We’re Free!!! Now What?

It is based upon the Principles of the

Declaration of Independence It was not a constitution capable of supporting

the realistic needs of governing a state. It had three branches of government: Legislative Executive Judicial

Georgia Constitution of 1777

Features of the Constitution Most Power was given to the Unicameral (one-

house) legislature. The legislature appointed the members of the

executive branch, including the state governor The legislature also appointed members of the

judicial branch

Georgia Constitution of 1777

Governor served a one-year term. A superior court was created for each county Georgia citizens had many freedoms:

Freedom of the press Freedom of Religion Trial by jury

Georgia Constitution of 1777

Strengths

Separation of the government branches Protection of basic rights

Georgia Constitution of 1777

Weaknesses

Legislature has too much power. Electing the governor, his council, and all state

officials The legislature had only one house - No check

on its power A one-year term limited the governor’s

effectiveness.

Georgia Constitution of 1777

The constitution was not ratified by a vote of

the people; therefore, it did not represent their interests.

With all of its weaknesses, it was still the state’s constitution for 12 years

Georgia constitution of 1777

The Constitution of 1777 gave

a lot of power to the legislature (which typically upholds the rights of the people), and not to the governor. Why do think that was such an important issue in 1777?

Question?

Foundation of the new government Written at first with a strong central

government Many states apposed this idea They just got their freedom; they didn’t want to

give it away to a controlling national government.

Articles of Confederation

So… they provided a weak central

government and gave the states a lot of authority over their own affairs. This was based upon their experience with the

British monarchy. It had too many limitations that kept the

government from running smoothly.

Articles of Confederation

Power the government had under the Articles

of Confederation. Declare war Coin money Establish Post Offices Send and recall Ambassadors

Articles of Confederation

Power the government did not have under the

Articles of Confederation. Levy (impose) taxes to fund the government

(they had to ask the states for support.) Could not regulate the trade between states.

(States could put tariffs on each other.) Could not raise an army without the states’

permission, leaving the country defenseless.

Articles of Confederation

Group Activity:On your desk you will find instructions for each team member, 4 incidents report case studies, 4 incident reports, and 4 graphic organizers.

Each member of the team needs to read one incident report and complete the case study.

Each member needs to share with the rest of the team what he/she discovered in his/her case study.

As a team, the members will fill out the graphic organizer, using what you learned through the case studies.

Individually, each member will answer the question on the instruction sheet.

Articles of Confederation

Serious weaknesses of the AOC:

Strong legislative branch, no executive or judicial branch (no court system to settle disputes.)

Each state had its own currency Congress could make laws but could not force

the states to comply with them One vote per state no matter the size of the

state’s population.

Articles of Confederation

It soon became clear that the national

government was too weak. “a half-starved, limping government” - George

Washington States argued over borders and trade, and

Congress had no power to stop them Foreign governments did not know who to deal

with – USA or individual states. It became clear; we needed something else

A Limping Government

In September of 1786, Alexander Hamilton

and James Madison called a meeting for the states to discuss their disagreements.

Only 5 representatives came

Another meeting was scheduled for May 1787

Constitutional Convention

Their intention was to revise the AOC, but they

wound up throwing it out altogether They wrote the Constitution of the United

States. Georgia appointed six delegates to the

Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention

Two did not attend Two left early Two stayed and signed

Abraham Baldwin William Few

Constitutional Convention

Compromises during the constitutional

convention Three-fifths Compromise: agreed upon by the

north and south which allowed for slaves to count toward a state’s overall population by counting slaves as 3/5 of a person

Why?

Constitutional Convention

Great Compromise: created a bicameral (two-

house) legislature where each state had two members in the Senate but representation in the House of Representatives is based on the state’s population. Abraham Baldwin helped develop the Great

Compromise

Constitutional Convention

Smaller states were worried that they would

not get equal representation. The Great Compromise made it fair for both

the larger and smaller states.

Constitutional Convention

Georgians supported a strong central

government. To protect them from a threatened Indian war

and from the Spanish who had regained possession of Florida.

To ensure that a centralized government would improve trade regulations (Savannah and coastal regions)

Georgia’s Role at the Constitutional Convention

William Few represented Georgia well by

casting important nationalist votes during critical times at the convention.

He also worked hard to make sure the U.S. constitution was approved by the Constitutional Congress and by his home state.

Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on January 2, 1788.

Georgia’s Role continued…