A “Just Right” Government WANTED: A “Just Right” Government

Wanted: A government that… Has enough ________ to do its job Doesn’t give anyone too ______ power Considers the needs of all _________ Lets people have a ________ Protects individual __________ much say states power rights

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION In 1777, the Americans wrote their first plan for government in a document called the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

The Articles of Confederation A confederation is a _________ of individuals _______ together for a _________. group united purpose

The Articles of Confederation Each state was _________________ and had its own ________________. Each state would send _______________ to the “Congress of the Confederation.” The Congress was the only ____________ government. There was no ___________. In Congress, each state got _______ vote. independent government representatives central President one

A Rocky Relationship Hey, this sounds great! Wait! Not so fast… States get to keep their ______ and ____________ No _____________ telling the states what to do Congress had the power to create a _________ to ________all the states Congress had no way to __________ its _______! Congress had no power to collect _________ to pay for the military! The Articles could only be _________ if ______ the states agreed! power independence enforce laws government taxes military protect changed ALL

The Articles of Confederation QUICK QUIZ! The Articles of Confederation

Under the Articles of Confederation, a President would lead the country. Think About It  True  False 

Under the Articles of Confederation, states would be independent. Think About It   True  False

The Articles of Confederation were easy to change. Think About It  True  False 

Under the Articles, states with more people got more votes in Congress. Think About It  True  False 

Under the Articles, Congress did not have the power to collect taxes. Think About It   True  False

Under the Articles, Congress could pass laws and force states to follow them. Think About It  True  False 

The Articles of Confederation created the first American government. Think About It   True  False

IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES There was no easy solution to repair the government because states had different needs and were different sizes. Also, some people feared that a central government would have too much power. Others were tired of the weak government created under the Articles and felt like nothing would ever get done if no one was in charge.

IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES? QUICK QUIZ! IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES?

Everyone thought the central government should have more power. Think About It  True  False 

Some people were afraid states might lose their independence. Think About It   True  False

Different states had different needs for government to meet. Think About It   True  False

The states all got along with each other. Think About It  True  False 

 Think About It  True  False The government created by the Articles of Confederation had everything under control among the states. Think About It  True  False 

A New but Old Idea In 1787, representatives from every state except Rhode Island met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles. This meeting was called the Constitutional Convention. They used the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers to have 3 branches of government: legislative (makes the laws); executive (led by a president who carries out the laws); and judicial (interprets the laws). They couldn't however agree on how many votes each state would get in Congress.

Articles of Confederation A New Idea! Articles of Confederation New Idea 1 Branch Legislative—makes laws 3 Branches

Battle of the Plans The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan Legislative branch has ___ “chambers” Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s ___________ ________ states would have more power 2 Legislative branch has ___ “chamber” Each state gets ___ vote ________ states would have more power 1 1 Smaller population Larger (Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. Surprise!)

The Constitution Solution Legislative: Makes laws Divide Congress Into Two Houses Senate House of Representatives Each state gets 2 votes. The more people the state has, the more votes it gets! Executive: Carries out laws Judicial: Interprets laws

Other Compromises 3/5ths Compromise: Every 5 slaves would count as 3 people for selecting the number of representatives to the House. This gave the South more votes and preserved slavery until 1865. Commerce Compromise: Congress was given power to regulate trade between foreign countries and between the states. They could not pass any tax on exported goods nor limit the slave trade for 20 years. Executive Election Compromise: A group of electors would choose the President and the Vice-President. Each state would have as many electors as they had senators and representatives. Today this process is known as the electoral college.

The Constitution Solution Unlike the Articles, the Constitution: requires states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own citizens. can be changed if 3/4 of the states and 2/3 of Congress agrees. says federal laws are superior to state laws.

the constitution solution QUICK QUIZ! the constitution solution

The Articles required states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own citizens. Think About It  True  False 

Think About It citizens same The Constitution requires each state to treat ________ of other states the ______ as it treats its own citizens. citizens same

How many states had to agree in order for the Articles of Confederation to be changed? Think About It   All states  A majority of states

The Constitution can be changed if ________________ of the members of Congress and ________________ of the states agree. Think About It two-thirds (2/3) three-fourths (3/4)

The Articles of Confederation required states to follow the laws Congress passed. Think About It  True  False 

The Constitution says that the laws passed by Congress are _________ to laws passed by the _______. Think About It superior states

Under the Constitution, laws are made by the _______ branch. Think About It A B  executive legislative

Under the Constitution, laws passed by Congress are ___ to state laws. Think About It A  B superior inferior

Under the Constitution, Congress has ______. Think About It A B  1 chamber 2 chambers

Under the Constitution, each state gets two votes in the _______. Think About It A B  House of Representatives Senate

Under the Constitution, the number of votes each state gets in the House of Representatives is based on its _____. Think About It A  B Population Taxes

Under the Constitution, a change to the Constitution must be approved by ____. Think About It A B  All States ¾ of States

articles vs. constitution QUICK QUIZ! articles vs. constitution

Articles, Constitution or Both? A) Created a president Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A

Articles, Constitution or Both? B) Created a government Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A B

Articles, Constitution or Both? C) Had one branch of government Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A C B

Articles, Constitution or Both? D) Had enough power to do its job Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A C D B

Articles, Constitution or Both? E) Created a court system Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A C D B E

Articles, Constitution or Both? F) Gave large and small states the same power Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A C D B F E

Articles, Constitution or Both? G) Created a Congress Articles, Constitution or Both? Both Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A C G D B F E

Articles, Constitution or Both? H) Compromised between large and small states Articles, Constitution or Both? Both H Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A C G D B F E

Articles, Constitution or Both? I) Created a military Articles, Constitution or Both? Both H Articles Constitution Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A I C G D B F E

Articles, Constitution or Both? J) Didn’t let Congress enforce its laws Articles, Constitution or Both? Both H Articles Constitution J Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both. A I C G D B F E