Articles of Confederation Forming a new nation Articles

  • Slides: 11
Download presentation
Articles of Confederation Forming a new nation

Articles of Confederation Forming a new nation

Articles of Confederation • Original Constitution / Organized Government of the USA • President

Articles of Confederation • Original Constitution / Organized Government of the USA • President of Congress is John Dickenson (PA) • Each state had one vote • Each state could have up to 7 delegates

 • Strengths • Declare War • Trade – with states and foreign nations

• Strengths • Declare War • Trade – with states and foreign nations • Native relations • Weaknesses • No President of all government (Commander in Chief) • No Executive Branch • Could not collect taxes (suggestion / donation) • Power was divided amongst several committees • 2/3 vote to approve any of the “strengths” • Unanimous vote to amend the Articles

 • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Grid system dividing up land to be

• Land Ordinance of 1785 • Grid system dividing up land to be sold to the public • One square mile = a township, 36 sections of at least $1 per square • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Congress appoints a territorial governor • 5, 000 men you can elect an assembly • 60, 000 men you can elect your own governor and create a state constitution • Banned slavery (“free state) • This is the process in how a territory became a state

 • Public Education • Northern states rapidly established public schools by 1870 •

• Public Education • Northern states rapidly established public schools by 1870 • All states had tax-subsidized elementary schools • The US population had one of the highest literacy rates in the world at the time • Private academies also flourished in the towns across the country, but rural areas had few before 1880’s • In 1821, Boston started the first public high school in the US • By the close of the 19 th century, public secondary schools began to outnumber private ones.

Shay’s Rebellion • Testing the Articles of Confederation • Massachusetts and Pennsylvania farmers faced

Shay’s Rebellion • Testing the Articles of Confederation • Massachusetts and Pennsylvania farmers faced large war debt • Both states were trying to get citizens to pay for war through taxes • Daniel Shay’s refused, others who felt the same joined / followed “no taxation without representation” • Mass. Put down the rebellion. Even President Washington had to get involved • Despite the failure of the revolt, it showed the weaknesses of the Articles • No power to collect taxes or enforce it! – no executive branch etc. • Calls for a stronger central govt. begin

Plans for Representation • Virginia Plan • Benefits larger states • Seats determined by

Plans for Representation • Virginia Plan • Benefits larger states • Seats determined by • Population • Amount of money donated to Federal govt. • Bicameral legislature • New Jersey Plan • Benefits smaller states • Seats determined by • Statehood • 2 representatives per state • Unicameral legislature

 • 3/5’s Compromise • Slave count? • Seats determined with the including of

• 3/5’s Compromise • Slave count? • Seats determined with the including of slaves into a state’s population • As compromise, free states agreed to allow slave states to count 3 out of 5 slaves into the population for representation • Great Compromise • Aka Connecticut Plan • Bicameral legislature • House of Representatives: based on population (VA) • Senate: based on statehood (NJ) • Bicameral (VA) – applying both plans

Federalists vs. Anti Federalists • Federalist • Favored a strong central government (national government)

Federalists vs. Anti Federalists • Federalist • Favored a strong central government (national government) • Sought to plug holes of the articles • Washington, Madison, Hamilton as examples • Anti-Federalist • • Favored stronger state govts. Worried about a lack of Bill of Rights Protect people from government Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson as examples

 • Federalist Papers • Alexander Hamilton • Believed there should be a “ruling

• Federalist Papers • Alexander Hamilton • Believed there should be a “ruling class” • Ordinary citizens do not posses the knowledge needed to run a government or country • James Madison • Believe that the people should have a say in govt. • The citizens should be able to decide the path of representation (republic) • James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton are the primary authors • Series of papers set out to explain in “plain” terms the constitution and why a new one is needed • Explains checks and balances • An effort to get the Constitution ratified

Bill of Rights • Pushed by the Anti Federalists (Jefferson) • Claimed that citizens

Bill of Rights • Pushed by the Anti Federalists (Jefferson) • Claimed that citizens need to see and know their natural rights that are protected by the govt. • Provide documentation of rights • Speech, assembly, bear arms, press, trial by jury etc.