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republicAlso referred to as a republic Concept: Republicanism people who elect officialsGovernment authority comes from the people who elect officials that represent their interests end of slavery encouraged educationPromoted the end of slavery, encouraged education and sacrifice for the public good
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governing13 colonies had a tradition of governing themselves….. Elected their own representative law making bodies Passed laws to keep peace within their communities tradition of representative democracy Colonies had a tradition of representative democracy That’s why they fought the Revolution
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Common Features of State Constitutions Popular Sovereignty 1.Popular sovereignty was the basis for every new State constitution. 2.Government can exist and function only with the consent of the governed. 3.People hold power and are sovereign. 1.Limited government was a major feature of each State constitution. 2.Powers delegated to government were granted reluctantly and included many restrictions. 1.In every state it was made clear that the sovereign people held certain rights that the government must respect at all times. 2.Seven of the new constitutions contained a bill of rights, setting out the “unalienable rights” 1.State governments were purposely divided among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. 2.Each branch was given powers with a system of checks and balances. Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Civil Rights and Liberties Limited Government State Constitutions
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Foreign Debt $11,710,000 Federal Domestic Debt $42,414,000 State Debt $21,500,000 We owed France, Spain and other countries who helped us with the Revolutionary War. debt Individual states owed citizens who loaned money to their state. The new US Gov’t owed soldiers for fighting in the war, plus debts to the British and some Loyalists. $80 Million
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Jays The British were to remove their troops from US soil…..The National Government under the AOC was powerless to force Great Britain to honor the Treaty of Paris, 1783
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■ Grid system was created by Thomas Jefferson… ■ A structured and organized land policy ■ Allowed for a peaceful purchase of land ■ Promoted an orderly expansion westward.. ■ Confederation Congress convinced states who claimed land out west to cede their land to the US Gov’t ■ US Gov’t was to come up with a fair and reasonable land policy…..Unlike the Proclamation of 1763…. Northwest Territory
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Plot #16 was set aside for public education Public Land sold for $1.00 to $2.00 an acre in order to pay debt Northwest Territory
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An addition to the Land Ordinance of 1785 Congress sold land in large blocks: 40, 80, 160, 320 and 640 acres $1 to $2 an acre to help pay national debt Encouraged settlers to form townships New states formed would be = to original 13 Influx of settlers caused violence with Indians Guaranteed settlers “unalienable rights” Northwest Territory
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Ohio 1 ST STEP WHEN PEOPLE FIRST SETTLE IN THE AREA: Congress appoints a governor and three judges to govern the territory 2 nd STEP POPULATION REACHES 5,000 FREE ADULT MALES: Landowners elect a congress to make laws and raise taxes with approval of governor. One representative is elected to the US Congress who can debate but not vote. 3 rd STEP POPULATION REACHES 60,000 SETTLERS: Territory becomes a state, with its own government and constitution. New states were admitted with same rights as the original states. No more than 5 states can be carved out of this area. Northwest OrdinanceDOI and republicanism (representative democracy liberty and propertyeducation slavery. The Northwest Ordinance encouraged ideals of the DOI and republicanism (representative democracy) religious freedom, protection of liberty and property; It encouraged education, admitted new states and discouraged slavery.
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constitutionlaw of the land democratic government the Declaration of IndependenceOur first constitution (law of the land) and an attempt to create a democratic government based on the ideas of the Declaration of Independence 2 nd Continental CongressWritten by the members of the 2 nd Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War Confederation Congresstook effect in March 1781… US legislature was called the Confederation Congress Founding Fathers were determined not to have a king…..
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Confederation Government government was a weak alliance of the 13 original states each state was independent and conducted its own affairs created a weak national gov’t which had few powers to solve national problems states held more power than the national gov’t states would unite in times of crisis like a “treaty of cooperation” between the states Why this? Was a reaction to ‘unitary government’ where the national gov’t has all the power
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Government Structure Congress--1 house (unicameral) Confederation Congress No executive branch or president… No judicial system….. One vote per state regardless of size State Responsibilities Obey Articles and Acts of Congress “requested”provide funds and troops when “requested” by Congress States regulated own trade and taxed each other States had their own currency Powers of Congress Declare war, make peace Make & sign treaties Build navy and army Settle disputes among states Set up national monetary system Major Problem Major Problem: Created a weak national gov’t that could not tax, regulate trade, or enforce its laws because the states held more power than the National Government.
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The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation established “a firm league of friendship” among the States. Chapter 2, Section 3 Obligations The States promised to obey Congress States would respect the laws of the other States 2222 4444 1111 5555
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Major Problem Could not tax, regulate trade or enforce its laws because the states held more power than the National GovernmentWhy? Feared a government like the British gov’t under King George III
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National Govt. AOC/Congress given 20% of govt. powers States were given 80% of governmental powers…States were superior to the national gov’t EFFECTS of the Articles of Confederation and the Confederation Congress: Could not deal effectively with US problems
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In early 1787 a group of small farmers protested against the Massachusetts gov’t Why? They were in debt, their homes were being repossessed and they claimed they were unfairly taxed They were led by Daniel Shays, a former army captain in the Revolutionary War Purpose of the rebellion: prevent foreclosures by keeping the courts from sitting (meeting) until the next election Shay’s Rebellion was put down by a private army paid for by wealthy merchants from Boston The Confederation Congress was unable to put down the rebellion – could not raise a national guard or army
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Shays Daniel Shay
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Shays Outcomes - The rebellion was ended by a private militia - US Gov’t was too weak to put down the rebellion - Americans feared too weak a gov’t would lead to anarchy So, there were calls for a Constitutional Convention to change the AOC and create a stronger national government
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could not protect life, liberty and property The AOC was unable to be used decisively in a time of crisis. National gov’t could not protect life, liberty and property Provided all the evidence needed to finally convene and revise the constitution Shay’s Rebellion Why was Shay’s Rebellion such a concern to our founding fathers? Why Create A New Constitution?
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The Elites Response to Shay’s Rebellion: Let us have { a Constitution } by which our lives, liberties and properties will be secured.... Let us have { a Constitution } by which our lives, liberties and properties will be secured.... “Respectable” Americans were shocked by the violence. They feared “mobocracy”.
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The Elites Response to Shay’s Rebellion The Annapolis Convention (1786) HGeorge Washington hosted a conference at his home in Mt. Vernon, VA (1785) HRepresentatives agreed that the problems were serious enough to hold further discussions at a later meeting at Annapolis, MD, at which all the states might be represented HOnly 5 states sent delegates Constitutional Convention HAlexander Hamilton and James Madison persuaded the others to call for a Constitutional Convention, to be held in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation
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Social Change Abolition of Aristocratic Titles –Social mobility Separation of Church and state all men are created equalThe institution of slavery contradicted the idea that “ all men are created equal ” –Several northern states would abolish slavery –Majority of southern slave-owners came to believe that slave labor was essential to their economy Voting rights would expand Despite their contributions during the Revolutionary War, women remained in a second- class status
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