DO NOW!

1. DO NOW! Take 5 minutes to respond in your notebook to the following statement: “To Be Free, One Must Be Chained” Be prepared to discuss your response!

2. After the Revolution … • There is no national government • State governments were very similar in design • Legislative branch made laws • Held the most power • Judicial branch interpreted laws • Executive branch (the governor) carried out laws • Remembering the powerful royal governors, states chose to limit governors’ powers

3. A New Type of Government • Americans wanted a republic • a political system without a monarch • “with the consent of the governed” • Property-owning citizens would be active in government • Limitations … women, African Americans, Native Americans, and poor white laborers seldom owned property

4. The Articles of Confederation • Established a confederation- an agreement between independent states with common goals • States retained most of their powers • National government had very little authority • Legislative branch  Continental Congress • Each state had only one vote, regardless of population

5. State Powers • Taxation • All powers not delegated to the national government • Each state had its own judicial system • Power to collect taxes • Power to enforce laws passed by Congress

6. National Powers • One branch of government – a legislature which carried out both legislative and executive functions • Power to petition (ask) the states for money • To have embassies and receive ambassadors • To make and wage war • Appoint ambassadors • To enter into treaties • Establish maritime courts • Authority to settle border disputes between states • Regulate trade with Indian tribes • Set up post offices and charge postage • Appoint officers to the army and navy

7. Major Flaws • Major issues with $$ • Large war debts • No power to impose or collect taxes • Could not afford an army or navy • Could not repay money it borrowed during the war • 9 of the 13 states had to agree on new laws • All 13 states had to agree to amend the Articles

8. Congress’ Problems… Problems with Foreign Nations • British did not leave forts in the Great Lakes region • British and Native Americans kept American settlers out of the Northwest Territory • Negotiating with Spain about uses of the Mississippi and port of New Orleans was difficult Problems with the States • Very little power over the individual states • Could not settle disputes between states • There was no national court system

9. Local Financial Issues • Everyone was having $$ problems • Trade with Britain and the British West Indies was lost • Much needed financial aid from Britain was lost • Paper money was issued—led to inflation. • Only states could levy taxes • Some states required taxes be paid in gold or silver. • People who could not pay were jailed.

10. “New” Land in the West • The “new” territory (west of the Appalachians to the Mississippi River) was divided under the Land Ordinance of 1785 • Northwest Ordinance (1787) • Encouraged settlement and formation of new states • Promised religious freedom and other civil rights • Did not allow slavery

11. Shay’s Rebellion 1786–87 armed farmers demand closing of courts to avoid losing farms over debts Shays’s Rebellion—state militia defeats farmers led by Daniel Shays Many leaders fear rebellion will spread through country Washington calls for stronger national government

12. The Constitutional Convention

13. The Constitutional Convention • The delegates supposed to revise the Articles, NOT develop an entirely new government • Twelve states attended some or all of the meetings. • Rhode Island was opposed to a stronger federal government • Congress had to find a balance between the large and small states and northern and southern interests

15. The Virginia Plan: Gave more power to states Bicameral legislature The number of representatives based on population. Small states objected; came up with new plan. The New Jersey Plan: Gave more power to national government Unicameral legislature Each state would have equal number of representatives. Opposing Views

16. The Great Compromise • Developed by Connecticut • Bicameral legislature (two houses or sections) • In the lower house, representatives for each state determined by population. • In the upper house, each state has an equal number of representatives

18. Issues over Slavery • Southern states: count slaves for representation but not taxation • Northern states object • Three-Fifths Compromise: all whites plus 3/5 of slave population count for representation and taxation Agreements to keep the peace: • Slave trade continues for 20 years. • Fugitive Slave Clause: slave who fled to another state had to be returned to his or her original state.

19. Division of Powers Federalism: dividing power between state and national government Nation handles foreign affairs, defense, interstate trade, money States handle education, marriage laws, trade within state Shared powers include right to tax, borrow money, establish courts

20. National vs. State Powers

21. Debates Over the Constitution • Constitution created a strong national government with certain powers left to the states • The drastic changes surprised and worried people – feared the national government would become too powerful • Federalists: supporters of the Constitution • Antifederalists: opponents of the Constitution

22. Popular in the cities, but outnumbered in the general population Well organized and knew how to gather political support Led by James Madison, John Dickinson, and Alexander Hamilton Supported by Benjamin Franklin and George Washington Federalists

23. Antifederalists • Supported mainly by farmers and planters • Worried government would abuse states’ rights and individual liberties • Thought new government favored the educated and wealthy • Led by Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee

24. Ratifying the Constitution • Antifederalists demanded a Bill of Rights. • Wanted to protect certain basic rights in the Constitution • Adding rights became main focus of struggle over ratification • Congress called for special ratifying conventions in each state • 9 out of the 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution

25. Federalists The separation of powers into three independent branches protected the rights of the people. If we can't list all the rights, it's better to list none at all Anti-Federalists Too much power to the national government National government could maintain an army in peacetime ‘Necessary and proper’ clause gave too much power to Congress The executive branch held too much power. Federalist vs Anti-Federalist

26. Checks and Balances Checks and balances prevent one branch from dominating the others • Legislative branch makes laws • Starts at House then goes to Senate • Executive branch carries out laws • Can either sign or veto laws • IF president vetoes, goes back to Congress. They can re-vote and override the President • Judicial branch interprets laws • Decide if laws are constitutional or not

28. The Federalist Papers • A series of essays discussing and defending the Constitution published in New York newspapers • Read throughout the country • Main goal: persuade New York delegates to ratify the document • Authored by three Federalists: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

29. Ideas in the Federalist Papers • Hamilton: decision they were about to make was important for the whole world • Madison: warned against the dangers of factions (groups with specific, often opposing, interests) • Stated that factions had torn apart some European governments • A republican government would help balance the influence of factions. • Separation of powers would limit government powers.

30. Adding a Bill of Rights • Several states ratified the Constitution only because they were promised a bill of rights. • Once the new Congress was elected, it needed to add the bill in the form of amendments to the Constitution. • James Madison took charge of pushing the Bill of Rights through Congress. • The states approved 10 of the 12 amendments that Congress had approved. They became the Bill of Rights.

31. The Bill of Rights • First eight amendments address individual civil liberties. • Ninth Amendment states that just because only certain rights are listed in the Bill of Rights, that doesn’t mean that other rights don’t exist as well. • Tenth Amendment defines two kinds of government powers. • Delegated Powers: powers that the Constitution gives to each branch of the national government • Reserved Powers: powers that the Constitution does not specifically give to the federal government or deny to the states • Reserved powers belong to the states or to the people.