1. Creating a Republic 1776–1790 Chapter 7 The American Nation
Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

2. Chapter 7: Creating a Republic 1776–1790
The American Nation
Chapter 7: Creating a Republic 1776–1790
Section 1: A Loose Confederation
Section 2: The Constitutional Convention
Section 3: Ideas Behind the Constitution
Section 4: Ratification and the Bill of Rights
Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

3. A Loose Confederation Why did state governments write constitutions?
Chapter 7, Section 1
Why did state governments write constitutions?
What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
What process did the Articles create for admitting new states?
Why did many Americans call for changes in the Articles?

4. Most States Wrote Constitutions
Chapter 7, Section 1
Constitution—document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government
Bill of Rights—list of freedoms that the government promises to protect
Reasons for a written constitution:
would spell out the rights of all citizens
would limit the power of government

5. The Articles of Confederation
Chapter 7, Section 1
Articles of Confederation—first American constitution; created a loose alliance of independent states
Congress could:
declare war
appoint military officers
coin money
take care of foreign affairs
Congress’s powers were limited:
nine states had to approve a law before it could go into effect
could not regulate trade
had no power to tax; had to ask the states for money; states could not be forced to contribute
there was no president to execute, or carry out, the laws
there were no courts to settle conflicts

6. Weaknesses of the Confederation
Chapter 7, Section 1
Conflicts between states
The central government did not have power to resolve such conflicts.
Money problems
The central government did not have power to raise taxes. States often refused to contribute money. The government could not pay its debts.
Continental Congress had printed paper currency, or money. However it had little value because it was not backed by gold or silver.
Each state printed its own money, which caused confusion.
Foreign countries took advantage of the confederation
Britain refused to pull troops from the Ohio Valley.
Spain closed the port of New Orleans to Americans.

7. How Congress Admitted New States to the Union
Chapter 7, Section 1
Land Ordinance of 1785
set up a survey system that divided the land into townships and sections
set aside land to support public schools
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
set up a government for the Northwest Territory
guaranteed basic rights to settlers
outlawed slavery in the territory provided for the region to be divided into separate territories; once a territory had 660,000 free settlers, it could ask Congress to be admitted as a new state, equal to the original states

8. Land Ordinance of 1785
Chapter 7, Section 1

9. Why Americans Called for a Change in the Articles
Chapter 7, Section 1
The nation suffered a depression—a period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises.
Massachusetts raised taxes, and the courts seized the farms of those who could not pay. Many farmers took part in Shays’ Rebellion, led by Daniel Shays. They attacked courthouses and kept officials from seizing farms.
Many Americans saw Shays’ Rebellion as a sign that the Articles of Confederation did not work.

10. Section 1 Assessment Under the Articles of Confederation,
Chapter 7, Section 1
Under the Articles of Confederation,
a) the President had the power to conduct foreign affairs.
b) Congress passed tax laws that were a burden on farmers.
c) the central government was too weak to enforce the laws passed by Congress.
d) the approval of all 13 states was needed to pass a law.
What was a major accomplishment of the Northwest Ordinance?
a) It provided a way to admit new states to the nation.
b) It settled disputes between the states over claims to western lands.
c) It demanded that the British remove troops from the Ohio Valley.
d) It set up a survey system for the Northwest Territory.
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11. Section 1 Assessment Under the Articles of Confederation,
Chapter 7, Section 1
Under the Articles of Confederation,
a) the President had the power to conduct foreign affairs.
b) Congress passed tax laws that were a burden on farmers.
c) the central government was too weak to enforce the laws passed by Congress.
d) the approval of all 13 states was needed to pass a law.
What was a major accomplishment of the Northwest Ordinance?
a) It provided a way to admit new states to the nation.
b) It settled disputes between the states over claims to western lands.
c) It demanded that the British remove troops from the Ohio Valley.
d) It set up a survey system for the Northwest Territory.
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12. The Constitutional Convention
Chapter 7, Section 2
Who were the leading delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
What were the main differences between the two rival plans for the new Constitution?
What compromises did the delegates have to reach before the Constitution could be signed?

13. Leading Delegates to the Convention
Chapter 7, Section 2
When the Constitutional Convention met on May 25, 1787, to consider a new system of government, every state except Rhode Island sent representatives.
Revolutionary Leaders:
Benjamin Franklin
oldest delegate
signed Declaration of Independence
George Washington
president of convention
New Generation:
Alexander Hamilton
wanted strong central government
James Madison
ideas on democratic government influenced others
“Father of the Constitution”

14. Rival Plans for the New Constitution
Chapter 7, Section 2
Virginia Plan
Purposed by Edmund Randolph and James Madison of Virginia
New Jersey Plan
Purposed by Wiliam Paterson of New Jersey
Supported by large states
Supported by small states
Strong national government with three branches.
legislative branch—passes laws
executive branch—carries out laws
judicial branch—courts would decide if laws were carried out fairly
Legislative branch—two houses Seats awarded on basis of population. Larger states would have more representatives than smaller states.
Legislative branch—one house Each state gets one vote. Small states and big states would have equal representation.

