1 / 27

Articles of Confederation and The Constitution

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.

yosefu
Download Presentation

Articles of Confederation and The Constitution

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Articles of Confederation and The Constitution

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Influences Continued… • Early American Documents • Mayflower Compact (Self-government • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut-1st state constitution • VA Statute for Religious Freedom (Jefferson 1786)

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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)

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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)

  19. 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)

  20. 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

  21. North Carolina’s Role Williamson’s Contributions • Impeachment • 2/3 Majority to override a presidential veto

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. Federalists Papers • Essays written to gain support for Constitution • Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. Bill of Rights • 1st 10 amendments • Inspired by VA Declaration of Rights and Declaration of Independence

More Related