Post- Revolutionary Problems. 1)No National Government Colonists did not want a national government...
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Transcript of Post- Revolutionary Problems. 1)No National Government Colonists did not want a national government...
Post-Post-Revolutionary Revolutionary
ProblemsProblems
1)1) No National GovernmentNo National Government
• Colonists did not want a national government
• Colonists thought a national government would be like having a King. (they didn’t want another King)
1)1) No National GovernmentNo National Government
• 13 Separate State Governments
• Each state had a constitution, governor, and an army
2)2) All 13 Colonies in DebtAll 13 Colonies in Debt
• A National Gov’t was needed to handle debt
• Debt caused by borrowing money during Revolutionary War
Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation
• Set up First National Government in America
• Made intentionally weak to protect the rights of citizens in America
Problems with Problems with Articles of Articles of
ConfederationConfederation
Article/ProblemsArticle/Problems
• Gave Congress no power to tax
• Gov’t couldn’t raise money
Article/ProblemsArticle/Problems
• Gave Congress no power to regulate commerce (trade) among the states
• Border States almost went to war over money owed in trading
Article/ProblemsArticle/Problems
• Provided for no common currency
• Money had different values in different states
Article/ProblemsArticle/Problems
• Gave each state one vote regardless of size
• Unfair to larger states
Article/ProblemsArticle/Problems
• Provided for no executive or judicial branch
• No one to enforce laws
Shays RebellionShays Rebellion
• A Mass. farmer lead a rebellion to protest the rising taxes on poor farmers by Mass state government
• Other states feared rebellions and wanted a national government to protect them.
The ConstitutionVUS.5
Mr. Poley
Problems with Articles of Confederation
• Gave Congress no power to tax • Gave Congress no power to regulate
commerce among the states • Provided for no common currency • Gave each state one vote regardless
of size • Provided for no executive or judicial
branch
Constitutional Convention
• 12 states met in Philadelphia in 1787 to change the Articles of Confederation
• Rhode Island did not attend because they believed smaller states would be overlooked in a stronger national government
Constitutional Convention
• Original plan was to change the Articles of Confederation but decided to throw it out and start a new government
George Washington
• Chosen as Chairman of the Convention
• Washington brought prestige and legitimacy to convention
• He stayed out of political arguments
James Madison
• “Father of the Constitution”
• Main author
• He was a federalist – a person who favored a strong national government
Problems with Articles of
Confederation and Constitutional
Solutions
Problem 1
• States had too much power
Solution 1
• Supremacy Clause – national law was supreme over state law; national law limited to those stated in Constitution
Problem 2
• People feared a strong national government would have too much power and take away their rights
2 Solutions• Separation of Powers – government
divided into 3 equal branches (legislative, judicial, and executive)
• Checks and Balances – each branch of government can check the powers of the other
Key Compromises at Constitutional Convention
Issue 1
• Set up of legislature
Side 1
• NJ Plan – wanted a unicameral (one house) legislature with equal votes per state; favored smaller states
Side 2
• VA Plan – wanted a bicameral (two house) legislature with representation based on a states population; favored larger states
Compromise
• Great Compromise – a bicameral legislature (Congress) with an upper house (Senate) with two votes per state and a lower house (House of Representatives) with representation based on a states’ population
Issue 2
• Determining representation in House of Representatives
Side 1
• Southern view – slaves should be counted when determining number of representatives in Congress
Side 2
• Northern view – slaves are property and should not be counted as citizens
Compromise
•3/5 Compromise – only 3 out of 5 slaves would be counted in census
Issue 3
• Presidential Election
Side 1
• People were not educated enough to choose a President
Side 2
• People should have the right to choose their own leader
Compromise
• Electoral College – group of electors who choose the President based on popular vote in their state
Ratification of Constitution
Constitution
• Preamble – introduction to the Constitution; mission statement for America
• 7 Articles – outlines set up for government, the jobs of each branch, and the duties and procedures in the government
• Amendments – laws that govern the country
Ratification of Constitution
• Nine States had to ratify or approve the Constitution before it could become law
• Two Sides –Federalists vs Anti-federalists
Ratification Compromise
• Federalists agreed to have a national Bill of Rights added to Constitution if Anti-Federalists would ratify the Constitution
• James Madison wrote the bill of rights
Ratification Compromise
• Bill of Rights was based on the VA Declaration of Rights (George Mason) and the VA Statute for Religious Freedom (Thomas Jefferson)
Federalists
• Supported a strong national government and wanted Constitution ratified
• Felt people were protected because of checks and balances in the government and the separation of powers
Federalists
• Did not believe a national Bill of Rights was necessary
• Wrote Federalists Papers to encourage country to ratify Constitution
Anti - federalists
• Believed national government was too strong and limited states too much
• Wanted a national Bill of Rights added to protect their natural rights
Articles Essay
• You are to write an essay detailing at least three weaknesses from the Articles of Confederation. Explain why they are a weakness and then show how the Constitution would fix those problems.
• This is to be a minimum of 5 paragraphs and to be more than one page in length.
• Read and follow these instructions. Failure to do so will result in deductions from your grade.
You might use chapter 2 section 2 from the new book, as well as the Constitution page65Also chapter 5 section 1 of the old Textbook. SEE RUBRIC!