(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

Separation of powers

Help prevent one branch from becoming too powerful

3 branches:

• Legislative: makes laws (congress)

• Executive: enforces laws (president)

• Judicial: courts, interpret the laws

Great compromise

New Jersey plan: equal representation for all states

Virginia plan: representation based on population

—>

Congress - split into 2 houses

• House of representation: based on population (elected)

• Senate: based on equal representation (chosen by legislature)

More outcomes

• No religious requirement

• Congress declare war

• Should slaves be included (3/5 compromise)

• Who would elect president? People through electoral college

Ratification debate

• Needed 9 of 13 states to ratify or official approve of the Constitution
  before it went into effect.

• A huge debate emerged between two sides: Federalists – Antifederalists

Federalists

• People who supported the constitution

• Supported removing some powers from the states to give more power to national government

• Favored dividing power among different branches

• Proposed a single person lead the executive branch

Antifederalists

• Constitution opponents

• wanted important political powers to remain with the states

• Wanted the legislative branch to have more power than executive

• Believed a bill of rights needed to be added

Bill of rights

1791: Bill of rights was added to satisfy those weary of a strong central government and to protect basic freedom

• The bill of rights, or the first ten amendments to constitution

George Washington

First president

• the only president to get 100% of the electoral votes (twice!)