1. Early American Government
Miss Timberlake, 4th Grade

2. Articles of Confederation vs. The Constitution

3. Learning Objective
You will be able to compare the ideas in the Articles of Confederation with those in the United States Constitution, including how powers are now shared between states and national government and how individuals and states are represented in Congress.

4. Articles of Confederation
The government that was developed under the Articles of Confederation was a direct result of the experiences colonists had under the rule of the King and Parliament
Americans believed sovereignty rested in the states, NOT the people
The confederation was created to unit the colonists to fight in the war.
The Continental Congress provided the model for the Articles of Confederation government
Under the Articles of Confederation the authority rested with the states, not with the people.
Video: Articles of Confederationhttps:// iclesofconfederation/

5. 13 Colonies
Since the authority rested with the states, each state formed their own military, made their own rules, and printed their own money!
Basically, they were 13 separate countries!

6. Confederation Congress
The Confederation Congress of Congress of the Confederation was the national Congress.
They could make laws, but could not charge taxes on the states to support themselves.
However, they could request funds from the states.
The national government was run by the president of the Confederation Congress.
It did not have a national court system

8. The United States Constitution
The Constitution was written to solve problems that came up because of the weak government under the Articles of Confederation
The Constitution is based on the idea that the authority of the government comes directly from the people.
In fact, the Constitution starts with the statement, “We, the People.”
Video:

9. The United States Constitution
Under the Constitution governing power is shared between the states and federal government
This is known as “federalism”
The national congress has 2 houses:
The Senate and the House of Representatives
Video: onstitution/

10. The United States Constitution
The Senate
The House of Representatives
Each state has EQUAL representation—no matter the size of the state!
Each state has 2 senators
ation/senators_cfm.cfm?State=SC
Each state is PROPORTIONALLY represented by the number of people in their state
South Carolina has 6 house members c

11. 3 Branches of Government in the Constitution
Executive, judicial and legislative branches.
The executive branch is ruled by an elected president
There are national courts

12. Notebook Activity: Compare/Contrast Articles of Confederation and Constitution

13. 3 Branches of Government

14. Learning Objective
You will be able to explain the structure and function of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.

15. The 3 Branches Legistlative Executive Judicial
The powers of the government under the Constitution are separated into 3 branches of government
Legistlative
Executive
Judicial
Each of these branched have specific powers
They are CHECKED AND BALANCED by the other branches to ensure that they are in compliance with the Constitution.

16. Legislative The legislative branch is divided into:
The House of Representatives
The Senate
It is housed in the Capitol Building

17. Legislative What do they do?! How is it checked?!
Write, debate, and pass bills into laws
Have the power to declare war
How is it checked?!
The president (the executive branch) must sign a bill so it will become a law
The president can also “veto” a bill which means it goes back to Congress with notes on what he wants changed
How does the legislative branch check others?
The legislative branch can check the power of the president with a 2/3 vote. If 2/3 of Congress votes to approve a bill that the President vetoed, then the bill can become a law.
Congress also approves the judges that the President appoints
Congress can impeach (fire) the President or judges so they don’t get too powerful

18. Executive The president is in charge of the executive branch
He lives in the…. White House!

19. Executive What does the executive branch do?!
His job is to enforce or carry out laws
He can suggest laws to the legislative branch
He is the Commander in Chief of our armed forces
How is the executive branch checked?!
Congress approves judges that are appointed by the president
How does the executive branch check others?!
The president can veto laws that he doesn’t agree with
The president appoints judges for the judicial branch

20. Judicial What do they do?! How do they check others?!
Decide whether laws that are passed by Congress (the legislative branch) are constitutional and being carried out fairly
There are a system of courts—federal district courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court
How do they check others?!
They check the legislative branch by making sure the laws are constitutional
They can check the executive branch and rule actions unconstitutional f need be
Supreme Court—there are 9 judges who serve for LIFE as long as they are not impeached
The judges are appointed by the president
They have their own building in Washington DC

21. Notebook Activity
Draw a graphic in your notebook representing how the branches of government check and balance each other.

