So You’ve Just Won the Revolutionary War… What comes next

Colonies become States Colonies are very diverse in social and economic ways When each becomes its own state, hesitant to give up power to a central/national gov’t Favor “Republic” form of gov’t What is a Republic? Contrast with “Democracy”

THREE Big Questions Representation: Population or States? One vote per state Supreme Power: One entity or divided? Create “Articles of Confederation” giving national Congress some powers, State gov’ts other powers National declare war/peace, sign treaties, borrow money, set standards of weights and measures, postal service, deal with Native peoples Creates NO executive to actually carry out acts of Congress Western Lands: Who do they belong to Some states have claims west of Appalachians – Maryland doesn’t MD insists other states give up claims to United States

Dealing with those Western Lands Land Ordinance of 1785 – plan for surveying the land Northwest Ordinance – Dividing land into territories and spelling out steps to statehood Congress appoints territorial governor and judges When territory reached 5,000 voters, they could write a temporary Constitution and elect own government 60,000 free people – write a State Constitution which had to be approved by Congress TA-DA! Statehood!

Problems in Articles No real unity Difficult to change – all states needed to consent to amend them Massive war debt + no power to tax = no way to pay it off (R.I. stops amendment to allow tariff to try to make a few bucks) No way to control domestic or foreign trade Difficult to conduct any foreign relations

Drafting a Constitution Big vs. Small Virginia Plan – two houses, members divided by population Lower house would elect upper house New Jersey Plan – single house, one vote per state GREAT COMPROMISE!!! Two houses, lower house divided by population, Upper one equal People pick lower house members, state legislatures pick upper house

Const. 2 Slavery Slave states want to count slaves for their population, northern states don’t want it Settle on 3/5 compromise Also give Congress the power to limit slave trade after 20 years Why wait?

Division of Power Federalism – divide powers between Federal and State governments Separation of Powers Legislative – Make law Executive – Execute law Judicial – Interpret law System of Checks/Balances gives each branch some power over the other branches

Changing the Constitution Build in methods of changing the Constitution Both National AND State-led ways to propose Amendment Relies on States to approve any Constitutional changes Think Critically! Evidence that the framers distrust National Gov’t? Evidence that the framers distrust the people?