Mini Unit 2: Articles of Confederation/Constituition

T/F: In the 1700s, most people’s allegiance was to the colony in which they lived rather than to the country.

True

T/F: Most Americans believed that a democracy was the best form of government.

False

A government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives

A republic

Republicanism

Government that gets it’s power through the consent of the people

3 Basic Questions the Continental Congress had to answer

1. Representation by population or state?

2. Who gets the Western lands?

3. Can Supreme Power be divided?

What new form of government did Congress first propose?

The Articles of Confederation

Two Strengths of the National Government in the A.O.C.

• Can declare war

• Can sign treaties

Two Weaknesses of the National Government in the A.O.C.

• Cannot collect tax

• Cannot regulate foreign/interstate trade

______ provided a procedure for dividing the Western land into territories

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

What was the A.O.C’s greatest achievement?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Most serious problem the nation faced under the A.O.C

• Lack of national unity

• Each state pursued its own interests

• Equal political power among states + 13/13 states required to make amendments = states halting amendments entirely

What was the most serious economic problem in the A.O.C?

• Huge debt after revolutionary war ($190 million spent)

• Congress couldn't collect taxes → Unable to pay off debt

Wanted to increase the supply of money to lessen its value and enable them to pay off their debts with cheap money

Debtors

What were the two foreign relation problems under the A.O.C

• Britain wouldn’t evacuate until the US paid off their debts to the British and compensated the loyalists

• Spain shuts down US navigation of the Mississippi River

Two radical principles that formed the basis of our new government?

Equality and government by the republic

T/F: Each state had its own independent government before a national government was formed

True

To what was the Articles of Confederation likened?

Like a treaty of cooperation between the 13 colonies

What was the thorniest dispute?

Control of the Northwestern territories

In order for the Articles to be agreed upon, what action did the states take regarding the Western territories?

State controlling lands in the Western territory agreed to give it up to the national government

What was the new role of women in the society

Had to teach children about virtues and patriotism in order to benefit the republic

Which territory outlawed slavery first?

Vermont

Why were farmers in debt in MA?

Farmers in debt because of rising taxes (trade wars), lack of money, and no help from the government

What was the most notorious farmer uprising?

Shays’ Rebellion

Why was Shays’ Rebellion significant?

• Frightened Americans into believing that the lack of power in the federal government was a weakness.

• That having a stronger central government would’ve suppressed the rebellion in the first place.

What did James Madison offer to the Constitutional Convention?

• The Virginia Plan (A new constitution)

• Outlined an entirely new, stronger federal government

Great Compromise

• The Connecticut Plan

• House would have representation by population

• Senate would have representation equal for all states

Three compromises made to appease the Southern states

• Allow FOREIGN slave trade to continue for 20 years (Didn’t specify anything about national trade)

• Make all states give back escaped slaves to their owners

• Count slaves as 3/5ths of a person in taxation + representation in Congress (5 slaves = 3 people)

What word did not appear in the Constitution?

Slavery

T/F: All agreed the Constitution would suceed

False

How many states needed to ratify the Constitution?

9 states

What did Federalists support

Supported a strong central government (The new Constitution)

What did Anti-Federalists advocate for?

Said a stronger central government would violate the ideals of the revolution

What promise won more support for the Constitution?

James Madison’s promise to add the Bill of Rights to limit the governments power

Anti or Fed | Thinks the Constitution gives the federal government enough power to overpower the states

Antifederalist

Anti or Fed | Thinks that it will not be possible for the federal government to overpower the states, because the states are a necessary part of the federal government

Federalist

Anti or Fed | Thinks the factions will be made less powerful is interests are dispersed

Federalist

Anti or Fed | Argues the Constitution has no Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties

Antifederalist

Anti or Fed | Argues there is nothing in the Constitution that says the federal government has to power to limit peoples’ freedoms

Federalist

Anti or Fed | Thinks the Constitution gives the federal government just a few powers that are very well defined

Federalist

Anti or Fed | Fears the President created by the Constitution is really just a king

Antifederalist

Anti or Fed | Worries that the Constitution creates a Supreme Court that is too powerful because the judges don’t answer to anyone

Antifederalist

Anti or Fed | Believes a President is a necessary to protect the country against foreign attack and make sure laws are carried out properly

Federalist

Anti or Fed | Believes the US is too large to have a central government. People won’t know their leaders will lose control over the government

Antifederalist

Anti or Fed | Convinced that no government could rest upon the “virtue”of its people: people motivated by self-interest and the purpose of government was to protect people’s liberties

Federalist

When was the Constitution written?

1787

The first part of the Constitution is called the…

Preamble

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the government is created by the people and must follow the will of the people

Republicanism

A government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives

Federalism

The power of government is divided between a national government and the state governments

Delegated powers

Powers granted to the federal government

Reserved powers

Powers granted to state governments

Shared/concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state government

Supremacy Clause

States the Constitution Is the supreme law of the land; Constitution and laws made pursuant to it take priority over conflicting state law

Separation of Powers

Supreme power is divided. Each branch of government has specific role

Legislative Branch

• Makes the laws

• Introduces laws

• Coins money

• Declares war

• Override presidential veto

• Borrows money on behalf of the US

• Impeaches/removes the president

Executive Branch

• Carries out the laws

• Signs bills into law

• Nominates Supreme Court justices

• Vetoes bills

• Commander-in-chief of the army and navy

• Issues a pardon

• Makes treaties

Judicial Branch

• Interprets the law

• Declares laws unconstitutional

• Interprets/makes meaning of laws

Declare war, maintain armed forces, regulate interstate/foreign trade, admit new states, establish post offices, set standard weights/measures, coin money, establish foreign policy, make laws necessary for carrying out delegated powers

Delegated powers (EXAMPLES)

Maintain law and order, levy taxes, borrow money, charter banks, establish courts, provide for public welfare

Concurrent powers (EXAMPLES)

Establish/maintain schools, establish local governments, regulate business within state, make marriage laws, provide for public safety, assume other powers not delegated to national government or prohibited to the states

Reserved powers (EXAMPLES)

Checks and balances

Provisions in the US constitution that prevent any branch of the federal government from dominating the others

Bicameral legislature

Two branches/chambers/houses legislature

How long do senators serve for?

6 years

How many Senators does each state have?

2

Representatives serve for…

2 years

How many Representatives does each state have?

Based off population

Who can impeach government officials?

House of Representatives

Who can hold trial for impeachments and remove them from office

Senate

Electoral College

Body of people representing the states who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president

1st Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and to petition the government

2nd Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms

3rd Amendment

Soldiers cannot be placed in homes without owners’ consent

4th Amendment

Security from unreasonable searches and seizures; probable cause needed for warrants

5th Amendment

No self incrimination or double jeopardy for crimes; right to a grand jury, due process of law, and compensation for taking of public property

6th Amendment

Right to a speedy trial by jury, to be informed of charges, confront witnesses, and have legal advice

7th Amendment

Right to jury in civil cases over $20 in value

8th Amendment

No excessive bail or fines or cruel and unusual punishments

9th Amendment

The Constitution shall not deny other rights of people that aren’t listed

10th Amendment

Powers that aren’t delegated or prohibited to the states are theirs. The States powers are acknowledged