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A more perfect Union. 1777-1788. Articles of Confederation. 1777 The war is being fought The DOI has been written How do the colonists want to be governed??? They need a plan…. They created strong state government and they realized they need a strong central government.
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A more perfect Union 1777-1788
Articles of Confederation 1777 • The war is being fought • The DOI has been written How do the colonists want to be governed??? They need a plan…. • They created strong state government and they realized they need a strong central government. • The 2nd Continental Congress adopted The Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation • Strengths: • Conduct foreign affairs • Maintain armed forces • Create currency $$ • Expanded foreign trade • Expanded land to the west • Weaknesses: • Could not regulate trade • Could not impose taxes • Lacked Chief Executive (President) • Each state had 1 vote no matter the population • Not strong enough
We needed a change!!!Articles Constitution 1787 • The Constitutional Convention met to re-create a plan for government • They needed to make the central government stronger and fix the problems with AofC • Two plans were considered…. • The New Jersey Plan: • One-house legislature • Congress could set taxes • This plan amended the articles • The Virginia Plan: • Legislature are proportionate to population • 2-house legislature
1787--U.s. constitution is born!! • The Great Compromise—combined both plans • The Constitution established these principles... • Limited government—the powers of govt are limited by the constitution • Republicanism—citizens rule through elected representatives • Checks and balances—each branch of government has a check on the other so that no one branch can become too powerful • Federalism—sharing of power between state and federal govt’s • Separation of powers—powers of govt are divided into 3 branches • Popular sovereignty—the most popular vote wins (majority rules) • Individual rights—rights that are guaranteed to citizens and protected by the government
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Federalist --support the new Constitution James Madison (author of the Constitution) Alexander Hamilton John Jay They wrote the Federalist Papers to inform the colonist about the new Constitution Anti-Federalist --opposed the parts of the Constitution including states power --The Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights Patrick Henry George Mason
Amendments • Amendments are a change made to the Constitution • The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights • Free speech, religion, press • Right to bear arms • Restricts quartering troops • Protects against searches and seizures • Due process of law • Right to speedy and public trial • Right to trial by jury • Protects against excessive bail or unusual punishment • Rights are not restricted to the first 8 • Restates principle of Federalism