The Articles of Confederation The Big Idea The

The Articles of Confederation The Big Idea The Articles of Confederation provided a framework for a national government. Main Ideas • The American people examined many ideas about government. • The Articles of Confederation laid the base for the first national government of the United States.

Articles of Confederation= “weak”

The American people examine ideas about govt. *The American colonists based their ideas for Government on the English Parliamentary model *Magna Carta- signed in 1215 -made king subject to law. “ 1 st document to limit the power of the KING” *English Bill of Rights- passed in 1689 - kept the king or queen from changing laws without Parliament’s consent/permission * The Enlightenment- was a philosophical movement that emphasized the use of reason to examine old ideas and traditions. Goal was to improve govt. and society ! * John Locke- believed a “social contract” existed between political rulers and the people they ruled.

CFU ? • THE MAGNA CARTA was the first document to do what ________. • Enlightenment Philosopher John Locke believed that a _______existed between rulers and the people.

American Models of Government • Early models of self-government were: a. ) town meetings b. ) The Virginia House of Burgesses c. ) The Mayflower Compact. • Constitution is a set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government. • Suffrage- the right to vote. In the colonies this was only given to white –male property owners. • Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom stated that no one could be forced to attend a certain church or be required to pay for a church with tax money. (Thomas Jefferson)

CFU ? • List 3 examples of colonial attempts at self-government ? • 1)________ • 2) ________ • 3) ________

The Articles of Confederation (1777 -1781) • The Articles of Confederation created a national government with limited powers. – States had the power to refuse requests – (Example: ) states could refuse to pay taxes to the National Govt. – There was not a president or a national court system - There was no National Army…… Army • The 2 nd Continental Congress- passed the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777, and sent them to each state for ratification, or official approval.

CFU ? • Name 2 major problems with the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION ? 1. ) 2. )

The New Nation Faces Challenges *Problems faced by the new nation made it clear that a new constitution was needed ! • The United States had difficulties with other nations as well…. . • Shays’s Rebellion pointed out weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Shays’ Rebellion • Daniel Shays led Massachusetts farmers in a revolt over high taxes and heavy debt in August 1786. • Shays’ Rebellion was put down by state troops in January 1787 because there was no “National” Army… – Why was there no “National Army” ? ____________________________ *see slide 7 * • Shays Rebellion showed to everyone in the new nation, that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to govern the new nation.

Shays Rebellion (1786 -1787)

CFU? – partner pair share 1) What were the lasting results of Shays Rebellion ? *Answer frame – “It showed the country that the ____of _______were too ____of a form of government. This was due to the fact that ___________________________________ __________________

* Draw 1 image to help you symbolize the weaknesses …. . *Now explain to your partner why you drew that symbol/image….

CFU ? –partner pair share • Fact--Fact The Articles of Confederation did not call for an Executive or Judicial Branch of Government ! • Who is the chief “executive” in our country? __________. • What is the “Judicial Branch” in our country ? _______.

Articles of Confederation – “Summary” • The Articles of Confederation was our country’s first ______ as a new nation. A majority of power was in the hands of the ______. There were some other major problems with the Articles such as the absence of an ____ branch and no system of ____ & _____. The single event that proved to the country that the Articles needed to be revised or done away with was _________. After Shay’s Rebellion many Americans called for a stronger Central Government.

Creating the Constitution (The Big Idea) A new constitution provided a framework for a stronger national government. (Main Ideas) 1. The Constitutional Convention- met to improve the government of the United States. 2. The issue of representation led to the Great Compromise. 3. Debates over slavery led to the 3/5’s Compromise. 4. The U. S. Constitution created federalism and a balance of power (checks & balances). • Vocabulary: * “Legislate”-

Essential Questions: • We will describe how the new U. S Constitution of (1787) was an “improvement” of the Articles of Confederation • We will clearly “critique” and point out the flaws of our nations first constitution the Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Convention meets • Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1787 to improve Articles of Confederation • Convention leaders included James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. • Goal was to improve the Articles of Confederation • Delegates decided to create a new U. S. Constitution.

Great Compromise • Virginia Plan gave larger states more representation because it was based on population. • New Jersey Plan gave smaller states equal representation with larger states. • Great Compromise resolved issue by creating a twohouse legislature. It combined the New Jersey Plan with the Virginia Plan. • An upper house— the Senate— provided for 2 representatives from each state regardless of size. • A lower house— the House of Representatives — provided for representation based on state population.

Great Compromise • New Jersey Plan. Called for a 1 house Legislature, wanted states to have power ! Called for “equal” number of representatives for each state-regardless of size • Virginia Plan- large state plan, wanted a 2 - house legislature & representation based on “population/size”.

CFU? - Short Answer Writing A. ) What did the GREAT COMPROMISE accomplish ? *Answer– The GREAT COMPROMISE _____ the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. It created a 2 ____ legislative branch and called for representation based both on _____ and ____ from each state.

Three-Fifths Compromise. The South*Wanted slaves to be counted as part of their population The North*Wanted slaves counted only to determine taxes but not for representation Three-Fifths Compromise*Resolved differences and compromised by counting 3 out of 5 slaves for population purposes (3/5 th).

3/5 Compromise- Visual Representation

CFU ? Partner Pair Share • A. ) Why would the “South” want to count slaves as part of their population count ? • B. ) Why would the “North” be opposed to the South counting slaves as part of their population counts ?

