Background to the Constitution

Queen Asaro

6th Grade

Enlightenment Background

Video – (FLOCABULARY)What is the Enlightenment?

– a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition

– Movement away from Monarchy and religion– Toward Democracy/ Individual rights and science

Government by the States

11 of the 13 states created constitutions (document stating rules under which a government will function).

Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to use colonial charters-removed references to king

Power of governors reduced-state legislatures (elected by people) given most power

Cont’d

Governors served as state executives (those who run the government and see that laws are carried out)

More people allowed to vote under state constitutions-most states still barred African Americans

NJ allowed some women to vote until 1807

Protecting Rights

To prevent violation of rights (as Britain had done to the colonists), states set up bills of rights

1776-Virginia was the first state to add a bill of rights to its constitution-included freedom of press, trial by jury, freedom of religion

Articles of Confederation-Video

1777-Continental Congress set up Articles of Confederation to create a national government

One branch-legislature called CongressNo courts, no executiveStates had one vote a piece-nine votes

needed to pass a law

Cont’d

Articles wanted to limit the power of the central gov’t

Power remained in the hands of the states-Congress could not regulate trade or collect taxes. Money voluntarily given by states

Congress could deal with foreign nations and Native American groups, make laws, declare war, print money, run a postal service

Could not enforce laws

Settling Western lands

Articles had to be approved by all 13 states Not all would agree until issue of western lands was

settled (some states claimed these areas) 1781-Virginia gave up western claims-Maryland

agrees to Articles. Land given to federal government Land Ordinance of 1785- Townships set up &

divided into 36 squares. Squares were then sold One section set aside for schools-reflected nation’s

leaders belief that democracy depended on education

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Set up a process for admitting new states in the Northwest Territory-present day states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio

Congress appointed governor, three judges, and a secretary

When an areas population reached 5,000 adult males-they could elect a legislature

When it reached 60,000-it could request statehood

Slavery outlawed

Problems with Articles- Video

Economic- State taxes and currencies made trade between

state difficult- Federal government could not tax-had little

money (had to be voluntarily given by states)Foreign-America seemed weak-Britain kept troops in

Northwest Territory, Spain refused to let Americans use Mississippi River

Shays’ Rebellion- Video

1780’s-economic depression hit United StatesMany farmers could not pay taxes. State

governments began seizing farmsMassachusetts farmers demanded legislators stop

seizing land and print more money-they did notAugust 1786-Daniel Shays and 1,000 farmers

rebelled and tried to seize arms from a state warehouse. State militia put down rebellion, arrested Shays

Effect of Shays’ Rebellion-Video

Shays’ Rebellion showed weakness of government under Articles of Confederation

Many feared future rebellions and called for a stronger central government

1787-Congress sent delegates to a convention in Philadelphia to revise Articles of Confederation