1. Shaping A New Nation
Chapter 5

2. Experimenting With Confederation Section 1
Americans Debate Republicanism
Americans believed Democracy placed power in hands of uneducated masses
Wanted a republic: govt. in which citizens rule through elected representatives
Republicanism: govt. should be based on consent of people

3. Experimenting With Confederation
The states put together their own constitutions:
Limited powers of govt. leaders
Freedom of speech, religion, press
Differed in granting right to vote, some let property owners vote
Women had no voting rights

4. Continental Congress Debates
Tried to draft constitution for all
Much disagreement over what Congress should be
Representation by population or state?
States unequal in land size, population, and wealth
Each state had one vote regardless of population

5. Supreme Power Can it be divided?
People thought supreme govt. could not share supreme power
Congress proposed set of laws, Articles of Confederation:
Two levels of govt. shared fundamental powers
1781 All thirteen states approved

6. Supreme Power
Articles had no exec. dept. to enforce Congress, and no national court system to interpret laws
State and National Govt. shared fundamental powers: called a confederation

7. Western Lands: Who gets them? (OH, IL, IN, MI, WI)
Land Ordinance of Plan for surveying land
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Land would be divided into 3 or 5 states
Set requirements for admissions of new states
Overlooked Native American land claims

8. Northwest Ordinance

9. Confederation Encounters Problems
Political and Economic Problems
Lack of unity
Each state was looking out for their own good
Each state had one vote, the Confederation did not take state’s pop. into account
Articles could not be amended without consent from all states, change was difficult
Debt. of $160 million from Rev. War

10. Confederation Encounters Problems
Borrowers vs. Lenders
Wealthy lenders wanted high taxes so states could pay them back
Many farmers were in debt
If they lost in court, they lost land and animals

11. Confederation Encounters Problems
Weakness of Confederation visible with problems dealing with foreign affairs
Britain would not evacuate military forts on Great Lakes since U.S. could not repay British Merchants
Spain posed threat to Western expansion
1784 Spain closed Miss. River

12. Drafting the Constitution Section 2
Nationalism strengthens govt.
Shay’s Rebellion (1787)- Daniel Shays (rev. war. veteran), farmer in debt, led 1,200 farmers to close courts so they would not lose their farms to creditors. 4 rebels were killed and panic spread throughout the country

13. Constitutional Convention
Call for convention
12 states sent delegates to Philadelphia convention called by congress in 1787
Highlights of convention
55 delegates from all states except RI
Wealthy well educated men
Washington elected presiding officer

14. Conflict Leads to Compromise
They knew they had to strengthen central govt, decided to form new govt.
Debating Central Issues
Delegates from states feared giving central govt. too much power
Protecting rights of people from many walks of life
Needed to protect rights of minorities and majorities

15. Conflict Leads to Compromise
Big States vs. Small States
Great Compromise (Roger Sherman): Two house congress to satisfy both big and small states
Equal representation in Senate, House of Representation based on pop.
Voters would choose members of the House
State legislatures would choose members of Senate

16. Conflict Leads to Compromise
Should slaves be counted as people?
Three-Fifths Compromise- 3/5 of a state’s slaves would be counted towards pop.
South did not want congress to have power to regulate foreign trade, afraid it might do away with slave trade
Convention gave congress power to regulate trade, but had to stay out of slave trade for 20 years

17. Creating a New Govt. Division of Powers
Powers granted to Nat’l Govt: Delegated powers (foreign affairs, Nat’l Defense, trade between states, coining $)
Powers given to States: Reserved powers (education, marriage laws, interstate trade)

18. Creating A New Gov’t Separation of Powers Checks and balances
Legislative: Makes laws
Executive: Enforces laws
Judicial: Hears case
Checks and balances
Electoral College:
Each state chooses electors equal to # of senators and reps. the state has in congress

20. Creating a New Gov’t Changing the Constitution
Const. flexible allowing it to withstand the test of time
1787- After four months 38 out of 41 delegates signed their approval
Voters had to agree- sent to congress then submitted to states for approval
George Washington “I do not expect the Constitution to last for more than 20 years”

21. Ratifying the Constitution Section 3
Took twice as long as convention to get ratified by the people of the U.S.
Controversies over the Constitution
Ratification needed at least 9 states
Each state held special convention
Bypassed State legislatures because it reduced power of the states

22. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists
Supporters of Constitution, and balance of power between states and Nat'l Gov.t
Thought checks and balances would protect from tyranny

23. Ratifying the Constitution
Antifederalists:
Against Constitution
Opposed to central gov’t
Listed many abuses by central gov’t

24. Ratifying the Constitution Opposing Forces
Federalist papers: 85 essays in NY newspapers from defending Constitution
Bill of Rights (summary of citizens’ rights and freedoms) lacking

25. Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification
Antifederalists said Constitution weakened states, people needed Bill of Rights to protect them
Federalists promised Bill of Rights if States would ratify Constitution

26. Ratification of Constitution
Delaware 1st to ratify and New Hampshire 9th and final state

27. Adoption of a Bill Of Rights
1789- Congress submitted 12 amendments to State Legislatures for ratification
1791- ¾ states ratified 10 of them, the Bill of Rights

28. Bill of Rights First 8 were personal liberties
9th states people’s rights are not restricted to those in the Constitution
10th states people and states have all the powers the Constitution doesn’t specifically give to Nat’l Govt. or deny to the States