Articles of Confederation to the Constitution

What We Will Learn Today: Why were the articles of confederation weak? Why did the articles of confederation fail? What were the colonists afraid of? What was their reason for concern? What did the constitution do to calm these fears?

Articles to Constitution 1781-1789 – The Articles of Confederation – Went into effect after all 13 colonies had ratified. This document reflected the fear that the colonists had about a strong central government. As a result this document was weak.

Articles to Constitution The idea behind the Articles was that there would be a confederation of independent states in the form of an alliance. The states would give as much power as they chose to the central government and no more.

Articles to Constitution This kept the main portion of the power with the sovereign states. This was more like a treaty among the states than a plan of centralized government.

Articles to Constitution Confederation accomplishments – The power to make treaties Declare war Receive ambassadors Successful end to Revolution Negotiation in the Treaty of Paris Land Ordinance of 1785 NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1787 Northwest Ordinance – Provided for the admission of a new state to the U.S.

Land Ordinance 1785- Divided territory into sections of 36 1 square mile plots. Each township had to set aside land for a public school. *Helping to establish public school system! Northwest Ordinance 1787-set the pattern by which new states could join and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory

Articles to Constitution Articles of Confederation Weaknesses – No single national currency (states could coin money) Congress could not tax directly, buy had to ask the states for money No president to direct operations

Articles to Constitution Articles of Confederation Weaknesses – The congress could not raise an army for protection due to lack of funds Government unable to command any respect at home or abroad All 13 states had to agree before the Articles could be changed so change was impossible.

Articles to Constitution Currency All 13 to change Tax No Army No President No Respect

Articles to Constitution Daniel Shays Shays Rebellion Massachusetts 1786 – Government decided to raise taxes instead of issuing money to pay off debts. Farmers could not afford mortgages or the taxes and rebelled by walking to the Supreme court. This was disbanded by the army and four farmers died as a result. Daniel Shays

Articles to Constitution A time based on Republican (consent of the governed) principles: Each state adopted a new constitution. These all emphasized the limitations of power. Some of the rights included in these constitutions were reinforcing the right to vote, religion and ended government endorsement of churches.

Articles to Constitution By the late 1780’s it was obvious to most that the Articles were too weak to work. A Constitutional Convention was now called in hopes of saving the Articles.

How the Weaknesses were corrected Articles to Constitution How the Weaknesses were corrected Articles Constitution States have most of the power – national government has little States have some power, by most is given to national government No executive officer - president A president heads the executive branch No national courts – only state courts Both national and state courts Congress is responsible to the states Congress is responsible to the people

How the Weaknesses were corrected Articles to Constitution How the Weaknesses were corrected Articles Constitution 9/13 had to approve a law before it could go in to effect Laws may be passed by the majority vote in both houses of Congress Congress had no power to tax Congress was given the power to tax Congress could not regulate trade among the states Congress had the power to regulate interstate and foreign trade Each state coins its own money, no national currency Only national government has the power to coin money

Articles to Constitution People that were there George Washington James Madison Benjamin Franklin Alexander Hamilton

Articles to Constitution "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Patrick Henry – Would not go due to his concern and disagreement with a stronger central government that he suspected this convention would be about. "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"

Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention The Great Compromise – Large population states wanted large representation. Small states wanted equal representation. Solution – do both, bicameral Connecticut Plan

Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention The Three fifths Compromise South - wanted slaves to be counted for more representation. North – did not want slaves counted in representation. Solution – 3/5 of slaves counted for tax and representation.

Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention Commerce Compromise – North – wanted government regulation of trade South – Feared slave trade being shut down and did not want their exports taxed. Solution – No export taxes and slave trade would not be disrupted for 20 years.

Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention Compromise Issue Solution H of R – population Senate - equal Connecticut or Great Representation in Congress Slaves were counted as 3/5 of one person for rep. and tax Three - Fifths Counting slaves within population to determine representation Granting congress the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade Congress forbidden to tax exports and no action against slave trade for 20 years Commerce and Slave Trade

The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate Articles to Constitution The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate Not everyone approved the constitution right away, 9/13 had to approve it or else it would not go through. Some refused to sign out of fear and their feelings of Anti-federalism.

The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate Articles to Constitution The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate Federalist Anti Federalist Favored Ratification Opposed Ratification Wanted a weak national government so that it would not threaten the rights of the people or the powers of the states Wanted a strong national government to provide order and protect rights of the people Claimed that a bill of rights was unnecessary because the new government’s powers were limited by the Constitution. Wanted to add a bill of rights to protect the people against abuses of power

Articles to Constitution The federalist papers - written by Alexander Hamilton were a blatant endorsement of the Constitution and the ratification thereof.

Articles to Constitution Popular Sovereignty – the source of all power and authority is the people. (democracy) Limited Government – the government is limited by law, limits are placed on state and national government and government officials. Separation of powers – power to govern is divided among the three branches.

The Three Banches of Government Articles to Constitution The Three Banches of Government Legislative – H of R and Senate Makes Laws: Overrides presidential vetoes Approves presidential appointments Approves treaties Provides for defense, declares war Regulates money and trade Impeaches officials

Articles to Constitution Executive – president and Vice president Enforces laws and treaties Can veto laws Appoints high officials Conducts foreign policy Commander in chief of military Recommends bills to congress Reports the state of the union

Articles to Constitution Judicial – Supreme Court and Federal Courts Explains and interprets laws Settles legal disputes between states Settles disputes between states and foreign countries Hears cases with ambassadors of foreign governments Settles disputes between individuals and federal government

Articles to Constitution Flexibility of the Constitution – The elastic clause – congress shall make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the tasks listed in the Constitution. The amendment process – the Constitution must be formally amended. Both congress and the states must agree to such changes. Judicial interpretation – interpretation of local, state and federal laws as well as executive actions to check for Constitutionality.

Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws

Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws Check on president Congress has power to: Override presidential veto Reject treaties and presidential appointments Impeach & remove

Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws Check on president Supreme Court has power to: Decide actions unconstitutional Interpret treaties

Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws Check on Congress President has power to: Veto laws Make treaties and foreign policy Appoint federal officials Propose laws

Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws Check on Congress Supreme Court has power to: Decide laws unconstitutional.

Articles to Constitution Check on Supreme Court Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws President has power to: Grant pardons Appoint judges

Articles to Constitution Check on Supreme Court Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws Congress has power to: Propose amendments to overturn court decisions Create lower courts Impeach and remove Reject appointments

Articles to Constitution Delegated powers – certain powers of the national government that are spelled out in the Constitution. Implied powers – not stated in writing, this is implied by the elastic clause. Denied powers – powers that are denied to the national government (ie. - export tax) Concurrent power – powers that belong to both national and state governments. ( ie. Tax) Reserved powers – not delegated to federal and not denied to the states. (ie. Divorce laws)

Articles to Constitution System of Federalism State National Delegated Concurrent Reserved Conduct elections Maintain army and navy Establish schools Enforce laws Regulate businesses within a state Declare war Establish courts Coin money Borrow money Establish local governments Regulate trade between states and foreign nations Protect the safety of the people Regulate marriages Assume other powers not given to the national government or denied to the states Build roads Make all laws necessary in carrying out delegated powers Collect taxes

What We Learned Today: The Commerce Compromise The Great Compromise 3/5 Compromise Checks and Balances President Enforces laws Congress Makes laws Supreme Court Interprets laws Patrick Henry Fear of large national gov't Checks & Balances Federalist Anti-Federalist

What We Learned Today: Currency All 13 to change Tax No Army No President No Respect

What We Learned Today: Why were the articles of confederation weak? Why did the articles of confederation fail? What were the colonists afraid of? What was their reason for concern? What did the constitution do to calm these fears?