The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution

Chapters 5 and 6Chapters 5 and 6

GPS: SSUSH5GPS: SSUSH5

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation After declaring independence, the 2After declaring independence, the 2ndnd

Continental Congress faced the challenge Continental Congress faced the challenge of establishing a central government. of establishing a central government.

In 1777, delegates wrote the In 1777, delegates wrote the Articles of Articles of Confederation, Confederation, America’s first America’s first constitution.constitution.

A A constitution constitution is a plan of government or is a plan of government or the rules of a country. the rules of a country.

It est. a “firm league of friendship” It est. a “firm league of friendship” (confederation) b/t the states and created a (confederation) b/t the states and created a Congress with each state having one vote. Congress with each state having one vote.

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation Federalism: the sharing of power b/t the Federalism: the sharing of power b/t the

federal and state governments, forming federal and state governments, forming the basis of U.S. governmentthe basis of U.S. government

Powers NOT given to the federal gov’t Powers NOT given to the federal gov’t were retained by the states. were retained by the states.

Powers shared by the federal and state Powers shared by the federal and state governments were called concurrent governments were called concurrent powers. powers.

The articles did not create an office of The articles did not create an office of chief executive, a system of federal courts, chief executive, a system of federal courts, authorize Congress to raise an army or tax authorize Congress to raise an army or tax the states. the states.

Ratification was required by ALL 13 states Ratification was required by ALL 13 states and was accomplished in 1781. and was accomplished in 1781.

Weakness of The Weakness of The Articles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederation The Articles of Confederation was not The Articles of Confederation was not

strong enough to govern America which strong enough to govern America which now extended to the Mississippi River. now extended to the Mississippi River.

America was in debt b/c of the America was in debt b/c of the Revolution and the federal gov’t had no Revolution and the federal gov’t had no ability to resolve the financial issues. ability to resolve the financial issues.

The federal gov’t could ASK for $ from The federal gov’t could ASK for $ from the states, but had no power to tax. the states, but had no power to tax.

Also, the critical issue of slavery, which Also, the critical issue of slavery, which was abolished in the northern states, was abolished in the northern states, divided the new nation. divided the new nation.

Weakness of The Weakness of The Articles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederation Times were tough for American farmers Times were tough for American farmers

– many were unable to sell their goods – many were unable to sell their goods and pay heavy taxes levied by the and pay heavy taxes levied by the states to pay for their war debts. states to pay for their war debts.

Many farmers ended up in jail and their Many farmers ended up in jail and their lands were seized. lands were seized.

Farmers viewed the actions of gov’t Farmers viewed the actions of gov’t just as they viewed England before the just as they viewed England before the Revolution – a form of tyranny. Revolution – a form of tyranny.

Shays’ RebellionShays’ Rebellion

In January 1787, Daniel Shays, along In January 1787, Daniel Shays, along with 1,000 other farmers, attempted with 1,000 other farmers, attempted to storm the federal arsenal in to storm the federal arsenal in Springfield, Mass. Springfield, Mass.

To some, the rebellion showed the To some, the rebellion showed the gov’t was too weak to rule the nation. gov’t was too weak to rule the nation.

Others, like Thomas Jefferson, Others, like Thomas Jefferson, believed it served to correct the ills of believed it served to correct the ills of government. government.

Constitutional Constitutional ConventionConvention Alarmed by the events of Shays Rebellion, Alarmed by the events of Shays Rebellion,

delegates from each state met in delegates from each state met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 – this Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 – this meeting was called the Constitutional meeting was called the Constitutional Convention. Convention.

Over half of the delegates served in the Over half of the delegates served in the Continental Congress and 1/3 of them Continental Congress and 1/3 of them fought in the Revolution. fought in the Revolution.

James Madison is known as the “Father of James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution” because he strongly the Constitution” because he strongly influenced the shape of the Constitution.influenced the shape of the Constitution.

George Washington was elected president George Washington was elected president of the Constitutional Convention. of the Constitutional Convention.

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution Many delegates feared the establishment of Many delegates feared the establishment of

a president and placing too much power in a president and placing too much power in the hands of one individual. the hands of one individual.

The The Framers (the founders, or Framers (the founders, or individuals whose ideas organized the individuals whose ideas organized the U.S. gov’t and are found in the U.S. gov’t and are found in the Constitution): Constitution): debated two plans for debated two plans for improving the legislative branchimproving the legislative branch– The Virginia Plan: proposed by Edmund Randolph The Virginia Plan: proposed by Edmund Randolph

and favored by the majority of delegatesand favored by the majority of delegates– The New Jersey Plan: proposed by William The New Jersey Plan: proposed by William

PatersonPaterson

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

– Bicameral Legislature: one lower house elected Bicameral Legislature: one lower house elected by the people and one upper house whose by the people and one upper house whose delegates are chosen by the lower house. delegates are chosen by the lower house.

– Representation in Congress based on states’ Representation in Congress based on states’ populationpopulation

– Legislative branch makes the lawsLegislative branch makes the laws– Chief executive (president) chosen by Chief executive (president) chosen by

legislaturelegislature– Establishment of a federal court systemEstablishment of a federal court system– Power to veto (prevent becoming a law) state Power to veto (prevent becoming a law) state

lawslaws

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

– Unicameral legislature: Congress made Unicameral legislature: Congress made up of one house of delegatesup of one house of delegates

– Maintain the Articles of Confederation Maintain the Articles of Confederation – Equal representation of states in Equal representation of states in

CongressCongress– Gives Congress the power to tax and Gives Congress the power to tax and

regulate traderegulate trade– Establish the laws of the U.S. as Establish the laws of the U.S. as

supreme over the statessupreme over the states

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution The Constitution would be the supreme law of the The Constitution would be the supreme law of the

United States. United States. The country would be a The country would be a republic, governed by republic, governed by

representation of the people’s will. representation of the people’s will. The Framers est. a limited government in that it The Framers est. a limited government in that it

only had powers granted to it by the Constitution. only had powers granted to it by the Constitution. The powers were divided and balanced b/t the The powers were divided and balanced b/t the

gov’t: the executive branch, legislative branch, gov’t: the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch. and judicial branch.

