U.S. History

1. U.S. History Chapter 9 “Creating a Nation”

2. Articles of Confederation • Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation on Dec. 15, 1777 • required all states to ratify (approve) it. • Not ratified until 1781 • Maryland refused to ratify until then. • Virginia claimed large amounts of land in the west and Maryland felt that this made them to powerful. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

3. Rights of Citizens • White property owners were given full rights. • Rights varied from state to state. • Many thought it difficult to declare “all men are created equal” in a society with enslaved people • Some states questioned slavery. • By 1804 all states north of Maryland passed laws freeing all African American slaves. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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5. Articles of Confederation Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

6. Articles Ratified • Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States of America • It was: • loose affiliation of the states • NO strong central government b/c the people feared one. • Congress had these rights: • Declare War, Raise army and navy, make treaties, borrow money, establish postal system, and conduct business with Native Americans and other countries. • Weaknesses: • Could make laws but couldn’t enforce them. • No Court System • Each state had one delegate regardless of size or pop. • Could wage war, but did not have any money to finance the war • National Govn’t received money through state donations. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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8. Western Lands • In the 1780’s and 1790’s many Americans moved westward. • Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785. They divided lands north of the Ohio River into Townships. Each township had 36 sections. Congress sold each section for $1 per acre. • Northwest Ordinance, passed in 1787, made provisions to govern this land. It said: • At least 3 but no more than 5 territories would be made. • A governor and 3 judges would run the territory until 5,000 white males lived there. Then they could have a territorial legislature. • When pop. was 60,000 they could write a constitution and petition Congress to become a state. • This was the first time that a nation provided a system for its colonies to one day become equals. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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11. America’s Economy Fails • After the war the U.S. economy dropped. • U.S. owed millions of dollars but Congress did not have the power to tax the people, so it had no money to repay these debts. • Continental money was worthless b/c it was not backed by gold or silver. • Every state had their own currency. • no one knew the proper value of it • some states would not accept other states currency. • Many states resorted to bartering, or trading goods as currency. • Also, Great Britain banned Americans from trading in the West Indies and many British ports. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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13. Shays Rebellion • Demand for food dropped after the war • Many farmers could not pay their debts. • Many lost their farms and were sent to prison. • In Massachusetts in Sept. 1786 Daniel Shays, a farmer, led a rebellion. • In early 1787 he marched 1,000 farmers toward an arsenal at Springfield. • Massachusetts militia killed the rebellion. • Shays Rebellion raised concerns about the Articles of Confederation. • They did not work and America looked like it would collapse • State leaders called a convention to rewrite the Articles of Confederation. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

14. Shay’s Rebellion Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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16. Constitutional Convention • Delegates from 12 of 13 states met in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation • These men became known as the “Founding Fathers” • George Washington was chosen as President of the Convention • James Madison kept the best record that we have of the Convention. • He is known as the “Father of the Constitution” b/c of his ideas and input. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

17. The State House in Philadelphia, 1778. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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20. Washington during the convention Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

21. Convention Begins • It was agreed that the details of the Convention would be secret • It was also realized that the Articles could not be revised. • A new Constitution was needed Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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24. Virginia Plan • James Madison created this plan for Government • Called for a strong National Govn’t with 3 branches • Legislative – lawmaking body • Executive – carried out laws • Judicial – determined if laws are carried out fairly • Legislature would be two house system with representation based on population. • The small states opposed this b/c they wanted equal representation (like the Articles) Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

25. New Jersey Plan • Small states countered with the New Jersey Plan • 3 branch Government • Congress would have one house with equal representation. • Large states supported the Virginia Plan • Small states supported the New Jersey Plan • Debate raged for two weeks and the Convention almost fell apart. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

26. The Great Compromise • A committee was formed, led by Benjamin Franklin, to solve the problem. • They proposed a two house Congress. • Upper House (Senate) equal representation. • Lower House (House of Representatives) representation based on population Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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28. Three-Fifths Compromise • Debate began over whether or not slaves should count towards population • Southern states wanted slaves to count for representation, but not for taxes • Northern states did not want slaves to count for representation, but did want them to count for taxes • It was agreed that Three-Fifths of slaves would count for both. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

29. Constitution Signed • On Sept. 17, 1787 the Constitution was signed by 39 of the delegates. • It was submitted to the states. • 9 of the 13 states had to ratify it before it went into effect. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

30. Signing the Constitution Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

31. Washington’s Chair Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

32. Constitution Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

33. Articles vs. Constitution • Main difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution was the strong national government • Division of power between the state and national government is called Federalism • therefore the national government became referred to as the Federal Government • Under the Constitution, the National Government had more power. • but the states were given certain powers • When the National Government and states disagree, the Constitution is the law of the land Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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36. Separation of Powers • the Constitution separate the powers of the Federal Government into 3 branches • Legislative Branch • Executive Branch • Judicial Branch Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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39. Legislative Branch • Makes Laws • Two houses • Lower House is the House of Representatives • Members are called representatives • serve two year terms. • Representation is based on population • Upper House is called the Senate • Members are called Senators • serve six year terms • Representation is equal (all states have two) Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

40. Senate Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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43. The Elastic Clause Article I, Section VIII of the Constitution “Congress shall have the power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution...powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States." Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

44. Executive Branch • Carry out the laws • The President is the: • Chief Executive Officer of the country • Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces • Also includes • the Vice President • all advisers (secretary of state, treasurer, etc..) Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

45. White House Rear Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

46. White House Front Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

47. Judicial Branch • Main duty is uphold the US Constitution. • Contains the Supreme Court • the highest court in the land. • Hear cases that involve constitutional rights, disputes between states, and laws passed by Congress Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)

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50. Electing The President • The Constitution created an Electoral College to elect the president. • Electors represent voters in each state. • Number of electors from a state is the number of Senators and Representatives combined. Chp 9 (Creating a Nation)