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Early Government Basic Vocab. Articles of Confederation. Governing document that came before the U.S. Constitution America’s 1 st Constitution Very weak central government…issues led to the U.S. Constitution. U.S. Constitution. Established 3 branches of government
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Articles of Confederation • Governing document that came before the U.S. Constitution • America’s 1st Constitution • Very weak central government…issues led to the U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution • Established 3 branches of government • Established “Separation of Powers” and “Checks and Balances” • Our current laws are based on this document
Constitutional Convention of 1787 • Meeting held to rewrite the Articles of Confederation and solve the problems of the national government • Instead of rewriting the Articles, we wrote an entire new document called the U.S. Constitution • Abraham Baldwin and William Few represented Georgia
Abraham Baldwin • Represented Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 • Signed the U.S. Constitution as a rep from Ga. • Instrumental in helping resolve the large state-small state issue of representation
William Few • Represented Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 • Signed the U.S. Constitution as a rep from Ga.
Bill of Rights • 1st 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution • Referred to as “Individual Freedoms” • Ex. Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press…Right to bear arms, speedy trial…
The Great Compromise • Argument about state representation in central government. • Made of two main plans.. • New Jersey Plan- Small State Plan • Virginia Plan- Large State Plan • This led to equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
3/5 Compromise • Decision on representation based on slave population. • Issue driven by the slave owning south to count slave populations toward overall representation • Each slave would could as 3/5 of a person toward overall population in the state (House of Reps)
“T” Chart Georgia Constitution of 1777 Strengths Weaknesses • Still have Legislative Branch • Three Branches • Three Branches had separate powers • Established counties – replaced parishes • Established local (county) governments • Legislature Unicameral (one house) • Not “Checks and Balances” – No second house in Legislative Branch • Governor served only 1 Year • Executive Branch (Governor) was weak – Couldn’t Veto Laws, grant pardons, “Chief Executive” only by name • Legislative elected council – had power to veto the Governor • Three Branches, but the Legislative was more powerful than the others
“T” Chart Articles of Confederation Strengths Weaknesses • First written constitution – Articles of Confederation (Nov. 1777) • Had a Legislature • Strong State governments • Weak central government • No Executive or Judicial Branch – no one to enforce laws or hear disputes • Did not allow the central (federal) government to levy (impose) taxes • Weak Union, feared strong central government • No “Checks and Balances” • Central Government did not have taxes, so no military • Central Government did not print money • All power lied with the states • Each state had an equal vote in Congress – regardless of size or population