Post on 24-Feb-2016
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The Critical Period
The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
1st Continental CongressWrote Declaration of Rights and GrievancesAddressed it to King George III
Brainstorm 5 grievances against “adult-archy”They must be school appropriateThey can be against adults, school, teachersBe nice….
2nd Continental Congress British refused to repeal taxes Reacted with stricter measures Each of the colonies sent
representatives Became our first government Rested on no constitutional
base Condemned by the British
Accomplishments of Congress
Fought a war Raised armies and a navy
Selected George Washington as Commander of army Borrowed funds Bought supplies Created a money system Made treaties with foreign powers (France) Although not a permanent solution, the Congress
steadied the colonies in a time of turmoil
And then what happened…?
1776 – The Declaration of Independence creates a new nation of 13 statesFormer British colonies became
independent STATES. Most wrote constitutions: a document that
spells out the laws and principles of the government
While state constitutions differed one from another, they shared many similar features
Similar Features… Popular Sovereignty – idea that holds that the
govt can only exist with the consent of the governed
Limited Government – Govt is restricted in what it may do and the people have certain rights the govt cannot take away
Civil Rights and Liberties – Governmental guarantee of rights for all
Separation of Powers – Govt powers are divided among three branches
Issues…
Lack of Unity – leaders understood that states needed to unite in order to win war
Role of Central Govt – many people/states were fearful of a strong, central govt due to their experiences with Britain
Identity Issues – Most people were more loyal to their state and didn’t see themselves as citizens of a nation—not as Americans
Remember: The 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses
were called to action due to emergency Had no legal base Intended to be temporary
It didn’t have swag’ Everyone acknowledged that a more
permanent and regular government was needed
1777 - Articles of Confederation
-Were created after much debate and deliberation
The first official govt of the United States
“A firm league of friendship” The Articles did not go into
effect until 1781…because all 13 states had to ratify it
Articles of Confederation…What kind of government do you
think they established?(think about what we’ve studied in Unit 1: Types of
World Governments)
What kind of govt was created? There was a Congress – one central govt Congress’ powers were limited and STATE
powers were preserved—they would continue to hold the powers they stated in their constitutions Congress had power to declare war Congress had power to borrow and coin $ Congress had power to make treaties
There was a “President” appointed by Congress to preside over Congress…but had no real executive power
Weaknesses (cause) Results (effect)
Congress could enter into treaties but could not enforce its agreements
or control foreign relations.
Many states entered into their own treaties and created their own
foreign policy without consulting Congress
Congress could coin money but so could each individual state.
Each state had its own money and each had different values
Congress could not tax the people. Instead, they relied on each state
donating $ to the central govt.
Always a shortage of money
Congress could not draft people into the army
There was NO ARMY!
Congress could not regulate commerce between the states or
with other nations
Economic quarrels among states broke out. Trading with other nations
was difficult.
Congress had no power to enforce its laws.
No one really had to follow the laws
Weaknesses (cause) Results (effect)
9 of 13 states had to approve any law before it was enacted
This was far more than a simple majority…and therefore was very difficult to pass laws
Any amendment to the Articles required the consent of all 13
states
Almost impossible to change the powers of the central
government
There was no national judicial branch
No one to settle disputes among states…led to distrust and exploiting
loopholes
There was no true executive branch
Coordinating the work of the central govt was almost
impossible…no one to execute or enforce laws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pgc0Da5Q9M&feature=related
Summary: The kind of govt
the Articles of Confederation set up
The Ballad (Rap/Poem/etc.) of Daniel Shays Your job is to read the article as a group Then, create a song, rap, or poem about
Daniel Shays’ rebellion It should include the following:
1st section: Why the colonists were mad2nd section: A little info about Daniel Shays3rd section: Shays’ Rebellion4th section: What happened as a result
You may (please, please) make these humorous
Troubles a’ Brewin’
Articles created chaos among states: Conflict between states over land and money Debt after the war and no way to raise $$$ Several states made agreements with foreign govts States organized their own armies Taxed each others goods or banned trade
Disrespect from foreign nations Surprise, surprise...these problems led to
violence
1786 - Shays’ Rebellion Massachusetts farmers
organized an uprising led by former Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays
Attacked courthouses in protest of the government seizing farmlands of those who could not pay taxes and loans
Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
A Need for a Stronger Govt
The demand grew for a stronger, more effective national govt
Several states had their own meetings to resolve issues among themselves
Feb 1787, Congress called for all states to send delegates to Philadelphia for “revising the Articles of Confederation”Called the Constitutional Convention
Creating and Ratifying the Constitution
The Constitutional Convention
The Philadelphia or “Constitutional” Convention
I. Setting the Scene Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: May 25-September 17, 1787
II. The “Framers” Framer – delegates who attended
the Philadelphia Convention and whose task was to write the Constitution
III. Organization and Procedure Day 1- Elect President Day 2- Establish Rules Day 3- Decide on their Purpose
Considering “the natural diversity of human opinions on all new and complicated subjects, it is impossible to consider the degree of concord which ultimately prevailed as less than a miracle.”
- James Madison
Delegates appointed to the convention
74
Attended the meetings regularly
55
Signed the document39
Refused to sign the document
3
Average age of those in attendance
42
Years: Age of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton
27
Years: Age of the oldest delegate, Benjamin
Franklin
81
George Washington
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
George Mason
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
Patrick Henry
The Situation
When?
May 25—September 17, 1787
Where?
Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA
Where?
Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA
Serious differences and debates at the Constitutional Convention…
Plan or Compromise
What it said? Who benefited from it?
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
- Representation based on population- More people = more representatives
- Representation in legislature should be equal for all states- Argued that otherwise, the larger states would ALWAYS outweigh the small states
- Bicameral legislature: House of Reps and Senate- House: representation based on POPULATION Senate: representation equal to all states- Every 3 out of 5 slaves would count towards the state’s population- State’s = # of seats in House- Virginia: 42% slaves; SC: 43% slaves; Georgia: 35%
Large states
Small states
Both large and small states
All states, esp. non-slave states
Everyone, especially Southern States
There would be no taxes on exported goods
“Sir, I agree with this Constitution to all its faults, if they are such; because … I doubt …whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men who have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…”
- Benjamin Franklin
Ratification of the Constitution RATIFICATION means formal approval Two groups debate…
Federalists - support ratification of the Constitution
Prominent Federalists (John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, & James Madison) write a series of essays to promote their cause. They become known collectively as The Federalist Papers.
Anti-Federalists - opposes ratification of the Constitution
Two major arguments: Believed the central government, as proposed
in the new document, was too strong! Thought the Constitution should include a
declaration of rights! (to protect citizens from the government)
Outcome The Constitution is ratified in 1788 George Washington is unanimously
elected President of the United States Begins his term in office in 1789.
Washington creates many precedents:Cabinet2 term limitUses the title “Mr. President”