Each branch of government was given the ability Each branch of government was given the ability to check the power of the other two branches – to check the power of the other two branches – checks and balances system. checks and balances system.

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution Three difficult problems arose: Three difficult problems arose:

– 1. Representation in Congress1. Representation in Congress– 2. How slaves would be counted in 2. How slaves would be counted in

determining a state’s populationdetermining a state’s population– 3. The slave trade3. The slave trade

The problems were solved by “The The problems were solved by “The Great Compromise”, proposed by Great Compromise”, proposed by Roger Sherman, followed by the Roger Sherman, followed by the “Three-fifths Compromise”. “Three-fifths Compromise”.

The United States The United States ConstitutionConstitution The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise

– Bicameral legislature Bicameral legislature – The House of Representatives: based on a state’s populationThe House of Representatives: based on a state’s population– The Senate: each state equally represented by two The Senate: each state equally represented by two

membersmembers The Three-Fifths CompromiseThe Three-Fifths Compromise

– Three-fifths of the enslaved counted as part of the Three-fifths of the enslaved counted as part of the populationpopulation

– Counting formula to be used for calculating taxation and Counting formula to be used for calculating taxation and representationrepresentation

The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade– Congress agreed not to interfere with the slave trade for 20 Congress agreed not to interfere with the slave trade for 20

yearsyears– Congress could limit the slave trade after that time Congress could limit the slave trade after that time

Federalists and Anti-Federalists and Anti-FederalistsFederalists Federalists: Alexander Hamilton and James Federalists: Alexander Hamilton and James

Madison; was a political party who supported Madison; was a political party who supported a strong central gov’t, built upon a strong central gov’t, built upon representation of the people; started at the representation of the people; started at the 1796 election. 1796 election.

Anti-Federalists: Thomas Jefferson; opponents Anti-Federalists: Thomas Jefferson; opponents of the Constitution; opposed the concept of a of the Constitution; opposed the concept of a strong central government and supported strong central government and supported strong state’s rights over federal power; strong state’s rights over federal power; wanted to protect people against the abuse by wanted to protect people against the abuse by federal government federal government

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

Several states refused to ratify (approve) the Several states refused to ratify (approve) the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was added. Constitution until a Bill of Rights was added.

Bill of Rights: sponsored by James Madison in Bill of Rights: sponsored by James Madison in 1789 and ratified in 1791; first ten 1789 and ratified in 1791; first ten amendments to the Constitution, which amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed individual rights such as freedom guaranteed individual rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of press, right to bear arms, right to trial by press, right to bear arms, right to trial by jury, and the right to petition the jury, and the right to petition the government. government.

The United States The United States GovernmentGovernment George Washington was America’s first George Washington was America’s first

president and he est. a Cabinet, or set of president and he est. a Cabinet, or set of advisors that shaped a working relationship advisors that shaped a working relationship b/t the executive and legislative branches.b/t the executive and legislative branches.

The electoral college was created to limit The electoral college was created to limit the people’s power to elect a President the people’s power to elect a President directly.directly.

The American Revolution sparked other The American Revolution sparked other revolutions in France and Latin America but revolutions in France and Latin America but the U.S. did not want to intervene in the the U.S. did not want to intervene in the political difficulties of other countries. political difficulties of other countries.

The United States The United States GovernmentGovernment When farmers in western Pennsylvania rose in When farmers in western Pennsylvania rose in

arms against the government over taxation, arms against the government over taxation, known as the Whiskey Rebellion, Washington known as the Whiskey Rebellion, Washington showed the power of the federal government showed the power of the federal government by sending troops to halt the armed protest.by sending troops to halt the armed protest.

The rebellion occurred in response to The rebellion occurred in response to Hamilton’s debt plan and the tax on whiskey.Hamilton’s debt plan and the tax on whiskey.

By 1796, two political parties had emerged: By 1796, two political parties had emerged: Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans. Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans.

Federalists and Federalists and Jeffersonian Jeffersonian RepublicansRepublicans

The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, believed the Constitution granted the believed the Constitution granted the federal government implied powers, or federal government implied powers, or powers not specifically mentioned in the powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. Constitution.

Leaders such as Jefferson and Madison Leaders such as Jefferson and Madison considered themselves Republicans, considered themselves Republicans, individuals who believed in the strict individuals who believed in the strict interpretation of the Constitution. interpretation of the Constitution.

The emergence of political parties played a The emergence of political parties played a major role in the 1796 presidential election. major role in the 1796 presidential election.

Federalists and Federalists and Jeffersonian Jeffersonian RepublicansRepublicans

John Adams, a Federalist, received the John Adams, a Federalist, received the most votes and was elected president in most votes and was elected president in 1796. 1796.

Under the provisions of the Constitution, Under the provisions of the Constitution, the individual receiving the second the individual receiving the second highest vote count became vice highest vote count became vice president. president.

That fell to Thomas Jefferson, a person of That fell to Thomas Jefferson, a person of very different political beliefs from very different political beliefs from Adams. Adams.