Planning a New Government

1. Planning a New Government The Articles of Confederation

2. How did the states run themselves before the Articles of Confederation? Who had the power? • States organized their own government with their own constitutions. • Limits the power of the governor. • Divided power between the governor and a two house legislature (Bicameral) • Popular election – White men over 21 were able to vote. • Monarchy & Parliament

3. The nation was to be a republic. What is a republic and why do you think the new United States wanted it that way? • Republic – A government where the people chose representatives to govern them. • Based on experience with England, the Founding Fathers feared a one person/group having all the power. • Granted only a few “strong” powers to the Federal government.

4. Declare war Make or negotiate treaties Control Indian matters Coin money Borrow money Admit new states Control the army and navy Form allies Representation from all states – each state had a single vote Passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 Passed the Northwest Ordinance in 1787 Articles of Confederation - Strengths

5. Lacked the power to enforce laws Lacked the power to levy taxes Lacked the power to regulate trade among the states Could ask the states for money, but the states did not have to pay Had the power to declare war, but had to ask the states for an army Continental money was worthless No national court system No national executive branch except for the President Required all 13 states to approve changes in the Articles Foreign nations did not respect our territory/land Unity was difficult Articles of Confederation - Weaknesses

6. The Ordinance of 1785 • Applied to land west of the Appalachian Mountains • Formed townships (6 x 6 miles) and each township had to put aside land for schools • Cheap land for speculators • Congress protected hard workers • Would become known as the Northwest Territory - Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota

7. The Northwest Ordinance • Land from north of the Ohio River to the Mississippi River • The land was divided into 3 – 5 territories • Described how the territory was to be governed • 60,000 people needed for statehood • “Bill of Rights” for settlers • Religious freedom • Trial by jury • No slavery, but indentured servitude was OK

8. Finances and taxes • Continental money was next to worthless • Increase prices and inflation led to food riots • War debts • Robert Morris proposed a 5% import tax to help

9. Britain • Troops did not withdraw as per the Treaty of Paris • Kept the US out of the West Indies • Ignored the protest of the US because England said we did not hold up our end of the Treaty of Paris

10. Spain • Closed off the lower Mississippi River for fear of US expansion • Southern states upset • Loss of trade

11. Depression • Unemployment was on the increase and people were not spending money • Economy was damaged from the war • Problems with exports • Great Britain closed off the West Indies • Any money we had went to paying off the war debt owed to foreign nations

12. Shays Rebellion • Farmers suffered because they could not find markets for their goods • People who could not pay their taxes ($200 a year), the government auctioned off their land to cover the debt owed • Farmers in Massachusetts did not like the government control • Daniel Shays forced courts to close – farmers lands could not be taken away if there was not a court hearing • Shays and 1500 men marched on a federal arsenal. 4 were killed before the uprising was put down

13. And now for something extra: You will need paper!

14. There is no doubt that the men who created our government were smart, but their ideas were not wholly their own. The founding fathers borrowed many ideas from great thinkers throughout history.Here are a few of those thinkers and a summary of their ideas…

15. Hiawatha • Born in the 1400’s • One of the creators of the Iroquois League, an organization of Native American tribes created to bring peace for warring tribes and settle disputes • Members of the various tribes made decisions based on unanimous agreement • The League had a chief executive (like a President) • Women had a lot of power in the League

16. Thomas Hobbes • Born in 1588 • Believed that humans were naturally wicked and would make decisions only for their own benefit • A government that gave all power to a king or queen was the best form of government however… • To prevent a ruler from abusing his/her power, there should be a group of representatives who could speak on behalf of the common person… • Final decisions, though, rested with the ruler

17. John Locke • Born in 1632 • Believed people could make good decisions if they were given the right information • Governments should only be formed with the consent (approval) of the people • Governments should be created to protect individual rights and freedoms

18. Claude Montesquieu • Born in 1689 • Established the idea of “Separation of Powers” – governmental power should be divided up among different branches of government • This would prevent one individual or group from gaining too much power

19. Benjamin Banneker • Born in 1732 • An African American who believed that slaves and free blacks should have full rights under the new Constitution • Pointed out that colonists fought to end their enslavement under British rule and therefore keeping slavery alive was illogical

20. Abigail Adams • Born 1744 • Wife of John Adams • A strong woman who spoke her mind, she was in favor of colonial independence • Wanted independence for ALL, and encouraged her husband to outlaw slavery • Reminded John to “remember the ladies” as the new government was being formed

21. The Magna Carta of 1215 • Called the “Great Charter” • Guaranteed basic political rights in England • Applied not just to nobles but freemen (those not bound to a master) as well • Checked royal power • Nobles won rights from King John: • Could not be put on trial based only on the word of an official without a witness • The right to a trial by people of a rank equal to their own • Could not be taxed unless council of prominent men agreed • Could not have property seized by king or officials

22. The Mayflower Compact of 1620 • 41 men aboard the Mayflower agreed to abide by certain rules for the general good of the colony • Based on the legal traditions of England • Laws were created to promote the general order and the good of all • Expressed the ideals of self-government and majority rules • Promised to frame, constitute and enact just and equal laws

23. British Bill of Rights 1689 • Signed by William and Mary to respect the rights of English citizens and of parliament including the right to free elections of members of the lower house of Parliament • Based on the Magna Carta it established an important principle: The government was to be based on laws made by Parliament and not on the desires of a ruler • Limited the power of the monarchy and increased Parliament’s say in ruling the country

24. British Bill of Rights 1689 • Parliament gained the right to approve plans to spend money and the King was forbidden to keep a standing army in a time of peace • The king could not cancel laws or impose (levy) taxes unless Parliament agreed • Free elections and frequent meetings of Parliament must be held • Excessive fines and cruel punishment were forbidden • The right to complain to the King or Queen or Parliament without being arrested was established

25. Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom • Declared that no person could be forced to attend a particular church. • No person was required to support a single church through tax money. • The idea was supported by Thomas Jefferson . • Began the notion of “Separation of Church and State”.

26. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut • Written by Minister Thomas Hooker in 1636 after he “left” Mass. to found the colony of Conn. • Allowed male non-church members to vote. • Outlined the powers of the general courts. • Created a government that was more democratic than seen before.