SS8H4: Student will describe the SS8H4: Student will describe the impact of the events that led to the impact of the events that led to the

ratification of the United States ratification of the United States Constitution and the Bill of RightsConstitution and the Bill of Rights

a.a. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a need to revise Articles of Confederation led to a need to revise the Articles the Articles

b.b. Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; include the role of Abraham Convention of 1787; include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and the reasons why Baldwin and William Few, and the reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitutionGeorgia ratified the new constitution

Revolutionary War Revolutionary War comes to an end!comes to an end!

During most of the war, Georgia was under During most of the war, Georgia was under two governmentstwo governments:: Royal (British-Governor Wright)Royal (British-Governor Wright) Rebel (Patriot-Governor Treutlen)Rebel (Patriot-Governor Treutlen)

June 1781June 1781: Georgia militia, under Colonel Clarke, with help from the : Georgia militia, under Colonel Clarke, with help from the Continental Army, took Augusta from the BritishContinental Army, took Augusta from the BritishBattle of YorktownBattle of Yorktown (October 1781) (October 1781)

The Continental Army, assisted by the French, defeated the British led The Continental Army, assisted by the French, defeated the British led by by General Lord Cornwallis.General Lord Cornwallis.

The French delayed British reinforcements long enough for General The French delayed British reinforcements long enough for General Washington’s victoryWashington’s victory

Spring 1782Spring 1782: British forces left Savannah believing they could not : British forces left Savannah believing they could not defeat the Americans (three years after the siege of Savannah)defeat the Americans (three years after the siege of Savannah)Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris (September 1783) (September 1783)

Ended Revolutionary War…signed by Great Britain, France, and The Ended Revolutionary War…signed by Great Britain, France, and The United StatesUnited States

Georgia’s Constitution: 1777Georgia’s Constitution: 1777

Replaced the ‘Rules and Regulations’ of Replaced the ‘Rules and Regulations’ of the Royal Colonythe Royal ColonyMany philosophies: Many philosophies: Some wanted a government similar to what Some wanted a government similar to what

was in place: most of the power in the hands was in place: most of the power in the hands of a few wealthy landowners and merchantsof a few wealthy landowners and merchants

Whigs: believed strongly in self-governmentWhigs: believed strongly in self-governmentThis idea won out: This idea won out:

GA decided on a government based on the separation of GA decided on a government based on the separation of powers and the rights of citizens to determine the way powers and the rights of citizens to determine the way they were governedthey were governed

Georgia’s Constitution: 1777Georgia’s Constitution: 1777

May 1777: GA adopted 1May 1777: GA adopted 1stst state constitution at a state constitution at a constitutional convention in Savannahconstitutional convention in Savannah

Parish system eliminated; 8 counties formedParish system eliminated; 8 counties formed Unicameral legislatureUnicameral legislature

Had very broad powersHad very broad powers The ability to make appointments for the judicial branch and the executive The ability to make appointments for the judicial branch and the executive

branchbranch Severely limited the influence and power of the governor (why?)Severely limited the influence and power of the governor (why?)

One year termOne year termSelected by the legislature rather than voted on by the peopleSelected by the legislature rather than voted on by the peopleEnsured the actual power was in the hands of the 12 lawmakers from Ensured the actual power was in the hands of the 12 lawmakers from the legislature (executive council)the legislature (executive council)

Executive council could accept or reject any proposals by the governorExecutive council could accept or reject any proposals by the governor

John Treutlen (Salzburger)John Treutlen (Salzburger) First Governor (chosen by the constitutional convention)First Governor (chosen by the constitutional convention)

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Founding Fathers’ first attempt at a governing Founding Fathers’ first attempt at a governing documentdocument Intentionally created a weak national government Intentionally created a weak national government

(why?)(why?) Emphasis on states’ rights with each state Emphasis on states’ rights with each state

maintaining its own sovereignty, freedom, and maintaining its own sovereignty, freedom, and independence: independence:

““a firm league of friendship with each other”a firm league of friendship with each other” One house legislature (unicameral): Confederation One house legislature (unicameral): Confederation

Congress Congress No chief executive; no national court systemNo chief executive; no national court system Each state had ONE voteEach state had ONE vote

9 out of the 13 states had to approve any decision9 out of the 13 states had to approve any decision

Weaknesses of the Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Confederation Congress could not pay colonial Confederation Congress could not pay colonial soldiers after the war soldiers after the war Did not have the power to regulate trade Did not have the power to regulate trade between the states or between the US and between the states or between the US and foreign countriesforeign countries Each state had its own money, making trade difficult Each state had its own money, making trade difficult

among statesamong states

British reoccupied some of the forts in the British reoccupied some of the forts in the Northwest Territory (north of the Ohio River)Northwest Territory (north of the Ohio River) Since the US was powerless to stop them, other Since the US was powerless to stop them, other

countries had little respect for the UScountries had little respect for the US

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

Began as a way for the large Began as a way for the large states to discuss trade issues.states to discuss trade issues.Met Met SECRETLYSECRETLY in in Philadelphia (1787).Philadelphia (1787).55 Delegates55 Delegates

