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The Articles of Confederation. All states had their own state Constitutions that had been approved at state Constitutional ConventionsMost states had weak executives and stronger legislative branches because of the tradition of a KingThe articles of Confederation (America's first federal plan of government) was created in 1777 but was finally ratified by the state of Maryland in 1781States were clearly soverign .
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1. Chapter 9 The Confederation and the Constitution Issues after the 1783 Treaty of Paris
New nation (think historical categories)
In an era of “all men are created equal” what about slavery and women?
Mothers raised the future leaders of the Republic. This important work became called Republican motherhood.
Abolitionism began to take hold (especially with the Quakers of Philadelphia)
2. The Articles of Confederation All states had their own state Constitutions that had been approved at state Constitutional Conventions
Most states had weak executives and stronger legislative branches because of the tradition of a King
The articles of Confederation (America’s first federal plan of government) was created in 1777 but was finally ratified by the state of Maryland in 1781
States were clearly soverign
3. Weaknesses and Success of the Articles of Confederation Weaknesses
No chief Executive
Congress was pitifully weak, it could not tax, regulate commerce or raise an army
States printed their own money and sought trade with nations on their own
Unanimous vote of states to amend the Articles
Strengths
Borrowed money to wage revolutionary War
A model of a loose federation of states
Two significant pieces of legislation passed….Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787
4. The land Ordinance of 1785 It provided that the acreage of the Old Northwest (remember George Rogers Clark) should be sold and the proceeds used to pay off the national debt
The area (5 future states) would be surveyed before settlement and then divided into townships (six miles square), which would then be divided into 36 square sections (1 square mile) with one (section 16) set aside for public schools
5. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Answered the question of how new areas become states once people arrived there
Statehood would be a two stage process…
When 60,000 inhabitants are in area they would write a state constitution and send it to Congress for approval, if approved a new state was created with equal footing to the original 13 states The ordinance prohibited slavery in the region, at a time when northeastern states such as New York and New Jersey still permitted it. The text of the ordinance read, "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." In reality, slaves were (illegally) kept in parts of the territory, and the practice of indentured servitude was tacitly permitted.
6. Major issues under the Articles of Confederation Economic
Before the Revolution lots of trade with England…now little
Some industries in England do flood states with cheap goods (hurt US businesses)
Inflation ran high
Where new opportunities for trade with other countries (example Empress of China began China trade)
States had own tariffs and tax barriers Diplomatic
Britain continued to hold western frontier forts and even tried to annex Vermont with help of Allen brothers
Spain closed Mississippi River to American Commerce
Spain and England stirred up the Indians in the western frontier
France demanded Revolutionary War payments
The Dey of Algiers (Barbary pirates) seized American shippers
7. 7
8. Shay’s Rebellion Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in Central and Western Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787. The rebels, led by Daniel Shays and known as Shaysites (Regulators), were mostly poor farmers angered by crushing debt and taxes. Failure to repay such debts often resulted in imprisonment in debtor's prisons or the claiming of property by the state.
The rebellion started on August 29, 1786. A militia that had been raised as a private army defeated an attack on the federal Springfield Armory by the main Shaysite force on February 3, 1787. There was a lack of an institutional response to the uprising, which energized calls to reevaluate the Articles of Confederation and gave strong impetus to the Constitutional Convention which began in May 1787.
9. Annapolis Convention As a result of Shay’s Rebellion James Madison and Alexander Hamilton called for a convention to address weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
Only five states attended but delegates decided to meet again
10. Constitutional Convention In May of 1787 , 55 delegates from 12 states (not RI) meet to discuss revising the articles of Confederation
Washington, Hamilton, Franklin and James Madison, “The Father of the Constitution” were present
Jefferson, John and Sam Adams, Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine were not present
The young delegates decided that to preserve the union, establish a strong democracy at home and protect American interests abroad a completely new Constitution was needed
11. The delegates quickly decided to scrap the Articles of Confederation and create a new Constitution. The Constitution is called a “Bundle of Compromises”. The delegates drafted a Preamble and Seven Articles that discuss the make up of the United States Federal Government.
Preamble
Article 1 Legislative branch
Article 2 Executive Branch
Article 3 Judicial Branch
Article 4 Relationships Among States
Article 5 Amending the Constitution
Article 6 States Constitution is Supreme Law of Land
Article 7 Ratifying the Constitution
Amendments
(First 10 Amendments called the Bill of Rights)
12. The Preamble to the Constitution
13. Article 1The Legislative Branch Created as a result of the Great Compromise, which included the 3/5ths clause.
Large state plan, or Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison. A bicameral legislature based on population.
