Topic Three:To Form a More Perfect Union

Establishing Foundational Knowledge: U.S. under the Articles of Confederation

What standards must be met to give government legitimate authority?

Can the people be trusted with self-government? Can a government be trusted to protect liberty?

American Revolution – setting the context

• 1773 – taxes on tea, limits on who buy from• Colonies arguing for representation in

Parliament or taxes are unjust• Britain saying have representation in

Parliament• Colonists protest• Is this justified?

Can the public be trusted with self-government?

1777-1788 Articles of Confederation

• Fearful of strong national government• States are sovereign – each one vote• Could not tax the states, only request funds• Could not regulate trade among states, states

taxing each other’s goods, 7 states coined own money

• Could not enforce laws: e.g. trade agreements with other countries, 9 states had own navies, but no national military

Shay’s Rebellion

• Daniel Shay’s on steps of MA state legislature, 1786.

• Farmers in debt and paying taxes – little cash – debtor’s prison if can’t pay, or sell property (lose vote)

• Thousands farmers protest court houses stopping property hearings

• 1200 farmers storm armory, turned back by MA militia

Results of Shay’s Rebellion

• MA state legislature changed taxation laws to meet many of farmer’s demands

• Founders began to discuss the need to strengthen the power of the government to keep future rebellions from happening

• Two questions: – Can the people be trusted with self-government?– Do we want one strong national government or 13

strong state governments?

One nation or 13 separate states?

• One focus issue for this question – who should have the power to tax?

• National government or state governments?

Keep taxes local

Need national

tax

Roger Sherman

• “People should have as little to do as may be about the government. They want information and are constantly liable to being misled.” Roger Sherman, Connecticut, 1786

George Washington

• "We are fast verging toward anarchy and confusion."

View of Jefferson

• “And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon, and pacify them.”

Who should govern?

Merchant

Laborer

Woman

Slave

Do we need a new constitution?

• Do we need to write a new constitution or simply fix the Articles of Confederation?

• Do we want a stronger national government or keep our 13 separate states?

• Who should govern?

PIH Curriculum Design Principles

1. Scaffolded Instruction

2. Authenticity

3. Multiple Intelligences

4. Effective Collaboration