CAN TOO MUCH FREEDOM BE A BAD THING? ESSENTIAL QUESTION CAN TOO MUCH FREEDOM BE A BAD THING?

Two levels of Government Each of the 13 colonies had their own state government Most of them did not want a powerful FEDERAL government telling them what to do The War convinced them that powerful FEDERAL govts lead to TYRANNY!

America’s first Central Government Called the “Articles of Confederation” Made weak on PURPOSE! Why? States wanted to be left alone They just fought a war against a powerful government, they did not want another one

FEDERAL Powers under the Articles of Confederation Declare war and make peace (had no army!!!) Make treaties with foreign countries Set up a post office WEAK! WEAK!WEAK! The Articles of Confederation granted Congress important powers to operate the government. When the document was drafted in 1777, the immediate concern was conducting the war and hopefully crafting a favorable peace treaty. To carry out the war, Congress needed the power to make treaties with foreign nations and to establish an army and navy and appoint military officers. Such powers gave Congress authority over affairs with foreign nations. To help pay for the war and for the operation of the government after independence had been won, Congress would need to requisition funds and to print and borrow money. This requisitioning power allowed Congress to ask the states for funds, which the states would provide if they were able or inclined to do so. Under the Articles, Congress also had the power to hear disputes among the states related to trade and boundaries. During and after the war, individual states sometimes established tariffs in order to raise revenue and discourage the sale of imports from foreign countries or neighboring states that competed with homegrown products. Other states targeted by these tariffs usually retaliated in kind.

WEAKNESSES OF THE AOC No Federal army or navy No power to tax No power to control trade among the states No power to force states to do anything The Articles didn’t provide the government with enough authority to fully carry out the tasks it was given. Though Congress could declare war and raise military forces, it couldn’t pay for them because it lacked the power to tax. Congress could requisition funds from the states, but had no power to make them part with their money. Congress could borrow money, but had no way to raise funds to pay off the debt except to ask the states for funds. If a state disagreed with the way Congress spent the funds, it would refuse or delay payment. Congress could appoint a court to hear the disputes between states, but it couldn’t enforce decisions the courts made. Thus, if a court ruled in favor of one state over another, the losing state wouldn’t have to comply with the decision. After the war, the Treaty of Paris stipulated that British citizens still living in the former colonies would receive compensation for land or property seized. However, individual states did not force their citizens to make such restitution and Congress had no authority to compel the states to obey the treaty’s provisions. To pay off the debt from the war, Congress was authorized to print money; however, each of the states had the power to print money as well. The resulting increase in currency, combined with a slowdown in the postwar economy, sent the young country into a deep economic depression. Inflation rose so high that the Continental Dollar became virtually worthless.

STRUCTURE OF THE ARTICLES NO President or Executive Branch White House

STRUCTURE of the Articles of Confederation NO FEDERAL Courts (Judicial Branch) Only states had courts

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION FAIL WHY?

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? I. Currency Issues: Nobody trusted the money! EVERY STATE ISSUED ITS OWN MONEY. People were afraid to accept money from different states

Why did the Articles fail? II. Debt Congress could not tax the people Had to ask the states for money. Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts! Examples: - The U.S. owed a lot of money to FRANCE. No way to pay it. - The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? III. International and Domestic Problems Spain closed New Orleans England kept forts in our territory FRANCE WANTED ITS LOANS REPAYED

III. International and Domestic problems SHAYS REBELLION: Mass. Poor debtors rose up against weak state governments. Shays rebellion was crushed but it scared the rich: There were poor farmers in every colony. What if they all revolted??????????????

The end of the A.o.C Shay’s Rebellion led to the a meeting in Philadelphia to “fix” the Articles of Confederation 55 Delegates meet Philadelphia In 1787 instead of fixing the Articles they create a WHOLE NEW GOVERNMENT

The Constitution Preamble The introduction to the Constitution is called the Preamble. The Preamble begins with the phrase “We the people…” This means that the government is based on the needs of the people.

SELF TEST HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT DANIEL SHAYS CAUSED THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION? WHAT ARE THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

Three Branches of Government 1. The legislative - makes the laws 2. The executive - enforces the laws 3. The judicial - which interprets the laws (judges the laws)

Legislative Branch = Makes LAWS Congress is made up of two Houses

The House of Representatives: lower house Representation based on POPULATION California (53) Wyoming (1) . Two year term. 435 members in the House of Representatives.

The Senate: upper house Two senators for each state = 100 Senators. Must be at least 30 years old. Six year term.

The Executive Branch: Enforces the Law Headed by the president. Commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He is elected by the ELECTORAL COLLEGE not the people directly George Bush (2000) had less popular votes than Al Gore, but more electoral votes # OF ELECTORS PER STATE = # OF SENATORS + # OF REPRESENTATIVES

The President Elected to a four year term. Can only serve two terms (or ten years). Must be a citizen by birth Must be at least 35 years old.

The Judicial Branch: Interpret the Law Headed by the Supreme Court. #1 Job: Interpret the Constitution. 9 Supreme Court justices, Appointed for life.

Checks and Balances Built in system to prevent any one branch government from getting too powerful. Example President can veto laws Congress can override vetoes Supreme Court can declare constitutionality

Federalism Two governments: STATE and the FEDERAL government. Two governments existing at the same time is called Federalism. State law cannot contradict federal law. THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND

Amendments A change in the Constitution There have been 27 amendments added to the Constitution. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights.