1. Forming our National Government

2. Declaration of Independence
Jefferson used the preamble to describe the basic rights of man.
To have Legitimacy, all governments have to do certain things
British government has not done the things needed to be done by a government
British government does not have Authority/Legitimacy over colonists

3. Declaration of Independence

4. Declaration of Independence
Committee of 5 assigned to write it
Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson ( age 33)
Adams & Jefferson both became president
Adams & Jefferson both died the same day
July 4, 1826

5. Articles of Confederation
July 12th, 1776, plan to form confederacy presented to Congress
Drafted by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania
Approved by a committee made up of one person from each of the states
November 15, 1777, the Articles were proposed to the colonies
AOC ratified by all the states and went into effect March 1, 1781

6. Articles of Confederation
Individual political units (States) maintain their sovereignty
This independence of each political unit is seen as both the main advantage and main disadvantage of a confederation.
Many confederations have been tried throughout world history, but none survive today.

7. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Could not levy taxes or regulate commerce
Sovereignty, independence retained by states
One vote in Congress for each state
9 of 13 votes needed to pass any measure
Delegates to Congress picked & paid by state
Little money coined by Congress

8. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Army small, dependent on state militias
Territorial disputes between states led to open hostilities
No national judicial system
All thirteen states’ consent needed for any amendments

9. Crisis leading to a Call for a Constitutional Convention
Newburgh Mutiny (1783)
Military officers discontent with lack of pay
Annapolis Convention (1786)
Only 5 states showed up
Issued a report & call for another meeting

10. Shay’s Rebellion (1787)
Group of ex-Revolutionary war soldiers prevented the courts from holding session
Governor (Mass.) asked the Continental Congress to send troops to suppress the rebellion
However, CC could not raise the money or manpower
Mass. Governor looked to his own state’s militia, but did not have one
Finally, private funds were raised to hire a volunteer army to stop the rebels

11. Writing the Constitution The Framers (who showed up in Philadelphia May 1787)
55 attended
29 were veterans of the Continental Army
12 of 13 states were present (Rhode Island)
8 had signed the Dec. of Independence
41 were members of Cont. Congress
7 state governors (+2 ex gov)
Many later served in the U.S. Gov’t

12. The Framers Views on arriving in Philadelphia
Had read Locke, Jefferson, others
Doubted that democracy would guarantee liberty
Pennsylvania experience
Saw need for strong government to maintain order
Massachusetts – Shay’s Rebellion
Problem was how to reconcile liberty – strong central government.
Madison – Federalist Paper #51

13. The Constitutional Convention
George Washington – presided
Met in Philadelphia – summer 1787
Meetings secret, no minutes
Records are from James Madison’s notes
Authorized to revise Art. of Confed

14. The Virginia Plan Authored by Madison – starting point
Strong National Gov’t – veto state laws
Three Branches
Legislature – two houses
Exec & Jud – chosen by legislature
Council of Revision – veto power
Veto could be overridden

15. The New Jersey Plan Small States concerned –
Virginia plan based on population
Amend articles to increase national power
Maintain one vote per state in Congress
Congress chosen by state legislatures

16. The Great Compromise Key Vote on June 19, 1787
Virginia Plan supported by 7 states
New Jersey Plan supported by 3 states
One state was split
Two not there
While Virginia plan had majority support the delegates realized compromises needed to be made to ensure a constitution that would be ratified by the whole nation.

17. The Great Compromise AKA: The Connecticut Compromise House Senate
based on population,
elected by the people
Senate
two per state,
chosen by State Legislature
Won on 5-4 vote
Massachusetts Split NY, NH & RI not there

18. Slavery Compromises 3/5 compromise
Determine population for House seats
1808 first consideration of banning slave trade
Fugitive slave clause

19. Bill of Rights Some rights are in the constitution
States had their own Bill of Rights
Promised in several states to get ratification
Proposed by Madison in 1st Congress
10 of 12 passed in 1791
1 passed in (27th Amendment)

20. What We Got Republic – not a democracy System of representation
Amendment process
Separation of powers - checks and balances
Federalism – powers divided between levels
Procedure for adding new states

21. Timeline of Ratification
Constitution submitted to States Sept. 17, 1787
9th state ratifies (N.H.) June 21, 1788
Elections held in states various dates
New government established March 4, 1789
Congress quorum April 6, 1789
Washington Inaugurated April 30, 1789

22. Timeline of Ratification
James Madison proposes Bill of Rights June 8, 1789
Congress establishes Supreme Court Sept. 24, 1789
Congress passes 12 proposed Amendments Sept. 25, 1789
Supreme Court meets 1st Time Feb 2, 1790
Virginia ratifies Bill of Rights (10 Amd.) Dec 15, 1791

23. Dates States Ratified Delaware December 7, 1787
Pennsylvania December 12, 1787
New Jersey December 18, 1787
Georgia January 2, 1788
Connecticut January 9, 1788
Massachusetts February 6, 1788
Maryland April 28, 1788
South Carolina May 23, 1788
New Hampshire June 21, 1788
Virginia June 26, 1788
New York July 26, 1788
North Carolina November 21, 1789
Rhode Island May 29, 1790