480 likes | 512 Views
Learn why colonists emphasized written constitutions, the structure of state governments, and the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Explore legislative and executive branches, early laws, and the challenges of uniting the states. Uncover the fascinating intricacies of state governance during the nation's foundational period.
E N D
Unit 2: Creating Our Nation Chapter 7: A More Perfect Union
Constitutions- Why bother? • Colonists thought written constitutions were important b/c they would: • 1. spell out the rights of all citizens • 2. set limits on the gov’t’s power
State Constitutions • In May 1776, Congress urged the colonies to replace the colonial charters they had with new constitutions
State Constitutions • These “state” constitutions would set the foundations for the local gov’ts, while Congress worked on a national blueprint for governing the whole country
We’ll talk about The Constitution (for the whole country) and the national gov’t later • For right now, everything we talk about will focus on individual state constitutions & state gov’ts
What were the colonists’ main concerns as they wrote new state constitutions? • One was fear of giving too much power to a few people (gov’t leaders) • Why would they have been so concerned about this?
Their solution: • Divide power between 2 branches of gov’t: • Legislative & Executive
Legislative Branch Writes laws Executive Branch Enforces laws
The Legislative Branch of State Gov’ts • The lawmaking branch • The states’ voters directly elected their representatives
All states except PA & GA created bicameral (2-house) legislatures Members of each house represented geographic districts within the state Let’s get a better idea of how it works The Legislative Branch
Every state has its own Senate and its own H of R You get the idea
In the Connecticut Senate, • there are 36 members • Each member represents a district with about 94,600 people living there • We live in District 34 and Len Fasano is our representative
there are 151 members Each member represents a district with about 22,600 people living there We live in District 87 and David Yaccarino is our representative In the Connecticut House of Representatives,
Interesting Legislation • Did you know that at one point in Alabama it was illegal to wear a false moustache in church if it made people laugh?
Did you know that… • at one point in Arizona it was illegal to kick a mule, but it was legal for a mule to kick a person?
In California, a person had to have a permit to set a mouse trap Unbelievably cute What other weird laws were there?
In Colorado, it was illegal to throw shoes at a bridal couple
In Florida, all residents had to wear clothes in the bathtub
In Idaho, no one could buy a chicken after dark without permission from the sheriff • Yes, that’s a chicken
In Nevada, it was illegal to drive camels onto main highways
The Executive Branch of State Gov’ts • Carried out (“executed”) laws the legislative branch made • A governor headed the branch in each state
What about the national gov’t? • Writing a blueprint for a national gov’t was especially hard b/c in 1776, few Americans felt like members of one nation • Instead, they felt loyalty to their own states
The Articles of Confederation was finally finished in Nov., 1777, & would go into effect after every state had ratified (approved) it
Most states ratified the Articles shortly thereafter • The exception was MD, which, b/c of disputes over land claims, didn’t ratify them until 1781
The Articles of Confederation became… • the first constitution of the U.S. • It established a loose alliance of states, rather than a strong central gov’t
Under the Articles of Confederation, instead of… one strong, united country It was more like…
The Articles made the Continental Congress the national lawmaking body, in which each state had one vote
Weaknesses of the Articles • Had no authority over individual citizens • Very little control over state gov’ts • Congress left it to the states to enforce laws
Weaknesses • There was no provision for a court system • If states disagreed, they had no place to resolve their differences
Weaknesses • The Articles didn’t require the states to send money to the national gov’t (pay taxes) • Money from wartime was worthless, and government had no power to collect from states or citizens
George Washington called the Articles- “a shadow without substance,” b/c it gave the gov’t no real national authority • Problems with other countries like Britain and Spain could not be resolved easily.
This made for an unstable country that would struggle through many problems until a new constitution could be written
Section 1 From Independent States to a Republic The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government and strong state governments. New Land Policies As people moved west, the country needed a process for new states joining the Union. Trouble on Two Fronts Financial problems and disputes with Britain and Spain revealed serious weaknesses of the Confederation government.
Vocab1 constitution a list of fundamental laws to support a government
Vocab2 bicameral consisting of two houses, or chambers, especially in a legislature
Vocab3 republic a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives
Vocab4 petition a formal request
Vocab5 ordinance a law or regulation
Vocab6 depreciate to fall in value
Vocab7 abandon give up
Vocab8 clause a condition added to a document