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Articles of Confederation & Constitution

Articles of Confederation & Constitution. America’s Early Government. Articles of Confederation. In 1781, the states formed a confederation ( union of political units ) & wrote the Articles.

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Articles of Confederation & Constitution

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  1. Articles of Confederation & Constitution America’s Early Government

  2. Articles of Confederation • In 1781, the states formed a confederation (union of political units) & wrote the Articles. • The main functions of the Confederation government were to defend the country, pay its debts, settle arguments between states, keep good relations w/ other countries, and set up a postal service. • Strong state government, limited central gov’t

  3. Articles • Unicameral legislature- one house • Each state sends delegates, but gets only 1 vote per state • States were to send funds to pay gov’t officials and the military • 9 state votes to pass any law

  4. Problems w/ Articles • States not fairly represented in the Congress • No central authority to negotiate with Foreign countries • No authority to make states comply with legislation • No power to collect taxes or put troops into service

  5. Problems w/ Articles Cont’d. • No common currency • All states had to agree to amend the constitution • 9 of 13 states had to agree to any new legislation • No system or authority to borrow money

  6. Results of the Articles • States dispute (fight over) borders • States did not send money to national government to pay debts • States created own currencies • States taxed each others goods • States refused to acknowledge any national law they did not like

  7. Georgia’s government at the end of the war was based on the Constitution of 1777. • The legislature held most of the power. • Superior court in each county oversaw elections, controlled roads, and provided aid for the poor. Georgia’s Gov’t

  8. Constitution of 1777 • Executive Council (12 legislators) held greatest power • Council could overrule the governor’s decisions • John Treutlen appointed Georgia’s first governor • Georgia’s 1777 Constitutionchanged in 1789

  9. “T” Chart Georgia Constitution of 1777 Strengths (DON’T WRITE) Weaknesses (WRITE) • Legislature Unicameral (one house)/Not “Checks and Balances” • Governor served only 1 Year & was weak – Couldn’t Veto Laws, grant pardons, “Chief Executive” only by name • Legislative elected council – had power to veto the Governor • Three Branches, but the Legislative was more powerful than the others • Still have Legislative Branch • Three Branches • Three Branches had separate powers • Established counties – replaced parishes • Established local (county) governments

  10. Land • Land was the most important issue for most Georgians after the war. • Soldiers who had fought in Georgia for independence could receive bounty grants of 200 or more acres. In 1786, a new town of Louisville was ordered built on the Ogeechee River; it was to be Georgia’s new capital.

  11. Indian Relations • After the Revolution, settlers began to take Creek land. • The Upper Creek did not want to cede more land. • The Creek land issues had not been settled by the late 1780s. = Future Problems for Georgia??

  12. The Constitutional Convention • Held in May 1787 in Philadelphia and attended by representatives from 12 states; Rhode Island chose not to send delegates. • William Few, Abraham Baldwin, William Pierce, and William Houstoun attended from Georgia.

  13. The Great Compromise • The Great Compromise was the name of the combination of two ideas for the government & it established a Senate with 2representatives from each state, and a House of Representatives with amount of representatives based on state population.

  14. The Compromise was agreed upon and a new Constitution was created!

  15. The Constitution Established… • A strong Congress that could tax and regulate trade. • Executive Branch • Electoral College • Judicial Branch

  16. Why did GA say yes?? • Georgia was the 4th state to ratify (approve) the Constitution. • We feared a war with the Creek and felt a stronger national gov’t would offer more protection. • Planters wanted to regulate trade • Abraham Baldwin won planter support by helping pass a clause to allow the slave trade to continue for another 20 years.

  17. Uh-Oh… • Some states did not want to ratify the Constitution. • Antifederalistswanted to power to stay w/ state gov’ts • Federalistswanted to pass the Constitution. • The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments to the Constitution) was added. By 1790, all states had joined the United States of America.

  18. So you feel like you’ve written too much? • Once the debate ended, Governor Morris of New Jersey put the Constitution in its final form. He competed the task of hand-writing 4,300 words in two days!

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