(U.S. history) Constitution notes

Articles of confederation

1781: Law of the land

• loose union of independents states

• weak central government, power with the state government

• too weak to be effective

No power to tax

Weak currency and increase debt, lead to no being able to pay army threats of mutiny

No power to enforce treaties

Foreign countries angry when treaties weren’t honored

Every state has a vote

Populous states not equally represented

No power to regulate commerce

Trade hindered by states, high tariffs on each other

Amendments requires unanimous vote of states

Difficult to adapt articles to changing needs

Shays rebellion

1786 - 1787: protest by American farmers against state tax for debt

• Many who fought for independence, later jailed for being unable to pay taxes

• Major problem: State government and the federal government

  • Who had the power over what

Constitutional convention

• 12 states sent 55 delegates to meet independence hall

• Ignored congress mandate to revise the article of confederation

• 4 months later = new governing document THE CONSTITUTION

What is the constitution?

Supreme law/ government of the United States

• Framework/ foundation of the legal authority/ organization

Republicanism

• replaced royal rule with a republic

• Republic = Representative democracy: Power rests with citizens who elect leaders

  • Leaders make government decisions on their behalf

Federalism

• To strengthen the central government but still preserve the rights of the states,

• federalism- power divided between federal government and state government
  

Popular sovereignty

government power resides from the consent of the people

Limited government

Government is not all powerful