23. Branches of Government DBQ
DBQ from Employee Intranet

24. Slaves, Women, and Native Americans

25. Learning Objective
You will be able to explain how the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights placed an importance of the active involvement of citizens in government and protect the rights of while male property owners, but not those of slaves, women, and Native Americans.

26. All men are created equal! Wait… just men?!
The Declaration of Independence stated “All men are created equal.”
So… what about slaves, women, and Native Americans?
Unfortunately, “men” mainly referred to white men of a certain class.

27. Women
The word “woman” was never mentioned in the writing of the document.
In fact, the 14th Amendment stated, “All males have the right to vote” which deliberately excluded women.
Women didn’t gain the right to vote until the 19th Amendment in 

28. African Americans
Slaves were considered “other persons” or “fugitive laborers” in the Constitution
Since they House of Representatives was based on the population, people wanted to know how to count African Americans
The Three-Fifths Compromise decided that an African American was 3/5 of a person.

29. African Americans
African Americans were emancipated from slavery in Northern states
However, they were still discriminated against
They were denied access from schools
They lived in segregated communities
In the South most slaves were kept in slavery and were heavily discriminated against
The different ideas on slavery would later lead to the Civil War

30. Native Americans
Native Americans were considered separate nations at the time
They were basically a separate country
Americans dealt with Native Americans as if they were part of a foreign country

31. The Bill of Rights
Anti-Federalists were people who thought the Constitution gave the government too much power
So, amendments were proposed.
10 Amendments were ratified
Video:
BrainPop:

33. Civic Responsibilities
Follow the rules and laws set by the local, state, and federal governments
Express beliefs and opinions by voting in elections
Pay income taxes to support the local, state, and federal governments
Serve on a jury

34. Bill of Rights Poster Project
You will be assigned an amendment. You will create graphics to help explain your amendment and tell the reader what the amendment is and is not.

38. Early Leaders of the New Nation

39. Learning Objective
You will be able to compare the roles and accomplishments of early leaders in the development of the new nation, including, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Marshall, and James Madison.

40. George Washington First president of the United States
Only served for 2 terms
He was widely respected
People trusted him
BrainPop: udies/famoushistoricalfigures/georg ewashington/

42. John Adams
He was on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence
He was the 1st Vice President
He was the 2nd President
BrainPop: ocialstudies/famoushistoricalf igures/johnadams/

44. Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of Independence
He was Secretary of State under George Washington
Leader of the Democratic-Republican party
3rd President of the USA
BrainPop: oricalfigures/thomasjefferson/

46. Alexander Hamilton He was a Founding Father
Secretary of Treasury under George Washington
Leader of the Federalist Party

47. John Marshall
He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under President John Adams
He strengthened the role of the Supreme Court
He was a federalist

48. James Madison He was a major author of the Declaration of Independence
He served in the first Congress
He wrote the amendments that became the Bill of Rights
Leader of the Democratic-Republican Party
4th President of the USA
BrainPop: lfigures/jamesmadison/

50. Political Parties

51. Learning Objective
You will be able to compare the social and economic policies of the two political parties that were formed in America in the 1790s.

52. Democratic-Republican
Political Parties
Federalist
Democratic-Republican
Led by Alexander Hamilton
Included businessmen, large landowners, and professional people
They wanted the country to grow and expand through industrialization
They wanted the leaders to be educated and wanted a financial system that help the country grow—this meant taxes and a National Bank
Wanted the federal government to be more powerful than state governments
Wanted to maintain English traditions
Thomas Jefferson was this party’s leader
Mostly included farmers and common people
They believed the USA would be a farming society
They believed states should have the most governmental power
Republicans (not to be confused with modern day Republicans) liked the French because they were allies during the Revolution.

53. Democratic-Republican Party
Notebook Activity
Federalist Party
Democratic-Republican Party
Social Views
Economic Views

54. Simulation:
Students are divided (Federalists and Democratic Republicans) to debate the issues that divided the parties: funding the debt, assumption of state debts, moving the capital, creating a national bank, a protective tariff and an excise tax on whiskey. (may be extended to War of 1812)