Creating a Constitution 1781 1789 What could be

Creating a Constitution 1781 -1789 What could be harder than winning a war!

Ideas for the new government n n Republic: a form of government where power resides with a body of citizens entitled to vote. We have elected representatives who are responsible to the citizens. Direct Democracy: A democracy in which the power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than being exercised through their representatives.

A New Government n Continental Congress n Richard Henry Lee n 2 philosophies discussed at the Congress: ¨ Federalism ¨ States’ rights

Federalism vs. States’ Rights n Federalism ¨ Balance of power b/w state, national, local gov’ts. n States’ rights ¨ States power. formed national gov’t; retain ultimate

Our First Constitution Articles of Confederation ¨ Ratification ¨ States’ – 1781 rights win out ¨ One-house Gov’t (that’s it): The Confederation Congress

… Our First Constitution n Limitations on Congress ¨ Could ¨ No only borrow money (cannot tax) commerce clause (couldn’t regulate trade) ¨ Any major law required 2/3 of the states’ approval before it could be passed

… Our First Constitution n Did the Articles of Confederation create a strong or weak central government? n Why did they make it that way?

Western Land Policy Land Ordinance of 1787 (Northwest Ord. ) The government had to sell land to make money (since they could not tax) ¨ Process of a territory becoming a state ¨ Population n 5, 000 (adult males) = 2 house legislature n 60, 000 = state constitution ¨

Northwest Ordinance Land Ordinance of 1787 ¨ Old NW was carved into 3 -5 states ¨ No slavery in the Old NW

Failures of the Articles Foreign Relations ¨ States’ n right to negotiate treaties (G. B. ) Reject many treaties (jealousy, power-hungry) ¨ Boundary discrepancy with Spain 31 st parallel n Closed down N. O. n John Jay treaty rejected by states n

Shay’s Rebellion ¨ Large war debts ¨ Congress can’t tax, so just print more money = inflation ¨ Massachusetts decided to raise taxes instead of printing more money. Farmers in western MA hit the hardest ¨ Daniel Shays led a raid; militia puts it down

Articles Failing. . . n Change is Coming (Ao. C) Alexander Hamilton n 1787 in Philadelphia n Constitutional Convention n Need more central authority/power n