U.S. History; Independance, Articles, Constitution, Bill of Rights

Mini Units 2

Republicanism

Idea that the government should be based on the consent of the people, through elected officials.

3 questions Continental Congress had to answer about the Confederation

1. Who gets Western lands

2. Can supreme power be divided

3. Should colonies be represented by population or size

What are 3 strengths of the Confederation?

1. Can declare war

2. Can sign + negotiate treaties

3. Conduct foreign affairs

What are 5 weaknesses of the Confederation?

1. Could not tax

2. No national court 

3. No department to enforce acts of congress

4. Unanimity for amendments

5. No national military

Why did some believe favor republic government

• Believed democracy gave too much power to uneducated people.

What were the different ideas of republicanism

• That republic required virtuous ppl to succeed, only if ppl placed the good of the nation above personal interests

• That republic would benefit from self interest of economic and political interests

What did the articles emphasize

Liberty over equality

Albany Plan of Union

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (Articles)

• Provided a procedure for diving the western lands into territories

• Considered condeferation’s greatest achievement since it established blueprint for future growth of the nation

Most serious problem the confederation faced

• Lack of national unity

• Each state felt independent and divided

• Stalled amendments and agreements

Most serious economic problems confederation faced

• In 190 mil debt from the war 

• Couldn’t impose taxes without all state’s approval (Rhode Island 1 that disagreed)

• No control interstate or foreign trade

Debtors

• Borrowers of money

• Wanted to increase the supply of money to lessen it’s value and enable them to pay off their debts with cheap currency

Creditors

• Lenders of money

• Favored high taxes for states to pay them back

Foreign relations problems from confederation

• SInce u.s couldn’t pay back British, British refused to evacuate military forts on the Great Lakes

• Spains prescense of borders on u.s posed threat to westward expansion - closed Mississippi river to American navigation, depriving farmers of means of shipping their crops

• Congress to weak to resolve all these problems

Shays Rebellion

• Armed uprising lead by Daniel Shays (Former captain in the Continental Army now bankrupt farmer)

• Due to Mass raising taxes

• Those who could not pay faced loss of farms

• Shays attacked Boston and militia sent opened fire on them.

• Frightened many Americans into believing weak central gov was a weakness.

True or False - Each state had its own independent government before a federal government was formed

True

In order for Articles to be agreed upon….

The states that had control over the lands that passed the Appalachians had to agree to cede their lands to the federal gov.

Which territory outlawed slavery first

Vermont

What did James Madison offer to the Constitutional Convention

• Virginia Plan - Brand new constitution; created stronger national government. Bicameral government Lower and upper house. Strong central gov

The bitterest debate for the Virginia plan

The question of representation in both upper and lower houses of the new national government

• Large states wanted rep on population

• Small states wanted equal rep per state

The Great Compromise

• The Connecticut Plan; bicameral government (Senate + House)

• House - Representation based on population

• Senate - All states equal (2 each)

2 issues Southern States had with the Connecticut plan

• Had large pop of slaves, but were not considered citizens

• Some northern wanted to ban or limit slave trade

3 compromises made to appease southern states for the Connecticut plan

• Allow slave trade to continue for 20 years

• Obliged non slave states to give escaped slaves back to their masters

• Count slaves as 3/5 of a person

How many states needed to ratify the Constitution

9

Federalists

Support constitution

Anti - Federalists

Thought Constitution violated the principles of the American Revolution

When was a territory eligible for statehood

When there was 60,000 free inhabitants

Popular Sovereignty

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

Federalism

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

Reserved powers

Powers granted to the state governments

Some reserved powers

• Establish + maintain schools

• Establish local gov

• Provide for public safety

Delegated powers

Powers granted to the federal government

Some delegated powers

• Declare war

• Maintain armed forces

• Interstate + Foreign trade

• Admit new states

Shared/Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments

What are some concurrent powers

• Maintain law + Order

• Levy taxes

• Charter banks

• Establish courts

• Provide for public welfare

Supremacy Clause

States that the constitution is the supreme law of the land; the Constitution and laws made pursuant to it take priority over conflicting state law.

Legislative branch

Makes the laws

Executive branch

carries out the laws

How long do senators serve and how many senators per state

6 years, 2 per state

How long do reps serve and how many per each state

2 years, depends on population

Congress has a _______ legislature

Bicamel

Judicial branch

Interprets the laws

(F or AF) Thinks that the Constitution gives the federal government enough power to overpower the states

AF

(F or AF) Thinks that it will not be possible for the federal gov to overpower the states because the states are a necessary part of the federal gov

F

(F or AF) Thinks that factions will be made less powerful if interests are dispersed among the republic.

F

(F or AF) Argues that the Constitution contains no Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties like freedom of speech, and trial by jury

AF

(F or AF) thinks the Constitution gives the fed gov just a few power that are very well defined

F

(What branch) Coins money

L

(What branch) Nominates supreme court justices

E

(What branch) Declares war

L

(What branch) Serves as commander - in - chief of the army and navy

E

(What branch) Issues a pardon

E

(What branch) Borrows money on behalf of the U.S.

L

(What branch) makes treaties

E

Amendment 1

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

Amendment 2

Right to keep and bear arms

Amendment 3

Soldiers cannot be placed in homes without owner’s consent

Amendment 4

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

Amendment 5

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

Amendment 6

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

Amendment 7

Right to jury in civil cases over $20 in value

Amendment 8

No excessive bail or fines or cruel and unusual punishments

Amendment 9

Constitution shall not deny other rights of people

Amendment 10

State powers are acknowledged

Brutus No. 1 (1787)

Anti Fed

James Madison The Federalist No.10 (1788)

Federalist

Where was the Constitution drawn up

The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Primary governing under articles

Continental Congress

How many votes needed to amen confederation

13

How did the Northwest ordinance address slavery in the territories

Banned it in the Northwest territories

What branch Congress part of

Legislative

Elector voters in each state is determined by

The number of senators and representatives that state has in congress

Federal judge’s term in office lasts for _____

for life

French & Indian War Background

• F was GB greatest rival

• Fought over fertile area of contention (Ohio River valley)

• Colonists sided w/GB —> wanted to expand west + identified as british

French & Indian War (New France vs British Colonies)

• F has no desire to build towns or families (70k ppl compared to 1mil)

• F had friendly relations with NA (Not planning to take their land)

F & I war Shorts fired

• 1754: French built Fort Duquesne at the Ohio River

  • Problem: B had granted 200k acres of land in the Ohio country to wealthy planters

• VA governor sent militia to evict the French

• George Washington (21 yr. old) led the militia

• W attacked small group of F soldiers 

• W forced to surrender, it kickstarted the war

New Jersey Plan

• Proposed by NJ to stop larger states (Like virgnia) by getting more power with representation by populatio

• More power to fed gov

• 1 rep per state