics about the Constitution. • Writers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay • Reasons why people should ratify constitution.

28. Concerns of the Anti-Federalists • Too much power taken away from states. • Didn’t guarantee rights to people. • Strong President be declared king. • Feared Senate to powerful, liberties be lost. • Rural areas supported- Anti- Federalist – do to Tax Burden • Large states and strong economies- Had more freedom under Articles of Confederation.

29. Battle for Ratification • Constitution had nothing to protect the Rights of People. • Thomas Jefferson wanted to add Bill of Rights- A summary of Citizen’s Rights and Freedoms – set amendments to the Constitution.

30. Call for a Bill of Rights • Patrick Henry and George Mason- were ant federalist • Wanted Guarantee that people would have • Freedom of speech • Freedom of Religion • Freedom of Press • Trial by Jury • Right to Bear Arms

31. Federalists yielded to demand. Added the Bill of Rights • Majority Rule

32. Bill of Rights and the Constitution • Madison proposed ten amendments to constitution (Bill of Rights) • Bill of Rights • 1st nine amendments – Basic individual Rights • Government shall not favor one religion over another or interfere with anyone’s religious Freedom. • 1st amendment (separation of church and state) • Protects people from government abuse

33. Amending the Constitution • 2/3 of each house of Congress or State Legislative to propose a amendment • To become a law ¾ approval of states • Bill of Rights – 1st ten amendments – 17 amendments have been added since.