Chapter 4: Forming a Government Section I: The Articles of Confederation

Bell Work 10/23/13 Activity: With your partner, create a set of rules for El Portal. These rules must apply fairly to everyone and promote (help or improve) student rights. Both you and your partner must agree to the set of rules. Ex: “Gum chewing will be allowed” or “Drinking Mountain Dew is not allowed”

Class Activity Each group will share one of their rules and as a class we will compile a list of these possible new rules. Once a class list is created, we will now work together to adopt/create one set of 3 to 5 school rules. Each class member must approve a rule for it to be accepted.

The Articles of Confederation The simulation you just completed was a recreation of the United States' first form of government, The Articles of Confederation. With your partner, discuss the difficulties that you both encountered during the exercise. EX: It was too hard to adopt anything.

Exit Ticket Using page 116 of your textbook, complete the following questions on a sheet of paper. - What was the Committee of Thirteen? - Under the Articles of Confederation, how did the power of the national government compare to that of the state government? - Do you think the Articles of Confederation was an effective government? Explain your answer.

Learning Goal… Of the documents and philosophies that were examined to form a new government, which do you believe was the most important? Why? What was the name of the 1 st U.S. Constitution?

After the colonies had won their independence, they needed to form a government. They looked at several documents and philosophies: –Magna Carta – signed in 1215, it made the king subject to the same laws as citizens

–English Bill of Rights – the shift of power from the king to the English Parliament –Mayflower Compact – a document written by the Pilgrims establishing themselves as a political society and setting guidelines for self government

–John Locke – the social contract between the political rulers and the people that it governed –Declaration of Independence – The document written to declare the colonies free from British rule

–State Constitutions – basic laws that states the powers and duties of a government –Virginia Statute of Religious Freedoms – separation of church and state –Suffrage – the right to vote – was expanded to include all white men who paid taxes

Articles of Confederation Congress would become the national government, but it would have limited powers in order to protect the liberties of the people. (the 1st Constitution)

Each state had 1 vote Could settle disputes between states Could coin an borrow money Could only ASK the states to pay money and for soldiers No president or national court

Ratification – official approval – Passed by Congress in Nov. of 1777 and finally by all state legislatures in March of 1781.

The Northwest Territory Land Ordinance of 1785 – set up a system for surveying and dividing western lands The land was split into townships, which were 36 sq. mi. divided into 36 lots of 640 acres each

Northwest Ordinance – a political system for the region that allowed for new states to come into the union –When population reached 60,000, its settlers could draft a constitution and ask to be admitted into the Union

Northwest Territory – included areas that are now IL, IN, OH, MI, WI

Learning Goal… Of the documents and philosophies that were examined to form a new government, which do you believe was the most important? Why? –Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, John Locke, Declaration of Independence, State Constitutions, Suffrage, Virginia Statute of Religious Freedoms What was the name of the 1 st U.S. Constitution? –Articles of Confederation

Section 2: The New Nation Faces Challenges Learning Goal… –Early on, what happens to the U.S economy after independence is gained? –Is the Articles of Confederation an effective form of government? Why or why not?

Trade Problems with other Nations 1. Britain closed many ports to U.S. ships (West Indies) 2. Britain added tariffs to U.S. goods exported to Britain  rice, tobacco, tar

3. Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to U.S. shipping  hurting western farmers 4. The U.S. appeared weak because it had no army to enforce treaties

Closed trade markets hurt the U.S. economy –Exports fell –Imports rose –British merchants could under sell U.S. merchants

Trade Problems Within Trade Problems Within Different state laws made it hard to trade between states (interstate commerce) Problems with interstate trade, inflation, and a weak economy caused a depression.

Shay’s Rebellion MA’s tax policy on land hit farmers hard  farmers revolted, shutting down courthouses

Shay’s forces were defeated, many captured and imprisoned, but let go because many citizens agreed with their cause Congress could offer little help to MA during the rebellion

Calls for Change Americans began calling for a stronger national government Only 9 states sent delegates to the Annapolis Convention Hamilton and Madison called on all 13 states to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May of 1787

Learning Goal… Early on, what happens to the U.S economy after independence is gained? –It quickly begins to crash  leads to a depression Is the Articles of Confederation an effective form of government? Why or why not? –NO! Congress could offer little help to MA during the rebellion, Could only ASK the states to pay money and for soldiers…

Section 3: Creating the Constitution Learning Goal… – –Explain the parts of the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise. – –Explain the 3/5ths Compromise and why the southern states needed it.

The Constitutional Convention May 1787 – Philadelphia, Independence Hall, purpose was to improve the Articles of Confederation

Delegates included Ben Franklin, James Madison, George Washington (president of convention) Some could not come - John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Patrick Henry did not want a strong central government.

The Great Compromise Several issues divided the delegates – –Some wanted small changes, others wanted to rewrite them completely. – –Small and large states had different goals and concerns. – –Many argued over the amount of power the central government should have.

Virginia Plan Introduced by Edmund Randolph of Virginia  large state version Gave more power to the national govt Bicameral legislature (2 houses) Number of representatives in both houses based on population

New Jersey Plan William Patterson of New Jersey introduced the small state version Gave more power to state governments Unicameral legislature (1 house) Number of representatives equal from each state

The Compromise (VA Plan) Bicameral legislature (VA Plan) Number of representatives based on state population in lower house (House of Reps) (NJ Plan) Number of representatives equal from each state in upper house (Senate)

3/5th’s Compromise If the number of representatives each state receives in the House of Representatives is based on population, who do we count? – –Everyone? – –Tax paying men? – –Only whites? – –What about slaves?

Southern delegates wanted slaves counted as part of their state population (their states had smaller total populations) Under the compromise, each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when determining representation.

Slavery was becoming a large and troublesome issue – –Some delegates threatened to leave the Union if slave trade was banned – –They agreed to leave out “slavery” and “slave” from the Constitution

Learning Goal… Explain the parts of the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise. – –See notes for answer Explain the 3/5ths Compromise and why the southern states needed it. – –Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when determining representation. – –Southern states needed it to bolster their population numbers to receive more reps. In the House of Reps.

The Constitution Most delegates wanted a strong central govt., but also popular sovereignty – the idea that political authority belongs to the people They also wanted a balance of power between the state and federal government  federalism – the sharing of power between a central govt. and the states that make up the country