Planning a New Planning a New GovernmentGovernment

The Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation

How did the states run themselves before How did the states run themselves before the Articles of Confederation? the Articles of Confederation?

Who had the power?Who had the power? States organized their own government States organized their own government

with their own constitutions.with their own constitutions. Limits the power of the governor.Limits the power of the governor. Divided power between the governor and Divided power between the governor and

a two house legislature (a two house legislature (BicameralBicameral)) Popular election – White men over 21 Popular election – White men over 21

were able to vote.were able to vote. Monarchy & Parliament Monarchy & Parliament

The nation was to be a republic. What is a The nation was to be a republic. What is a republic and why do you think the new republic and why do you think the new

United States wanted it that way?United States wanted it that way? Republic – A government where the Republic – A government where the

people chose representatives to govern people chose representatives to govern them.them.

Based on experience with England, the Based on experience with England, the Founding Fathers feared a one Founding Fathers feared a one person/group having all the power.person/group having all the power.

Granted only a few “strong” powers to the Granted only a few “strong” powers to the Federal government.Federal government.

Articles of Confederation - StrengthsArticles of Confederation - Strengths

Declare warDeclare war Make or negotiate Make or negotiate

treatiestreaties Control Indian mattersControl Indian matters Coin moneyCoin money Borrow moneyBorrow money Admit new statesAdmit new states Control the army and Control the army and

navynavy

Form alliesForm allies Representation from Representation from

all states – each state all states – each state had a single votehad a single vote

Passed the Land Passed the Land Ordinance of 1785Ordinance of 1785

Passed the Northwest Passed the Northwest Ordinance in 1787Ordinance in 1787

Articles of Confederation - WeaknessesArticles of Confederation - Weaknesses

Lacked the power to Lacked the power to enforce lawsenforce laws

Lacked the power to levy Lacked the power to levy taxestaxes

Lacked the power to Lacked the power to regulate trade among the regulate trade among the statesstates

Could ask the states for Could ask the states for money, but the states did money, but the states did not have to paynot have to pay

Had the power to declare Had the power to declare war, but had to ask the war, but had to ask the states for an armystates for an army

Continental money was Continental money was worthlessworthless

No national court systemNo national court system No national executive No national executive

branch except for the branch except for the PresidentPresident

Required all 13 states to Required all 13 states to approve changes in the approve changes in the ArticlesArticles

Foreign nations did not Foreign nations did not respect our territory/landrespect our territory/land

Unity was difficultUnity was difficult

The Ordinance of 1785The Ordinance of 1785

Applied to land west of the Appalachian Applied to land west of the Appalachian MountainsMountains

Formed townships (6 x 6 miles) and each Formed townships (6 x 6 miles) and each township had to put aside land for schoolstownship had to put aside land for schools

Cheap land for speculatorsCheap land for speculators Congress protected hard workersCongress protected hard workers Would become known as the Northwest Would become known as the Northwest

Territory - Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Territory - Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of MinnesotaIllinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota

The Northwest OrdinanceThe Northwest Ordinance

Land from north of the Ohio River to the Land from north of the Ohio River to the Mississippi RiverMississippi River

The land was divided into 3 – 5 territoriesThe land was divided into 3 – 5 territories Described how the territory was to be governedDescribed how the territory was to be governed 60,000 people needed for statehood60,000 people needed for statehood ““Bill of Rights” for settlersBill of Rights” for settlers

Religious freedomReligious freedom Trial by juryTrial by jury No slavery, but indentured servitude was OKNo slavery, but indentured servitude was OK

Finances and taxesFinances and taxes

Continental money was next to worthlessContinental money was next to worthless Increase prices and inflation led to food Increase prices and inflation led to food

riotsriots War debtsWar debts Robert Morris proposed a 5% import tax to Robert Morris proposed a 5% import tax to

helphelp

Britain Britain

Troops did not withdraw as per the Treaty Troops did not withdraw as per the Treaty of Parisof Paris

Kept the US out of the West IndiesKept the US out of the West Indies Ignored the protest of the US because Ignored the protest of the US because

