No bellwork today! With reference to origin, purpose and content evaluate the value and limitations of the Declaration of Independence. You will be divided into three groups. In your group, you must prepare a brief explanation of one of the following: – Origin, value of origin, limitation of origin – Purpose, value of purpose, limitation of purpose – Content, value of content, limitation of content

The American Government

Problems POST revolution Uneven distribution of wealth and power! – The rich were getting richer; the poor were getting poorer (By 1770 – top 1% owned 44% of land) – Only 8% of the population could vote Most state constitutions ignored women, slaves, farmers, and the poor – The top 10% owned 1/7 of the countries people as slaves (Washington had 216 slaves) State power > National government (Articles of Confederation failed)

Wealth distribution in Colonial America

City Growth in Colonial America

The Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation: Document setting up government for the U.S.; originally written in the Second Continental Congress Signed November 1777 State power > national government

Problems with the Articles of Confederation States operated separately – Each state had one vote (population???) – Difficult to make decisions (needed 2/3 majority) – Only states had power to tax (not federal government) Only one government body……no judiciary or president Congressional powers were limited – Debt! No unified military or leader

The Constitution States dramatically raised taxes which caused massive rebellions, but Congress could not do anything about it. Convinced of the urgent need for reform, states sent delegates to The Constitutional Convention.

The Constitution At the Constitutional Convention, delegates produced The United States Constitution, which has governed the U.S. for more than 200 years! Signed September 17, 1787 George Washington was elected as the first president.

“Our goal is to create a new government instead of fixing the existing one” - James Madison

BELLWORK 1.List two social problems in post-revolution America. 2.List two reasons why the Articles of Confederation failed. 3.How did the political views of Jefferson and Hamilton differ? 4.THINKER: Brainstorm a list of rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens in the Bill of Rights.

Role of Founding Fathers Post-Revolution

Thomas Jefferson Virginia delegate Advocated a Committee of the States (work together as one to make decisions; each had one vote) A large government could become corrupt – give people rights! Ohio territory should be divided into 5 states

Alexander Hamilton NY Representative Frustrated with decentralized power – Strengthen national gov! Congress should have the power to raise taxes and demand money from the states Established the nation’s financial system – Bank of the U.S. – Secretary of the Treasury

Benjamin Franklin Delegate from Philadelphia Helped establish a postal system First Postmaster General of the United States Strong supporter of freedom of speech, religion and press Integrate blacks into society

James Madison Virginia representative Slaves, as property, would be protected by their masters Nothing prevented “excessive democracy” Father of the Bill of Rights (originally 20)

Government Structure under the Constitution Federal System of Powers: power is shared among state and national authorities (EX: education systems are reserved for the states, while only the national government can declare war.) Separation of Powers: 3 branches – Legislative: the Senate (100 – 6 yrs) and the House of Representatives (435 – 2 yrs) – Judicial: 9 Supreme Court justices; life terms – Executive: President; 4 year terms (2 limit) Checks and Balances: each branch has the power to check each other; stops one from becoming too powerful

The Constitution also establishes the order of succession for the presidency

During the creation of the Constitution, two political parties emerged…… Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong national government Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, and wanted individual rights and state/local control “commoners,” farmers, middle class George Washington Alexander Hamilton Benjamin Franklin James Madison Thomas Jefferson Samuel Adams James Monroe

The Bill of Rights In 1791, ten amendments were added to the Constitution; these are known as The Bill of Rights. Amendment: An addition or alteration made to the Constitution. There are a total of 27 amendments today.

Bill of Rights 1: speech, press, assembly, religion, petition 2: right to bare arms 3: no quartering troops 4: searches & seizures 5: private property, double jeopardy, self-incrimination 6: speedy/public trial, witnesses, lawyer 7: guarantees jury trial in federal cases 8: no cruel or unusual punishment 9: individual rights to the people; cannot be abused by government 10: powers not in the Constitution are reserved for the states

Crash Course American History cbD8 cbD8

Homework This week we will focus on Westward Expansion, slavery, and the causes of the Civil War. For homework (due Thursday) you will read chapter 7 from A People’s History of the United States and create outline notes. Use Zinn ch. 1 worksheet as guidelines; needs to be summarized!