Constitutional Era Articles of Confederation

Potential problems facing the young nation Foreign Policy Economic Problems Domestic Policy

Problems: Foreign policy England: controlled trade, and still maintained a presence in America Spain: controlled access to the Mississippi River, controlling the trade of Northwest farmers France: Demanded repayment of debt Pirates: Raiding American ships

$$ Economics $$ Huge debt from war: Individual states and the national congress owed great sums of money High inflation: American money was virtually worthless Farm foreclosures: Patriots could not afford to pay back loans

Problems: Domestic Policy Is the new nation 13 independent countries or is it one united country?

Source of the Problem

Struggles under the Articles of Confederation AreasWeaknessConsequences Executive No central authority No one to enforce the laws Judiciary No federal court system Inability to settle disputes among states Taxes Congress could not impose or collect taxes No money to run the country

Struggles (cont) Trade Congress could not regulate trade between states Each state had its own trading laws and taxes Representation Each state, regardless of population, had only one vote in Congress The large states had no power over the little states

Conflicting Powers of the Articles of Confederation Congress could: – Raise armies – Declare War – Sign treaties Congress could not: – Raise revenue through taxes – Regulate trade or collect tariffs

The Constitutional Convention May 1787: Philadelphia Each state represented (except R.I.)

The Constitutional Convention Leaders were all appointed by the state legislatures, whose members had been elected by voters who could qualify as property owners. 55 delegates convened on May 25, 1787 in the Philadelphia statehouse, most all were men of high prestige and conservative Jefferson, in Paris, called the group a “convention of demigods”

Hot Topics Representation – Large States vs Small States

Stronger New Government National principle: – National government should be stronger than the states

Hot Topics (cont) Slavery – North vs South

How should slaves be counted? – People? – Property?

Virginia Plan 3 Branches of Government Bicameral legislature Population based

New Jersey Plan Small state plan Equal voting in legislature Group executive States Rights

Compromises Great Compromise (Connecticut) – Population and Equality based legislature – House of Representatives control taxation

Compromises Three-Fifths Compromise – North: Slaves should not count in population totals – South: Smaller population would lead to northern domination – Compromise: Slaves will count as 3/5 of a person for representation

Compromises Cont. Most northerners and many southerners believed slavery would eventually die out. Most northerners also believed blacks inferior and could work only as menial laborers.

Compromises Commerce Compromise – Agricultural vs Industrial states – Congress could tax imports, but not exports

Constitutional Principles Federalism Separation of Powers – Checks and Balances Individual Rights

Federalism Shared Power between the National government & State governments

Stronger New Government

Legislative Branch

Checks on Judicial Branch Creates lower courts Can impeach and remove judges Can propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions Approves appointments of federal judges

Checks on Executive Branch Can override presidential veto Confirms executive appointments Ratifies treaties Declares war Appropriates money Impeachment

Executive Branch

Check on Legislative Branch Proposes Laws Veto Call special sessions of Congress Appointments to federal posts Negotiates treaties

Check on Judicial Branch Appointments of judges Pardons

Supreme Court

Checks on Legislative Branch Declare acts of Congress illegal

Checks on Executive Branch Can declare actions unconstitutional

Articles of Confederation In effect, U.S. government was peacefully overthrown

Approval The new constitution must be ratified by 9 of the 13 states Special state constitutional conventions were convened to vote on the new government Debate: Federalists vs Anti- Federalists

Federalists Supporters of the new Constitution Merchants, urban, upper-class, seacoast, commercial interests Washington, Madison, Jay, Marshall

Federalist Papers Series of articles by Madison, Jay, and Hamilton in support of Constitution (“Publius”) Madison’s “Federalist 10” considered to be one of the greatest political documents written

Anti-Federalist Opposed the new government Infringement of natural rights Agrarian, western, states rights supporters Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, Richard Henry Lee

Issues Who controls the country: the national government or the state governments Bill of Rights

The Winner If it would have been a popularity contest the Anti-Federalist would have won hands down……….. But, it wasn’t!!!!! By 1788, 9 states had ratified the Constitution Remaining states join because they don’t want to be left out

Conservative Victory New Government created to check the excesses of the Mob (common people) Federal judges appointed for life President elected indirectly by Electoral College Senators chosen indirectly by state legislatures

Bill of Rights Anti-Federalist victory… Guaranteed certain rights that the government could never infringe upon

Bill of Rights Guaranteed freedoms 1-9: Personal Freedoms 10: Reserved powers of the states

Federalist Era 1 st Constitutional elections: Mostly Federalist elected to Congress Goal: Finish what they started – Build a Strong central government