Document Based Questions (15 pts) A Secondary Source: The Three Fifths Compromise 1. ) Why was the 3/5 compromise so controversial ? 2. ) Why was the 3/5 compromise defeated in 1783 under the Articles of Confederation? 3. ) Who (or) what states benefited from the 3/5 Compromise?

Document Based Questions (15 pts) A Secondary Source: The Three Fifths Compromise • 4. ) “Argue” against the passing of the 3/5 Compromise. (Keep in mind the recent Declaration of Independence, natural rights theory of John Locke, The Great Awakening, and the structure of the new U. S Constitution)

The “new” U. S. Constitution • popular sovereignty: sovereignty idea that political authority resided in the people • federalism: federalism sharing of power between states and federal government- this required states to obey authority of the federal government. • *popular- means or refers to “population” or having a majority of the population • *sovereignty- means “power”

U. S. Constitution • Created (1787) • Ratified (1788) • Created 3 branches of Govt. - power is now checked and balanced ! 1. Legislative 2. Judicial 3. Executive * Principles -- Federalism, Popular Sovereignty, checks and balances

CFU? - Partner Pair Share. Written Summary • Based on our notes and discussion…. . 1. ) Name one solid improvement the “new” U. S Constitution has made on the Articles of Confederation (*See weaknesses flow chart) • Answer (frame)- The new U. S Constitution improved on the Articles of Confederation by creating a new national government with _______ branches and _______________________

TEST PREP ! 1) Following Shays’ Rebellion, most Americans called for establishing A. ) B. ) C. ) D. ) laws to prevent rebellious behavior. a national court system. a national army. a stronger central government.

2) How did the Great Compromise resolve the debate over state representation in the federal government? A. ) It created a bicameral legislature, where the population of each individual state in the nation would determine the number of representatives in each house. B. ) It created a unicameral legislature, where the number of representatives in the house would be based on the population of a state. C. ) It created a bicameral legislature, where in one house state population determined the number of representatives and in the other the number of representatives were equal. D. ) It created a unicameral legislature where the number of representatives in the house would be equal despite the size of the state

Test PREP ! 3) How did the American government respond to the uprising known as Shays’ Rebellion? A. ) It planned to hold a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation to better meet the nation’s needs. B. ) It sentenced the rebels to death & followed through in the executions of those who participated in the rebellion. C. ) It overturned the Articles of Confederation and gave the Confederation Congress supreme power in the U. S. D. ) It forced states to provide soldiers for a national army to prevent future uprisings in the U. S.

TEST PREP ! 4) What was the significance of the Articles of Confederation? A. They created the first national court system in the United States. B. They established the first national government of the United States. C. They created a government for the U. S. that was very similar to Great Britain’s. D. They established America’s independence from Great Britain

TEST PREP 5) The Magna Carta was a document that…. A. ) shifted the power from the monarchs to the people in Britain. B. ) required British royalty to obey the same laws as other English people. C. ) limited the power of the people in the British government. D. ) gave the power in the British government to members of Parliament.

6) How did the Articles of Confederation contribute to the economic problems of the United States in the late 1700 s? A. ) The Articles gave Congress little power to enforce or pass nationwide laws and tariffs, which ultimately led to increased U. S. debt. B. ) The Articles banned trade with foreign nations, which caused a great deal of American businesses to suffer. C. ) The Articles gave Congress the power to print limitless amounts of paper money, which caused inflation in the U. S. D. ) The Articles included a clause stating that the U. S. would pay back all debts owed to Britain, which increased the U. S. debt.

Creating the Constitution (principles) *CHECKS & BALANCES* • Constitution designed to balance power between three branches of government • Legislative branch- to make the laws • Executive branch- to carry out the laws, enforce the laws • Judicial branch - to interpret the laws

CFU ? • How many branches of GOVT. are created by the new U. S Constitution ? ____. • What does the Executive Branch do ? • What does the Legislative Branch do ? • What is the role of the Judicial Branch ?

Checks & Balances • System of checks and balances keeps branches from becoming too powerful • Congress has power to pass bills into law • President can “veto” laws passed • Supreme Court can strike down unconstitutional laws

Separation of Powers • Concept given to the American people by Enlightenment Philosopher Montesquieu • Powers of Govt. work best when they are “separated”.

Federalists & Antifederalists engaged in debate over the new Constitution. Federalists Anti-federalists • Supported Constitution • Opposed Constitution • Desired strong central government • Feared central government would be too powerful • Liked balance of powers in Constitution • Concerned about lack of guarantee of individual rights • Made speeches and pamphlets advocating change in government • George Mason became Antifederalist over rights issue

The Federalist Papers (1788) • Federalist Papers-- argued that new series of essays federal government supporting the would not Constitution overpower states • Written anonymously Promoted the new Constitution by: Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison

Battle for Ratification • Debates continued over officially approving the new Constitution. • Federalists wanted to move forward and approve/ratify the new Constitution • Delaware was the first state to ratify, in 1787 • Rhode Island was the last in 1790 • What was missing? • What promise would make all the states “ratify” ?

A list of “Individual Rights” (BILL OF RIGHTS) • Several states ratified the Constitution only after the promise of a bill protecting individual rights. • Congress responded by passing a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution as amendments. • The Bill of Rights became the first ten amendments to the Constitution upon ratification by the states in December 1791. – Flexibility of the Constitution has allowed it to survive for over 200 years