The Road to a Constitution 1776 - 1790

Creating State Constitutions Republicanism. Most had strong governors with veto power. Most had bicameral legislatures. Property required for voting. Some had universal white male suffrage. Most had bills of rights. Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of State Assemblies

The Articles of Confederation Our first national government Adopted by Congress in 1777 Was approved only after dealing with the issue of Western claims -lands ceded to government would be used to create new republic states • Led to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Govt. Structure under the Articles… Confederation of States -each state had one vote - Population did not factor into voting process • A National Government -single congressional house=unicameral - controlled the armed forces -request financial contributions = could not levy taxes • Making changes -passing laws required 9 of 13 states’ votes -To Amend -approval of Congress -Unanimous approval of all states 13 of 13

Its weaknesses….. Central Government had no power over states -couldn’t enforce taxation -couldn’t coin money - couldn’t regulate trade - couldn’t enter into foreign agreements •Difficult to makes laws or amendments •No national leadership States hold the power – Afraid of the Government becoming a Monarchy!!

Original State claims to Western Lands

Land Ordinance 1785 The selling of western land to pay the national debt

Land Ordinance of 1785 6 square mile tracts of land Divided into 36 smaller sections of 640 acres Divided for growth of towns (townships) Cost at least $1 per acre

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 or the Add-A-State Plan Congress would be able to sell western lands to raise $$$ Creates a territory under Congressional control w / 3 judges and a governor 5000 free males= create a general assembly to make own laws • 60,000 citizens = petition for statehood OHIO = 1803 NWO prohibited slavery

Problems with the Articles: Nation in a depression - govt. could do nothing to help States disputed borders created by Congress States entered into private trade agreements that undermined the purpose of the government No way to raise an army - Shay’s Rebellion!! 1787

Shays’ Rebellion Farmers income decreased while taxes increased Inflation and worthless $$ made it hard to repay loans Those who defaulted on loans lost their farms 1786 – Danielle Shays leads MA. Farmers in an attempt to capture a federal arsenal!!

-Showed the weakness of the new national government!!! The new US Govt. was powerless to do anything - No organized army The MA militia was called out to stop the rebellion!! Its effect: -Showed the weakness of the new national government!!! The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced!

The United States in 1787

The Annapolis Convention - 1786 12 representatives / 5 states [NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA] GOAL  address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states. Not enough states were represented to make any real progress. Called on Congress to have all the states to meet in Philadelphia

The Virginia Plan (The Large State Plan) A bicameral Legislature States represented by “Quotas of contribution or the number of free inhabitants” Called for a three tiered government –legislative, executive and judicial Had the basic “checks and balances” plan for government

The New Jersey Plan (or the Small State Plan) Create a unicameral legislature One vote per state Proposed a United Nations membership concept – states would join as independent entities Gave govt. power over trade and ability to raise money by creating taxes on foreign goods Mr. O’Neill’s Childhood home

The Great Compromise – The Connecticut Plan A bicameral legislature Creates a Senate and House of Representatives Equal number of representatives from each state for Senate (2) House of Representatives have one rep for every 30,000 people – apportionment 1790 – 160 members on HOR for 4 million people Currently 435 members of HOR For 281,424,177 (2000 census)

The Question of Representation The 3/5 Compromise 25 of 55 Congressional delegates owned slaves South wanted slave to count towards population figures North argued if they counted, they should be able to vote Each side was concerned over a majority HOR control (slavery could be outvoted) “The institution of slavery and its consequences form the line of discrimination (in America)” James Madison

Both sides compromised that each slave would count as 3/5 a person The word slave is not in the Constitution!! “population would be determined by counting the number of "free Persons” plus three-fifths of all other Persons . Slavery concessions were the price to get the South to join the nation!! Congress agreed to put off the issue of slavery for 20 years until 1808, putting off the inevitable conflict over slavery in America

Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

Federalists vs. Anti Federalists Wealthy social classes Farmers and Frontiersmen Adopt the Constitution Opposed the Constitution Government controls Individual rights Federal Government Stronger state governments Greater economic control Taxation too burdensome Many states feared ratification for fear of giving too much power to a new government DE, PA, NJ (1787), GA, CT, MA, MD, SC (Jan - May 1788), And New Hampshire (June 1788) provided the nine vote necessary to approve the Constitution!

The Constitution Power from popular sovereignty – power from the people Divides power between States and Fed. Govt. = Federalism Creates a separation of powers -judicial – Supreme Court -legislative - Congress -executive - President Creates a system of Checks and Balances – -No one single powerful authority

Indirect democracy = voters elect representative to vote for them The Electoral college – members from each state indirectly votes for President State legislatures choose Senators Is an elastic document = it can be changed through amendments 2/3 of both houses of Congress must approve an Amendment 3/4 of the states must ratify it to make it a law