15. The Delegates Compromised
Chapter 7, Section 2
Compromise—a settlement in which each side gives up some demands in order to reach an agreement.
Great Compromise
Large states wanted two houses of Congress with a state’s representatives decided according to the state’s population.
Small states wanted Congress to have one house and each state to have two senators.
The compromise—a two-house legislature.
Members of the lower house—the House of Representatives—would be elected by popular vote. Seats would be awarded according to population.
Members of the upper house—the Senate—would be chosen by state legislatures. Each state would have two senators.

16. The Delegates Compromised
Chapter 7, Section 2
Three-Fifths Compromise
Southerners wanted to include slaves in the population count to determine seats in the House, even though they could not vote.
Northerners objected. Since slaves could not vote, they should not be counted.
The compromise - Three fifths of the slaves in any state would be counted.
The Slave Trade
Northerners wanted to ban the slave trade.
Southerners said a ban on the slave trade would ruin their economy.
The compromise - Congress would not outlaw the slave trade for at least 20 years. After that, Congress could regulate the slave trade. Meanwhile, no state could stop a fugitive slave from being returned.

17. Section 2 Assessment
Chapter 7, Section 2
In the Great Compromise the delegates decided Congress would have
a) two houses, one where each state had two senators and one with seats awarded according to state populations.
b) one house, in which each state had one vote.
c) two houses, both with seats awarded according to state populations.
d) one house, in which seats are awarded according to state populations.
What did the Constitutional Convention decide to do about the slave trade in the United States?
a) ban the slave trade in the entire nation
b) do nothing
c) allow each state to decide forever for itself
d) say Congress could not outlaw the slave trade for 20 years, then could reconsider
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18. Section 2 Assessment
Chapter 7, Section 2
In the Great Compromise the delegates decided Congress would have
a) two houses, one where each state had two senators and one with seats awarded according to state populations.
b) one house, in which each state had one vote.
c) two houses, both with seats awarded according to state populations.
d) one house, in which seats are awarded according to state populations.
What did the Constitutional Convention decide to do about the slave trade in the United States?
a) ban the slave trade in the entire nation
b) do nothing
c) allow each state to decide forever for itself
d) say Congress could not outlaw the slave trade for 20 years, then could reconsider
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19. Ideas Behind the Constitution
Chapter 7, Section 3
What did American leaders learn from studying ancient Rome?
What traditions of freedom did Americans inherit from Great Britain and from their own colonial past?
How did Enlightenment ideas shape the development of the Constitution?

20. What the Founding Fathers Learned From Ancient Rome
Chapter 7, Section 3
Founding Fathers—the patriots who laid the groundwork for the United States, such as Madison and Jefferson.
They admired the Roman Republic. They created a republic, a government in which citizens rule themselves through elected representatives.
They admired Roman citizens who served the republic out of a sense of public service.
They saw the collapse of Rome’s republic as a warning. They wanted to avoid a dictatorship, a government in which one person or small group holds complete authority.

21. British Traditions of Freedom
Chapter 7, Section 3
British Traditions of Freedom
Magna Carta
English monarchs themselves had to obey the law. For example, the king could not raise taxes without consulting the Great Council.
English nobles—and later, other people—had rights, including rights to property and the right to trial by jury.
English Bill of Rights
It stated that parliamentary elections should be held regularly.
It upheld the right to trial by jury.
It allowed citizens to bear arms.
It affirmed the right of habeas corpus, the idea that no person could be held without being charged with a specific crime.

22. The American Experience
Traditions of Freedom
Chapter 7, Section 3
The American Experience
Constitutional Tradition
Mayflower Compact, the first document of self-government in North America
written colonial charters
Revolutionary Era
memory of grievances against the English king, expressed in the Declaration of Independence
experience of the Second Continental Congress
experience with the Articles of Confederation
experience with state governments and state constitutions

23. Teachings of the Enlightenment
Traditions of Freedom
Chapter 7, Section 3
Teachings of the Enlightenment
John Locke
Two Treatises of Government
All people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
Government is an agreement between ruler and ruled. The ruler must enforce the laws and protect the people.
If a ruler violates the people’s natural rights, the people have a right to rebel.
Baron de Montesquieu
The Spirit of the Laws
The powers of government should be clearly defined.
There should be a separation of powers, that is, the powers of government should be divided up among branches of government so no person or group gains too much power.
A government should have three separate branches—legislative, executive, and judicial.