England said we did not hold up our end of England said we did not hold up our end of the Treaty of Paristhe Treaty of Paris

SpainSpain

Closed off the lower Mississippi River for Closed off the lower Mississippi River for fear of US expansionfear of US expansion

Southern states upsetSouthern states upset Loss of tradeLoss of trade

DepressionDepression

Unemployment was on the increase and Unemployment was on the increase and people were not spending moneypeople were not spending money

Economy was damaged from the warEconomy was damaged from the war Problems with exportsProblems with exports Great Britain closed off the West IndiesGreat Britain closed off the West Indies Any money we had went to paying off the Any money we had went to paying off the

war debt owed to foreign nationswar debt owed to foreign nations

Shays RebellionShays Rebellion

Farmers suffered because they could not find markets Farmers suffered because they could not find markets for their goodsfor their goods

People who could not pay their taxes ($200 a year), the People who could not pay their taxes ($200 a year), the government auctioned off their land to cover the debt government auctioned off their land to cover the debt owedowed

Farmers in Massachusetts did not like the government Farmers in Massachusetts did not like the government controlcontrol

Daniel Shays forced courts to close – farmers lands Daniel Shays forced courts to close – farmers lands could not be taken away if there was not a court hearingcould not be taken away if there was not a court hearing

Shays and 1500 men marched on a federal arsenal. 4 Shays and 1500 men marched on a federal arsenal. 4 were killed before the uprising was put downwere killed before the uprising was put down

And now for something extra:And now for something extra:

You will need paper!You will need paper!

There is no doubt that the men There is no doubt that the men who created our government who created our government

were smart, but their ideas were were smart, but their ideas were not wholly their own. The not wholly their own. The

founding fathers borrowed many founding fathers borrowed many ideas from great thinkers ideas from great thinkers

throughout history.throughout history. Here are a Here are a few of those thinkers and a few of those thinkers and a summary of their ideas…summary of their ideas…

HiawathaHiawatha

Born in the 1400’sBorn in the 1400’s One of the creators of the Iroquois League, an One of the creators of the Iroquois League, an

organization of Native American tribes created to organization of Native American tribes created to bring peace for warring tribes and settle disputesbring peace for warring tribes and settle disputes

Members of the various tribes made decisions Members of the various tribes made decisions based on unanimous agreementbased on unanimous agreement

The League had a chief executive (like a The League had a chief executive (like a President)President)

Women had a lot of power in the LeagueWomen had a lot of power in the League

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Born in 1588Born in 1588 Believed that humans were naturally wicked and Believed that humans were naturally wicked and

would make decisions only for their own benefitwould make decisions only for their own benefit A government that gave all power to a king or A government that gave all power to a king or

queen was the best form of government queen was the best form of government however…however…

To prevent a ruler from abusing his/her power, To prevent a ruler from abusing his/her power, there should be a group of representatives who there should be a group of representatives who could speak on behalf of the common person…could speak on behalf of the common person…

Final decisions, though, rested with the rulerFinal decisions, though, rested with the ruler

John LockeJohn Locke

Born in 1632Born in 1632 Believed people could make good Believed people could make good

decisions if they were given the right decisions if they were given the right informationinformation

Governments should only be formed with Governments should only be formed with the consent (approval) of the peoplethe consent (approval) of the people

Governments should be created to protect Governments should be created to protect individual rights and freedomsindividual rights and freedoms

Claude Montesquieu Claude Montesquieu

Born in 1689Born in 1689 Established the idea of “Separation of Established the idea of “Separation of

Powers” – governmental power should be Powers” – governmental power should be divided up among different branches of divided up among different branches of governmentgovernment

This would prevent one individual or group This would prevent one individual or group from gaining too much powerfrom gaining too much power

Benjamin Banneker Benjamin Banneker

Born in 1732Born in 1732 An African American who believed that An African American who believed that

slaves and free blacks should have full slaves and free blacks should have full rights under the new Constitutionrights under the new Constitution

Pointed out that colonists fought to end Pointed out that colonists fought to end their enslavement under British rule and their enslavement under British rule and therefore keeping slavery alive was therefore keeping slavery alive was illogicalillogical