Small state plan, or New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson proposed a unicameral legislature based on equal representation.
Great Compromise or Connecticut Plan, proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth created a bicameral legislature based on equal representation in an upper house (Senate) and lower house (House of Representatives) representation would be based on state’s population.
For purposes of taxation and representation slaves would count for 3/5ths (clause) of a person when a census was taken (required every ten years by law to adjust House of Representatives) International slave trade to end in 1808.
14. Qualifications for Senate / House of Representatives Senate
30 years old
Live in America for 9 years
Live in state represent
Serves a 6 year term
Unlimited terms House of Representatives
25 years old
Live in America for 7 years
Live in district of the state you represent
Serves a two year term
Unlimited terms
15. Powers of United States Senate and House of Representatives United States Senate
Declare war
Approves Presidential appointments
Hears impeachment trials
Override Presidential veto by 2/3rds vote
Approves foreign treaties
Propose Amendments
Elect Speaker of the House (third in line for Presidency / calls to floor legislation)
Create own rules of order House of Representatives
Declare War
Lay and collect Taxes
Bring impeachment charges
Override Presidential veto by two thirds vote
Propose Amendments
Establish patents
Maintain an army
Elect own leaders
Create own rules of order
16. Article 2The Executive Branch Delegates feared a strong Executive based on experience with English monarchy. In effect the delegates created the Presidency for George Washington.
Presidential responsibilities and powers consisted of the power as commander-in-chief of armed forces, power to appoint Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and power to veto Congressional legislation. President responsible to deliver state of the union speech once a year. President has power to pardon. By tradition President proposes budget and appoints a Cabinet of advisors.
The Vice-President presides over Senate (cast tie breaking vote) and replaces President if President dies, resigns or is removed from office by impeachment proceedings.
Qualifications for office: Born in US, live in US for 14 years, 35 years old.
Can serve two terms or maximum of 10 years.
17. Electoral College Election of President Fearing the “mob” delegates decided an electoral college would directly elect President based on indirect vote of people. Electoral College is determined by state totals of United States Senators (constant) plus number of representatives (variable)
2 (Senators)+ x (Representatives) = electoral vote of state
19. Article 3 Judiciary Branch A Supreme Court and other Courts Congress deems necessary.
Supreme Court interprets Constitution
Supreme Court has 9 justices including a Chief Justice
Hears cases it decides to that involve Constitutional questions
20. The constitution is a series of checks and balances Examples
President commander-in-chief but Congress pays for and declares war
Legislature makes laws, President enforces laws, Supreme Court interprets
President may veto laws, Congress can override the veto by two thirds vote
Pocket veto…Congress adjourns and President can not send veto back…bill is considered vetoed
President and federal judges impeached by House, tried by Senate
President power to veto
Which of the three Branches is more powerful?
21. Articles 4 and 5 Article 4 Relations between states
Citizen in every state
Extradition of criminals
Congress admits new and equal states
States guaranteed a Republican form of government Article 5 Amendment Process
2/3rds of both houses of Congress propose an Amendment and 3/4ths of state legislatures (or state conventions) approve an Amendment
No amendment can change number of Senators from each state
22. Articles 6 and 7 Article 6 General Provisions
Debts of Confederation assumed by new United States
The Constitution, new federal laws, and foreign treaties are law of the land
Officeholders bound by oath to uphold Constitution Article 7
Ratification Process
When nine states approve Constitution it is Supreme Law of Land
23. The Great Debate To approve or not approve the new Constitution Federalist Anti-Federalist Promoted new Constitution as necessary to create strong federal government to deal with both domestic and foreign issues
Many were former Loyalist, owners of substantial property, and from the eastern seaboard More state’s righters that feared a centralized power
Many were laborers, lived on frontier
24. State Conventions were called to ratify the Constitution By June 21, 1788 9 states had ratified Constitution making it the Supreme Law of the Land.
Four laggard states (Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island)
The Federalist Papers, written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton sought to convince laggard states to approve Constitution.
Rhode Island held out to approve document until a Bill of Rights was approved.
The minority had triumphed again, only Ľ of white males voted at all towards ratifying the Constitution. Also, as first written only Ľ of the four parts of the federal government were voted on by “We the People”
25. The Federalist Papers The Father of the Constitution
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. ... In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."
- James Madison, Federalist Papers, number 51