24. Section 3 Assessment A republic is a kind of government where
Chapter 7, Section 3
A republic is a kind of government where
a) one person or group holds complete authority.
b) military power is placed above civilian authority.
c) citizens rule themselves through elected representatives.
d) all citizens vote on all the laws.
“Separation of powers” means that
a) the powers of government should be clearly defined and divided up among different branches of government.
b) the powers of government are decided by the legislative branch and approved by the judicial branch.
c) no person shall be held in jail without first being charged.
d) the Founding Fathers worked separately from each other to suggest plans for a government.
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25. Section 3 Assessment A republic is a kind of government where
Chapter 7, Section 3
A republic is a kind of government where
a) one person or group holds complete authority.
b) military power is placed above civilian authority.
c) citizens rule themselves through elected representatives.
d) all citizens vote on all the laws.
“Separation of powers” means that
a) the powers of government should be clearly defined and divided up among different branches of government.
b) the powers of government are decided by the legislative branch and approved by the judicial branch.
c) no person shall be held in jail without first being charged.
d) the Founding Fathers worked separately from each other to suggest plans for a government.
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26. Ratification and the Bill of Rights
Chapter 7, Section 4
What were the key issues in the debate between the Federalists and the Antifederalists?
How was the Constitution finally ratified?
How was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

27. Key Issues in the Debate Between Federalists and Antifederalists
Chapter 7, Section 4
Federalists
for a strong federal, or national, government.
The Constitution gave the national government enough power to function effectively.
The Constitution still protected the rights and powers of the states.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays—The Federalist Papers—to explain and defend the Constitution.
The Constitution already protected the rights of citizens well enough.
Antifederalists
against the Constitution.
The Constitution made the national government too strong.
The Constitution made the states too weak.
Patrick Henry gave a speech saying that, under the Constitution, the President had too much power and that someday a President might try to become king.
The Constitution had no bill of rights to protect natural rights, such as freedom of speech and religion.

28. After Much Debate, the Constitution Was Finally Ratified
Chapter 7, Section 4
December 1787
Delaware was the first to ratify. Pennsylvania and New Jersey soon followed.
February 1788
Sam Adams and John Hancock convinced the Massachusetts convention to recommend adding a bill of rights to the Constitution. Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify.
June 1788
When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, the new government could go into effect. Still, the largest states—New York and Virginia—had not yet ratified the plan.
Virginia voted to ratify the Constitution when the Federalists promised to support a bill of rights.
July 1788
In New York the struggle between Federalists and Antifederalists went on until July.
November 1789
North Carolina
May 1790
Rhode Island became the last state to ratify.

29. A Bill of Rights Was Added
Chapter 7, Section 4
The first election under the Constitution for President and members of Congress was held in January 1789.
The first Congress met in New York City. Congress turned its attention to a bill of rights.
To amend, or change, the Constitution, Congress followed the process established in the Constitution. Congress proposed twelve amendments. The amendments went to the states for their approval.
By December 1791, three fourths of the states had ratified 10 of the 12 amendments. These 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights.

30. The Writing of the Constitution
Chapter 7, Section 4
Causes
Articles of Confederation creates weak national government
Trade and money problems arise between states
Foreign nations take advantage of weak government
Shays’ Rebellion breaks out
Convention meets to revise Articles of Confederation
The Writing of the Constitution
Effects
New government includes President and two-house legislature
Power is divided between national and state governments
Compromises allow slavery to continue
States debate and ratify Constitution
Bill of Rights is added
Effects Today
United States is world’s oldest continuing constitutional democracy
Debate about federal versus state power continues
Amendments extend rights to more citizens
New democracies look to the Constitution as a model

31. Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 7, Section 4
One issue the Federalists and Antifederalists argued over was
a) how to amend the Constitution and add a bill of rights.
b) where the nation’s first capital should be.
c) how many states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.
d) whether the Constitution made the central government too strong.
Antifederalists fought to add a bill of rights to the Constitution in order to
a) provide a process for amending the Constitution.
b) protect the people’s natural rights.
c) explain the political theory behind the American system of government.
d) make it less difficult for the government to function.
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32. Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 7, Section 4
One issue the Federalists and Antifederalists argued over was
a) how to amend the Constitution and add a bill of rights.
b) where the nation’s first capital should be.
c) how many states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.
d) whether the Constitution made the central government too strong.
Antifederalists fought to add a bill of rights to the Constitution in order to
a) provide a process for amending the Constitution.
b) protect the people’s natural rights.
c) explain the political theory behind the American system of government.
d) make it less difficult for the government to function.
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