1. Concepts: Governance Rule of Law
SS8H4a Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a need to revise the Articles.
Concepts:
Governance
Rule of Law

2. GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777
STRENGTHS
Separation of Powers
8 Counties (local government) each county had its own government, court, school, and militia
Citizens were guaranteed freedom of religion, press, and trial by jury
WEAKNESSES
Uni-cameral legislature (one house) had too much power – appoint (choose) the Governor and judges
Governor served only a 1 year term
Only white men 21 and over with property could vote
Amending (changing) the constitution was difficult

3. Appointed by executive council
Appointed by legislature
1 year term
GOVERNOR
STATE
JUDGES
Very little power GA
Constitution
of 1777
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIARY
LEGISLATIVE
Uni-cameral (1 house) called the House of Assembly
Power to appoint Governor and judges
LEGISLATORS
(lawmakers)
Have most of the power

4. Primary Source Document
GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777
Article IX All male white inhabitants, of the age of twenty-one years, and possessed in his own right of ten pounds value, and liable to pay tax in this State, or being of any mechanic trade, and shall have been resident six months in this State, shall have a right to vote at all elections for representatives, or any other officers...

5. Articles of Confederation
America’s first written constitution
Weak central government
This was based on the Americans’ experience with Britain’s monarchy and their goal to give as much power as they could to the “people” through the autonomy of the states.

7. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
STRENGTHS
1st constitution
Central government
Federalism – power divided between central (national) gov’t and individual state gov’t
Congress could:
Declare war
Sign treaties
Deliver mail
Create money
WEAKNESSES
Weak national gov’t
State gov’t too strong
Uni-cameral legislature (Congress)
States only had 1 representative and 1 vote in Congress
No executive branch or president
No national court system
Could not tax the states to raise money
Could not regulate (control) trade
Could not enforce laws
Each state had its own currency and militia
Too difficult to amend (change) the Articles

11. Individuals – Groups – Institutions
SS8H4b Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution.
Concepts:
Individuals – Groups – Institutions
Governance
Conflict and Change
Rule of Law

12. Constitutional Convention of 1787
Why did our Founding Fathers need to revise the Articles of Confederation?
To create a stronger Federal (national / central) government that would UNITE the young country together.
What happened to the Articles of Confederation?
The Founding Fathers wrote a new constitution

14. WILLIAM FEW HELPED WRITE THE CONSTITUTION
BOTH MEN WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM GEORGIA WHO HELPED CREATE AND SIGN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
ABRAHAM BALDWIN PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE GREAT COMPROMISE THAT HELPED CREATE A BI-CAMERAL LEGISLATURE
WILLIAM FEW HELPED WRITE THE CONSTITUTION
ABRAHAM BALDWIN
WILLIAM FEW

15. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION of 1787

16. Constitutional Convention
CAUSE
EFFECT
ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
Constitutional Convention of
1787
Federal government
becomes more powerful
Separation of Powers
- Legislative branch
makes laws
- Executive branch
enforce laws
- Judicial branch
interpret laws
Bi-cameral legislature
House of Representatives
based on state population
Senate – 2 representatives
from each state
State governments had too much power
National government could not levy taxes, enforce laws, or control trade
No executive branch (President)
No judicial branch (no federal courts to settle disputes between the states)
Great Compromise: Bi-cameral legislature benefits both big and small states (population)
3/5ths Compromise:
3 out of 5 slaves counted toward population and were also taxed
Bill of Rights: 1st ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing rights for citizens

17. 2 REPRESENTATIIVES FROM EACH STATE
BI-CAMERAL
2 REPRESENTATIIVES FROM EACH STATE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH STATE BASED ON POPULATION

18. RATIFYING THE US CONSTITUTION
Why did Georgia ratify the new U.S. Constitution?
Wanted federal gov’t to have power to unite the country
Needed federal gov’t to help fight Native Americans in order for Georgians to move westward onto new lands
4th state to ratify on January 2nd, 1788