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Articles of Confederation and The Constitution. Influences. Magna Carta (1215) King had to follow rules like everybody else. English Bill of Rights (1689) King/Queen had to get Parliament’s approval before passing any laws or taxes Gave people more voice on government.
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Influences • Magna Carta (1215) • King had to follow rules like everybody else. • English Bill of Rights (1689) • King/Queen had to get Parliament’s approval before passing any laws or taxes • Gave people more voice on government
Influences Continued… • Enlightenment • Use of Reason • Belief in Human goodness • John Locke-Social Contract between the government and people • Government’s duty to protect inalienable rights
Influences Continued… • Early American Documents • Mayflower Compact (Self-government • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut-1st state constitution • VA Statute for Religious Freedom (Jefferson 1786)
Articles of Confederation • Articles of Confederation-America’s 1st Constitution (plan of government) • 1776-2nd Continental Congress begins work on a plan of government • National government=republic-a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives • States would join together in a Confederation-loose Union • States would have more power than National government
Division of Power • States had power to tax, enforce laws • Power of Central government: wage war, make peace (foreign relations), regulate Indian affairs, coin and borrow money • Unicameral Congress- each state had only 1 vote • Executive Branch=3 person Committee chosen by Congress-very limited power
Ratification (ratify=to approve) • All 13 states needed to ratify A of C before it took effect • Written and approved by Second Continental Congress in 1777-all but one state had ratified it by 1779 • Maryland-last state because of concern over western land claims • Landlocked- could not expand like NC, GA, VA • Worried larger states would have more power • Ratified in 1781 (March)
The Northwest Territory • The Land Ordinance of 1785 • Law that established a procedure for surveying and selling western lands north of the Ohio River • Used by land speculators to accumulate land • The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Created NW territory to be divided into 3 to 5 smaller territories (IL, IN, OH, WI, MI) • When smaller territories reached 60,000 could apply for statehood • Included Bill of Rights for settlers guaranteeing freedom of religion, public education, and trial by jury
Problems Under Articles of Confederation • Financial Problems • Money depreciated (lost value)-inflation • High prices that led to food riots • War left high debt-asked states for money-states only contributed 1/6 of needed money • Department of Finance-led by Robert Morris, proposed: 5% tax on imported goods • Rhode Island opposed it-not passed
Trade • John Adams to London to discuss problems with Britain-slow leaving US, closed their ports to US ships, imposed high tariffs on American products • John Jay-Secretary of Foreign Affairs • Spain-Question of trade in Miss. River and GA/FL border
Shay’s Rebellion-1786-1787 • Mass. Farmers viewed national government as another form of tyranny • Daniel Shays and angry farmers forced courts to close so judges could not take farmers land b/c they couldn’t pay taxes or debts • January 1787-Shays and men marched toward arsenal in Springfield Mass: met state militia • Four people killed, uprising ended • Question over government control of unrest and violence
Slavery • 1776-1786-11 states (all except SC and GA) outlawed or heavily taxed importing slaves • Quakers-1st anti-slavery society • 1783-1804-slavery abolished by Mass, NH, CT, RI, NY, and NJ • Issue-whether people could have slaves; whose decision-state or national
The Constitution • Philadelphia Convention • May 1787-55 men (no RI) • Purpose-to revise the Articles of Confederation and to discuss trade issues • Plan-To give government increased powers and authority to solve nation’s problems • Decision-a new plan of government had to be created
Virginia Plan • Written by James Madison (Father of the Constitution)-proposed by Edmond Randolph • Branches • Executive-carry out laws • Legislative-make the laws • Judicial-see justice was done under the laws; interpret
Checks and Balances • system of Checks and Balances among the 3 branches • Purpose-So no one branch would be able to control the entire government
Congress Division • Lower House-House of Representatives- elected By the People; based on population • Upper House-Senate-elected by the lower house • Conflicts the larger a state’s population, the more representatives it would have • Fear that larger states would control legislative; unfair to smaller to states
New Jersey Plan • Legislature-one house, each state send same number of representatives (equal representation) • Who proposed? Smaller States-William Patterson of NJ • How elected? Representatives elected by state legislatures
The Great Compromise • Two House Legislature (Bicameral) • Lower House-House of Representatives-# of Representatives based on population-elected by people (VA plan) • Upper House-Senate-Equal representatives (2) chosen by state lawmakers (NJ plan)
3/5 Compromise • Plan-5 slaves=3 People for purpose of representatives and taxation • Who benefited? Southern States • How did they benefit? More rep. In Congress; greater voice in selection of President: # of Rep. = # of electoral votes (House + Senate)
Role of President • Commander-n-chief of armed forces-responsible for relations w/ other countries • Power to appoint judges and other federal officials (Supreme Court and Cabinet) • Veto Laws
North Carolina’s Role Williamson’s Contributions • Impeachment • 2/3 Majority to override a presidential veto
Trade Compromise • Issue: National government should control trade between states • North wanted Congress to control • South wanted each state to set own rules • Compromise: Congress power to control trade with other countries and could tax imports but not exports • Slave trade: wanted to abolish slave trade but had to compromise: Said Congress could abolish Slave Trade in 20 years and they did
Ratification • Federalists-Supporters of the Constitution • The Confederation was too weak • The Constitution would balance state and national power-federal system • State Constitutions would protect individual rights
Federalists Papers • Essays written to gain support for Constitution • Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Anti-federalists-opposed the Constitution • Made the national government too strong • The Constitution would weaken the states • A National Bill of Rights was needed to protect individual rights
Ratification • The Constitution needed 9 states-that would equal 2/3 • Delaware-1st state to ratify • Rhode Island last state • Some states would not ratify until they received a Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights • 1st 10 amendments • Inspired by VA Declaration of Rights and Declaration of Independence