U.S. History

Chapter 7: Creating a Republic

Uniting the Colonies

States wrote Constitutions: to set limits of government powers

and to spell out the rights of citizens.

Constitution Document that sets

out laws, principles, organization, and processes of government

EXECUTE Carry out; do what

is required New state

governments had legislatures to pass laws; governors would execute the laws.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

Articles were weak because no court system existed to settle disputes between states.

Also, there was no executive to carry out the laws.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

After Shay’s Rebellion, George Washington and others thought the Articles should be revised.

They believed the government failed to solve the nation’s economic problems

Depression A period when

business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises.

Noah Webster He believed the nation

needs a strong central government to be effective.

No real power rests with the federal government in a “pretend union.”

Noah Webster He believed that

individual states have too much power to form a true union.

Alexander Hamilton agreed.

Constitutional Convention Goal to revise

the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention George Washington

and Alexander Hamilton were two of the leading delegates

Benjamin Franklin and James Madison were also delegates

Two Rival Plans

VIRGINIA PLAN VS. NEW JERSEY PLAN

Both advocated three branches of government

Small states favored the New Jersey Plan because it proposed that all states have equal representation in the legislature

The New Jersey Plan could have proposed “one vote per state.”

COMPROMISE Agreement in which

each side give up some demands

The Great Compromise: Constitutional Convention agreed to create a two-house legislature.

GREAT COMPROMISE Seats in the House

of Representatives would be awarded according to population

Every state would have two seats in the Senate

GREAT COMPROMISE 3/5ths of the slaves in

a state were included to determine state representation

Resolved the conflict between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

9 out of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution before it could become law

Ratification & Bill of Rights

In key states, the tide slowly turned in favor of ratification of the Constitution.

The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution through the amendment process.

Bill of Rights List of freedoms

that the government promises to protect.

AMEND Make changes to a

document Bill of Rights: Ten

amendments to the Constitution

ROMAN REPUBLIC Convention

delegates wanted to create a republic, a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives.

ROMAN REPUBLIC Convention

delegates patterned this idea after the Roman Republic

Romans valued public service

MAGNA CARTA 1215 English

document helped shape new American government

Basic idea that people have certain guaranteed rights

JOHN LOCKE Enlightenment

writer who said that the relationship between government and the people it governs is a social contract.

SEPARATION OF POWERS

Division of the responsibilities of government branches to keep any person or group from gaining too much power.

BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

Enlightenment writer who stressed that government powers should be clearly defined and divided

SEPARATION OF POWERS

Montesquieu suggested 3 separate branches of power be created: legislative, executive, and judicial

FEDERALISTS Argued that a

strong national government could be effective and protect states’ rights

ANTIFEDERALISTS Argued that the

Constitution must spell out ways to protect people’s basic rights

Admitting New States 1787: Northwest

Ordinance set up government for Northwest Territory, guaranteed basic right to settlers, and outlawed slavery there.

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

A territory had to have a population of 60,000 free settlers

A territory could ask Congress to admit it as a new state

CEDE

To give up any claim to territories

GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!