The Critical Period

The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

1st Continental CongressWrote Declaration of Rights and GrievancesAddressed it to King George III

Brainstorm 5 grievances against “adult-archy”They must be school appropriateThey can be against adults, school, teachersBe nice….

2nd Continental Congress British refused to repeal taxes Reacted with stricter measures Each of the colonies sent

representatives Became our first government Rested on no constitutional

base Condemned by the British

Accomplishments of Congress

Fought a war Raised armies and a navy

Selected George Washington as Commander of army Borrowed funds Bought supplies Created a money system Made treaties with foreign powers (France) Although not a permanent solution, the Congress

steadied the colonies in a time of turmoil

And then what happened…?

1776 – The Declaration of Independence creates a new nation of 13 statesFormer British colonies became

independent STATES. Most wrote constitutions: a document that

spells out the laws and principles of the government

While state constitutions differed one from another, they shared many similar features

Similar Features… Popular Sovereignty – idea that holds that the

govt can only exist with the consent of the governed

Limited Government – Govt is restricted in what it may do and the people have certain rights the govt cannot take away

Civil Rights and Liberties – Governmental guarantee of rights for all

Separation of Powers – Govt powers are divided among three branches

Issues…

Lack of Unity – leaders understood that states needed to unite in order to win war

Role of Central Govt – many people/states were fearful of a strong, central govt due to their experiences with Britain

Identity Issues – Most people were more loyal to their state and didn’t see themselves as citizens of a nation—not as Americans

Remember: The 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses

were called to action due to emergency Had no legal base Intended to be temporary

It didn’t have swag’ Everyone acknowledged that a more

permanent and regular government was needed

1777 - Articles of Confederation

-Were created after much debate and deliberation

The first official govt of the United States

“A firm league of friendship” The Articles did not go into

effect until 1781…because all 13 states had to ratify it

Articles of Confederation…What kind of government do you

think they established?(think about what we’ve studied in Unit 1: Types of

World Governments)

What kind of govt was created? There was a Congress – one central govt Congress’ powers were limited and STATE

powers were preserved—they would continue to hold the powers they stated in their constitutions Congress had power to declare war Congress had power to borrow and coin $ Congress had power to make treaties

There was a “President” appointed by Congress to preside over Congress…but had no real executive power

Weaknesses (cause) Results (effect)

Congress could enter into treaties but could not enforce its agreements

or control foreign relations.

Many states entered into their own treaties and created their own

foreign policy without consulting Congress

Congress could coin money but so could each individual state.

Each state had its own money and each had different values

Congress could not tax the people. Instead, they relied on each state

donating $ to the central govt.

Always a shortage of money

Congress could not draft people into the army

There was NO ARMY!

Congress could not regulate commerce between the states or

with other nations

Economic quarrels among states broke out. Trading with other nations

was difficult.

Congress had no power to enforce its laws.

No one really had to follow the laws

Weaknesses (cause) Results (effect)

9 of 13 states had to approve any law before it was enacted

This was far more than a simple majority…and therefore was very difficult to pass laws

Any amendment to the Articles required the consent of all 13

states

Almost impossible to change the powers of the central

government

There was no national judicial branch

No one to settle disputes among states…led to distrust and exploiting

loopholes

There was no true executive branch

Coordinating the work of the central govt was almost

impossible…no one to execute or enforce laws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pgc0Da5Q9M&feature=related

Summary: The kind of govt

the Articles of Confederation set up

The Ballad (Rap/Poem/etc.) of Daniel Shays Your job is to read the article as a group Then, create a song, rap, or poem about

Daniel Shays’ rebellion It should include the following:

1st section: Why the colonists were mad2nd section: A little info about Daniel Shays3rd section: Shays’ Rebellion4th section: What happened as a result

You may (please, please) make these humorous

Troubles a’ Brewin’

Articles created chaos among states: Conflict between states over land and money Debt after the war and no way to raise $$$ Several states made agreements with foreign govts States organized their own armies Taxed each others goods or banned trade

Disrespect from foreign nations Surprise, surprise...these problems led to

violence

1786 - Shays’ Rebellion Massachusetts farmers

organized an uprising led by former Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays

Attacked courthouses in protest of the government seizing farmlands of those who could not pay taxes and loans

Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

A Need for a Stronger Govt

The demand grew for a stronger, more effective national govt

Several states had their own meetings to resolve issues among themselves

Feb 1787, Congress called for all states to send delegates to Philadelphia for “revising the Articles of Confederation”Called the Constitutional Convention

Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

The Constitutional Convention

The Philadelphia or “Constitutional” Convention

I. Setting the Scene Where: Philadelphia, PA

When: May 25-September 17, 1787

II. The “Framers” Framer – delegates who attended

the Philadelphia Convention and whose task was to write the Constitution

III. Organization and Procedure Day 1- Elect President Day 2- Establish Rules Day 3- Decide on their Purpose

Considering “the natural diversity of human opinions on all new and complicated subjects, it is impossible to consider the degree of concord which ultimately prevailed as less than a miracle.”

- James Madison

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States.png

Delegates appointed to the convention

74

Attended the meetings regularly

55

Signed the document39

Refused to sign the document

3

Average age of those in attendance

42

Years: Age of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton

27

Years: Age of the oldest delegate, Benjamin

Franklin

81

George Washington

James Madison

Alexander Hamilton

George Mason

Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson

John Adams

Patrick Henry

The Situation

When?

May 25—September 17, 1787

Where?

Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA

Where?

Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA

Serious differences and debates at the Constitutional Convention…

Plan or Compromise

What it said? Who benefited from it?

Virginia Plan

New Jersey Plan

Connecticut Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

- Representation based on population- More people = more representatives

- Representation in legislature should be equal for all states- Argued that otherwise, the larger states would ALWAYS outweigh the small states

- Bicameral legislature: House of Reps and Senate- House: representation based on POPULATION Senate: representation equal to all states- Every 3 out of 5 slaves would count towards the state’s population- State’s = # of seats in House- Virginia: 42% slaves; SC: 43% slaves; Georgia: 35%

Large states

Small states

Both large and small states

All states, esp. non-slave states

Everyone, especially Southern States

There would be no taxes on exported goods

“Sir, I agree with this Constitution to all its faults, if they are such; because … I doubt …whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men who have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…”

- Benjamin Franklin

Ratification of the Constitution RATIFICATION means formal approval Two groups debate…

Federalists - support ratification of the Constitution

Prominent Federalists (John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, & James Madison) write a series of essays to promote their cause. They become known collectively as The Federalist Papers.

Anti-Federalists - opposes ratification of the Constitution

Two major arguments: Believed the central government, as proposed

in the new document, was too strong! Thought the Constitution should include a

declaration of rights! (to protect citizens from the government)

Outcome The Constitution is ratified in 1788 George Washington is unanimously

elected President of the United States Begins his term in office in 1789.

Washington creates many precedents:Cabinet2 term limitUses the title “Mr. President”