Shaping a New Nation

I can identify the key ideas of the Articles of Confederation

Who’s In Charge? NO unity among new states 13 state were confederation, not a republic yet Continental Congress created FIRST government of USA = Articles of Confederation Confederation = loose agreement among states Congress created government while fighting Revolutionary war starting in 1777 Articles of Confederation finally ratified in 1781

Strengths of Gov’tWeaknesses of Gov’t Declare WarCan NOT collect taxes Make PeaceCan NOT control trade between states Make/Sign TreatiesNo executive (president) to enforce laws Borrow $$ from statesNo national court system Establish postal serviceEach state gets one vote in Congress (population doesn’t matter) Deal with Native AmericansAll states had to agree to change gov’t

Provided for a weak national government Gave Congress no power to tax or regulate commerce among the states (Pay War Debts) Provided for no common currency Gave each state one vote regardless of size Provided for no executive or judicial branch

Article II, which reads: “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.” The American colonies did not want to create yet another out-of-touch, national government. Moreover, Americans identified most strongly with their individual colony, so it seemed natural to construct an American government based on powerful state governments.

I can identify the key principles of the Constitution

Can we fix it? YES we can!! 1787 – 55 delegates (founding fathers) meet in Philadelphia Goal – fix the Articles & make government of USA stronger Throw out the Articles Too hard to fix so let’s create a NEW GOVT George Washington elected President of Convention Others at convention  Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison Madison takes notes on all ideas & discussions Convention will become known as Constitutional Convention when finished with new govt New Gov’t Need Ideas

Virginia PlanNew Jersey Plan Written by James MadisonWritten by William Patterson Liked by states with large populationsLiked by states with small populations Created federal Gov’t w/ 3 branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial) Kept much the same from the Articles of Confederation One house = 2 delegates per state Other house = delegates based on population All states get ONE vote Introduced checks and balances to control each branch’s power New powers for National Gov’t = TAX and REGULATE TRADE Unicameral Bicameral

Made federal law the supreme law of the land when constitutional, but otherwise gave the states considerable leeway to govern themselves Balanced power between large and small states (a bicameral legislature) by creating a Senate, where each state has two senators, and a House of Representatives, where membership is based on population (Great Compromise) Placated the Southern states by counting slaves as three-fifths of the population when determining representation in the United States House of Representatives (Three-Fifths Compromise)

CONSTITUTION (Great Compromise) Law of the LandNational Government Supreme FEDERALISM – National government shares power with states Three Branches of Government LEGISLATIVEEXECUTIVEJUDICIAL Senate = 2 per state House of Representatives = pop. President and Vice President Supreme Court and National (Federal) Court System Checks and Balances for three branches of government Constitution also included Three Fifths Compromise Each slave counts 3/5 of a person for determining population in the House of Representatives Slave Trade Compromise Congress was given the power to ban slave trade after 1808 Amendment Procedure Included a way for future generations to change Constitution through amendments

Taking Sides Must have 9 of 13 states ratify new Constitution for it to become NEW government of USA Some delegates at convention agree with Constitution & some do not. Why??? Federalists  Support ratification Anti-Federalists  Against ratification

Avoided a too-powerful central government by establishing three co- equal branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—with numerous checks and balances among them Limited the powers of the federal government to those identified in the Constitution

Constitution Ratified All states ratify by 1788 (except Rhode Island & North Carolina) Went into effect in 1789 VA was the 10th state to ratify When the Constitution was ratified it became the 2 ND official government of the United States

What is it? First 10 amendments to Constitution Purpose  Protect your basic liberties from government Why added? Federalists had to agree to add BILL OF RIGHTS to Constitution for Anti- Federalists to agree to ratification Written by James Madison

Ideas from… Madison used 2 documents to get ideas Virginia Declaration of Rights Written by George Mason (of Virginia) listed basic human rights government can’t violate Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom Written by Thomas Jefferson (of Virginia) outlawed government supporting one church over another

Main Ideas Established a system of Federalism Set up Congress or 2 houses (Legislature) Created office of President & Vice Pres (Executive) Set up a national court & Supreme Court (Judiciary) Established a process for checks & balances and separation of powers

I can identify the key leaders of the new nation era

George Washington, president of the Convention Washington presided at the Convention and, although seldom participating in the debates, lent his enormous prestige to the proceedings.

“Father of the Constitution” Authored the Virginia Plan & later… The Bill of Rights

Madison, a Virginian and a brilliant political philosopher, often led the debate and kept copious notes of the proceedings—the best record historians have of what transpired at the Constitutional Convention. At the Convention, he authored the “Virginia Plan,” which proposed a federal government of three separate branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and became the foundation for the structure of the new government. He later authored much of the Bill of Rights.

I can identify the significant documents of the new nation era

Virginia Declaration of Rights (George Mason) Reiterated the notion that basic human rights should not be violated by governments Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (Thomas Jefferson) Outlawed the established church—that is, the practice of government support for one favored church Bill of Rights James Madison consulted the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom when drafting the amendments that eventually became the United States Bill of Rights.

I can identify the Federalist and Anti-Federalist and their beliefs

Federalists advocated the importance of a strong central government, especially to promote economic development and public improvements. Today, those who see a primary role for the federal government in solving national problems are heirs to this tradition.

Anti-Federalists feared an overly powerful central government destructive of the rights of individuals and the prerogatives of the states (State rights are paramount). Today, the more conservative thinkers echo these concerns and champion liberty, individual initiative, and free markets.

FederalistsAnti-Federalists Major PlayersGeorge Washington James Madison Patrick Henry George Mason Ratification?Support ConstitutionAgainst Constitution Main Ideas and View of Government Strong National (federal) govt w/Executive (President) Powerful national govt OK b/c have Checks & balances (see chart p. 143) Strong State govt (liked Articles of Confederation) **MUST add BILL OF RIGHTS Will not support Constitution if specific rights not listed for people!

The leading Virginia opponents of ratification were Patrick Henry and George Mason; the leading Virginia proponents of ratification were George Washington and James Madison.

Test at our next class meeting