Abigail Adams Abigail Adams

Born 1744Born 1744 Wife of John AdamsWife of John Adams A strong woman who spoke her mind, she A strong woman who spoke her mind, she

was in favor of colonial independencewas in favor of colonial independence Wanted independence for ALL, and Wanted independence for ALL, and

encouraged her husband to outlaw slaveryencouraged her husband to outlaw slavery Reminded John to “remember the ladies” Reminded John to “remember the ladies”

as the new government was being formedas the new government was being formed

The Magna Carta of 1215The Magna Carta of 1215

Called the “Great Charter”Called the “Great Charter” Guaranteed basic political rights in EnglandGuaranteed basic political rights in England Applied not just to nobles but freemen (those not bound Applied not just to nobles but freemen (those not bound

to a master) as wellto a master) as well Checked royal powerChecked royal power Nobles won rights from King John:Nobles won rights from King John:

Could not be put on trial based only on the word of an official Could not be put on trial based only on the word of an official without a witnesswithout a witness

The right to a trial by people of a rank equal to their ownThe right to a trial by people of a rank equal to their own Could not be taxed unless council of prominent men agreedCould not be taxed unless council of prominent men agreed Could not have property seized by king or officialsCould not have property seized by king or officials

The Mayflower Compact of 1620The Mayflower Compact of 1620

41 men aboard the Mayflower agreed to abide 41 men aboard the Mayflower agreed to abide by certain rules for the general good of the by certain rules for the general good of the colonycolony

Based on the legal traditions of EnglandBased on the legal traditions of England Laws were created to promote the general order Laws were created to promote the general order

and the good of alland the good of all Expressed the ideals of self-government and Expressed the ideals of self-government and

majority rulesmajority rules Promised to frame, constitute and enact just and Promised to frame, constitute and enact just and

equal lawsequal laws

British Bill of Rights 1689British Bill of Rights 1689 Signed by William and Mary to respect the rights Signed by William and Mary to respect the rights

of English citizens and of parliament including of English citizens and of parliament including the right to free elections of members of the the right to free elections of members of the lower house of Parliamentlower house of Parliament

Based on the Magna Carta it established an Based on the Magna Carta it established an important principle: important principle: The government was The government was to be based on laws made by to be based on laws made by Parliament and not on the desires of a Parliament and not on the desires of a rulerruler

Limited the power of the monarchy and Limited the power of the monarchy and increased Parliament’s say in ruling the countryincreased Parliament’s say in ruling the country

British Bill of Rights 1689British Bill of Rights 1689

Parliament gained the right to approve plans to spend Parliament gained the right to approve plans to spend money and the King was forbidden to keep a standing money and the King was forbidden to keep a standing army in a time of peacearmy in a time of peace

The king could not cancel laws or impose (levy) taxes The king could not cancel laws or impose (levy) taxes unless Parliament agreedunless Parliament agreed

Free elections and frequent meetings of Parliament must Free elections and frequent meetings of Parliament must be heldbe held

Excessive fines and cruel punishment were forbiddenExcessive fines and cruel punishment were forbidden The right to complain to the King or Queen or Parliament The right to complain to the King or Queen or Parliament

without being arrested was establishedwithout being arrested was established

Virginia Statute for Virginia Statute for Religious FreedomReligious Freedom

Declared that no person could be forced to Declared that no person could be forced to attend a particular church.attend a particular church.

No person was required to support a No person was required to support a single church through tax money.single church through tax money.

The idea was supported by Thomas The idea was supported by Thomas Jefferson .Jefferson .

Began the notion of “Separation of Church Began the notion of “Separation of Church and State”.and State”.

The Fundamental Orders The Fundamental Orders of Connecticutof Connecticut

Written by Minister Thomas Hooker in Written by Minister Thomas Hooker in 1636 after he “left” Mass. to found the 1636 after he “left” Mass. to found the colony of Conn.colony of Conn.

Allowed male non-church members to Allowed male non-church members to vote.vote.

Outlined the powers of the general courts.Outlined the powers of the general courts. Created a government that was more Created a government that was more

democratic than seen before.democratic than seen before.