Every state but Rhode IslandEvery state but Rhode Island Wealthy, respected, Wealthy, respected,

merchants, physicians, merchants, physicians, generals, governors, generals, governors, lawyers…lawyers…

Georgia Assembly sent Georgia Assembly sent William Pierce, Abraham William Pierce, Abraham Baldwin, and William Few as Baldwin, and William Few as delegates to the CC (only Few delegates to the CC (only Few and Baldwin stayed until the and Baldwin stayed until the end, signing the new US end, signing the new US ConstitutionConstitution James Madison

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

Large StatesLarge StatesProposed by Proposed by Governor Governor Edmund RandolphEdmund Randolph (Virginia) (Virginia)Included the following:Included the following:

3 Branches of government3 Branches of government Checks and balancesChecks and balances Bicameral legislatureBicameral legislature Membership based on free Membership based on free

population of statepopulation of state Legislature chooses executiveLegislature chooses executive Make lawsMake laws Set up the courtsSet up the courts

Small states felt this gave far Small states felt this gave far too much power to the Larger too much power to the Larger statesstates

StateState PopPop StateState PopPop

DLDL 5959 NCNC 394394

GAGA 8383 VAVA 692692

NJNJ 184184 NYNY 340340

RIRI 6969 PAPA 434434

NHNH 142142 MDMD 320320

SCSC 249249 MAMA 379379

CTCT 238238

Chart is in thousandsChart is in thousands

SmallSmall LargeLarge

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

Small StatesSmall States

Wanted to change very Wanted to change very little about the Articles of little about the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

Unicameral legislatureUnicameral legislature

Each state would have Each state would have equal representation.equal representation.

Allow Congress to tax Allow Congress to tax nation’s citizensnation’s citizens Edmund RandolphEdmund Randolph

The Great CompromiseConnecticut (Small State)Connecticut (Small State)

Took ideas from both plans and constructed what we now know as the Constitution.Took ideas from both plans and constructed what we now know as the Constitution. CompromiseCompromise: a way to settle disagreements in which each side gives way a little in it’s : a way to settle disagreements in which each side gives way a little in it’s

demandsdemands Abraham Baldwin’s vote for the small state position forced the convention to work out this Abraham Baldwin’s vote for the small state position forced the convention to work out this

compromise; Baldwin served on the committee to work out the Great Compromisecompromise; Baldwin served on the committee to work out the Great Compromise

Created a Created a bicameral (two house)bicameral (two house) legislature: legislature: SenateSenate: upper house…each state has 2 members: upper house…each state has 2 members House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives: lower house…by state population: lower house…by state population

Abraham BaldwinAbraham Baldwin

Secondary Convention IssuesSecondary Convention Issues

1.1. SlaverySlavery Three-fifths CompromiseThree-fifths Compromise: 3/5 of the states slave population could count : 3/5 of the states slave population could count

towards the overall populationtowards the overall populationi.e..5000 slaves in a state=3000 counted towards that states populationi.e..5000 slaves in a state=3000 counted towards that states population

The U.S. Constitution doesThe U.S. Constitution does NOT NOT mention slavery mention slavery An agreement was made that in 20 years (1807) importation of slaves would An agreement was made that in 20 years (1807) importation of slaves would

stopstop Fugitive Workers ClauseFugitive Workers Clause: Runaway slaves must be returned to their masters: Runaway slaves must be returned to their masters

2.2. RepresentationRepresentation House of Representatives: popular voteHouse of Representatives: popular vote Senate: selected by the state legislatureSenate: selected by the state legislature President: Electoral votePresident: Electoral vote

Commander-in-Chief of U.S. armed forcesCommander-in-Chief of U.S. armed forcesResponsible for relations with other countriesResponsible for relations with other countries4 year term4 year term

What made the Constitution a great document was that it allowed What made the Constitution a great document was that it allowed for changes as the country grew (Amendment Process)for changes as the country grew (Amendment Process)

AmendAmend:: to change without having to rewrite to change without having to rewrite (Bill of Rights: 1(Bill of Rights: 1stst Ten) Ten)

Why did Georgia Why did Georgia ratify the new Constitution? ratify the new Constitution?

Youngest state: needed a strong national Youngest state: needed a strong national government for protectiongovernment for protection Westward expansion into land occupied by Westward expansion into land occupied by

Indians caused conflictIndians caused conflictGeorgia needed the strong national government to Georgia needed the strong national government to protect it from the Indian threat and to acquire land protect it from the Indian threat and to acquire land from the Indians in order to expandfrom the Indians in order to expand

Ratified the Constitution on January 2, 1788Ratified the Constitution on January 2, 1788 Fourth state to ratify by a vote of 26-0Fourth state to ratify by a vote of 26-0