The Establishment Supplementary Notes

Articles of the Confederation Structure Unicameral – single chamber congress (like our Senate today) Each state elected one representative No Executive or Judicial Branches Congressional Power: lawmaking Powers that states had: Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Enter into treaties Raise and equip an army and navy Fix standard measurements Regulate Indian affairs Establish post offices Decide disputes among states.

Articles of the Confederation Weakness Could not levy taxes Could not regulate trade Could not enforce laws it made 9 of 13 needed approval to make a law all 13 states had to agree to amend the articles no executive branch no national courts – state courts interpreted laws

Articles of the Confederation Problems that Arose Could not pay revolutionary war veterans Shay’s Rebellion Farmers were charged tariffs to sell goods across state lines These tariffs made it impossible for farmers to make a profit If farmers could not pay their debt they were jailed Daniel Shays, a former revolutionary war veteran and a farmer, wanted to siege Boston and force the government to help them.

Fixing the Articles The congressional congress met to revise the Articles of the Confederacy Then they decided to scrap the articles and start over 3 People Presided over the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin – 81 years old and played an active role in the debates over the constitution George Washington – presided over the meeting James Madison – known as the “Father of the Constitution” – because he was the author of the basic plan of government

Decisions and Compromises Virginia Plan Two houses – an upper and lower house based on population Lower elected by the people Upper elected by the lower Executive branch chosen by legislature Judiciary chosen by the legislature

Decisions and Compromises The New Jersey Plan One house – with one delegate from each state Weak executive elected by legislature Congress would have power to tax and regulate trade

Decisions and Compromises Connecticut Compromise House of Representatives – based on population All spending and taxes start in this house House is elected by the people Senate 2 members from each state Senate is elected by the states legislatures (This was changed with the 17 amendment) Amendments = Changes to the Constitution Executive Elected by the electoral college

Decisions and Compromises Three-Fifth’s Compromise 3/5 of the slaves in the south would be counted for taxing and population purposes

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Anti-Federalist arguments Extralegal – not sanctioned by law Lacked a Bill of Rights Federalist Arguments Anarchy without a strong central government In order to gain support, the Federalist wrote a Bill of Rights

A New Country George Washington was chosen to be President 22 Senators and 59 representatives elected And 10 Amendments were drafted and ratified – the Bill of Rights – the 1st ten amendments

The Philadelphia Miracle

The Beginning of Politics Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans Hamilton/Jefferson video on website Federalist Believed in a strong central government (hence the name) Believed in an active government who read into the implied powers of government Democratic-Republicans Believed in state’s rights Believed the government should ONLY do what it is explicitly stated in the Constitution

Midnight Judges Election of 1800 John Marshal – Supreme Court Justice Adams, knowing the Federalists were losing, created 16 Judiciary seats and appointed 16 new judges at midnight before he left office John Marshal – Supreme Court Justice Marbury v. Madison (1803) – gave the Supreme Court the right of Judicial Review

Hamilton Duels Burr Hamilton insults Burr “a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government” Hamilton’s honor compelled him to a duel He intentionally lost Burr kills Hamilton

The Louisiana Purchase and Exploration

The West in 1800 Many Americans traveled west to get their own land “West” during this time was the area west of the Appalachian and east of the Mississippi It was very important to the people of America that they be able to use the Mississippi River

Napoleon and New Orleans French & Indian War France lost New Orleans to the Spanish Spain closed New Orleans to the Americans America angry Spain secretly gives New Orleans back to the French America offers to purchase New Orleans to avoid war France answers back with a bigger offer . . .

The Louisiana Purchase France was in a very expensive war with Great Britain Napoleon needed money to fuel the war Jefferson’s Dilemma Jefferson who believed in a strict interpretation of the constitution Remember his debates with Hamilton? The offer was too good to pass up Jefferson purchases the Lousiana Territory for 15 million dollars That 3 cents an acre

The Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corp of Discovery) Meriwether Lewis William Clark These two men were instructed to keep detailed journals of their expedition Purpose: Scientific Discovery Sacajawea Key Native American guide on the journey