Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Experimenting with a New Nation…
How do we run it??
EOCT QUESTION
1. Which of the following battles included a daring late night crossing of the Delaware that resulted in a much needed victory for the colonials?
A. SaratogaB. Valley ForgeC. YorktownD. Trenton
2. Someone inspired by the writings of Thomas Paine in 1776 would MOST LIKELY support which of the folowing statements?A. “long live King George!”B. “The colonies must proclaim their
independence!”C. “Laws passed by Parliament MUST
be respected!”D. “Slavery is immoral and should be
abolished!”
State or Federal?
• Speed Limit?• Death Penalty?• DUI/Breathalyzer?• Marriage?• Opening Post (Mail)• Murder• Coining Money• Starting a War
It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
(Alabama) It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of
game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.
(California)
Women may not drive in a house coat. It is illegal to sing in a public place while
attired in a swimsuit. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind
of strapless gown. (Florida) You may not swear in front of women and
children in the state of Michigan.
It is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.
The penalty for jumping off a building is death. (New York)
It is illegal to drive without windshield wipers. You don't need a windshield, but you must have the wipers.
It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing.
If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.
A. Problems with Trade:
To deal with the economic crisis – states began raising taxes on earth others goods to raise money…
1. Each state began acting as an independent country – which threatened unity of the new United States!
B. Problems with Diplomacy:
a. Many states restricted Britain’s ability to collect debts Americans owed them.
1. In retaliation, British refused to evacuate American soil as the treaty told them to
2. Dealing with Spain also showed weaknesses of the new Confederation – Spain would not let American merchants in GA to deposit their goods on Spanish territory on the Miss. River - - actually closed the river to American farmers – Confederation Congress realized they had NO WAY to pressure the Spanish… - The limited powers of the Confederation Congress prevented diplomatic problems from working out.
d. Shay’s Rebellion!
Property owners fears became a full blown rebellion – known as Shay’s Rebellion.
1. Govt of MA raised taxes instead of issuing paper money to pay off debts.
2. Taxes fell heavily on farmers many found it impossible to pay taxes as well as their mortgages.
3. Angry at the state not caring, in late August of 1786, famers I western Massachusetts rebelled:
4. Closed down several county courthouses to stop farm foreclosures and marched on the state supreme court.
5. Daniel Shays, former captain in the Continental Army who was now a bankrupt farmer emerged as one of its leaders.
6. Shays and 12– farmers headed to a state arsenal
7. Governor of MA sent 4,000 volunteers - Shays attacked and the militia opened fire – 4 famers died and the rest….?
They scattered.
8. Continental Congress realized rebellions were not going to be easy to disperse.
E. Call for Change..
1. People with bigger incomes and social status saw the rebellion (as well as the recession) as signs the Republic was in danger already.
IMPORTANT!! 2. If state legislatures became more
“democratic” –(responsive to poor people), they would have their property rights taken away.
3. These worries were an important reason why many people began to argue for a strong, CENTRAL government.
Republicanism..
Relationship between the New States and a National Government was difficult..
Who do you give more power to?
The Rev. War gave colonists a common goal – to Beat the British.
Now…the began to identify themselves by their states – therefore they were afraid of a National Government to rule them…
Unity..
Many felt that a democracy (or govt. controlled by the people) put too much power into the hands of the uneducated.
Therefore, they favored a Republic – a government which citizens rule through elected representatives –
educated representatives…
A Republic equals Economic Power…How?
Many believed that if a government allowed independent citizens to pursue their own economic interest, that the entire country would benefit economically –
How is that possible??
State Constitutions..
All the states agreed on certain things: Limited Govt. Powers Specific rights for citizens Freedom of religion, speech, etc. However, they differed widely on who has
the Right To Vote…
Help!!!
While the states drafted their own constitutions, the Continental Congress tried to draft one for the entire nation.
In order to do this – had to answer 3 Questions:
1. Representation by Population or State?
2. Supreme Power – Can it be Divided?
3. Western Lands: Who gets’em?
Representation..
States were unequal in size, wealth and population.
Should each state have the same number of delegates regardless of state size OR!!
Should states with a large population have more representatives than states with a smaller population?
Can Supreme Power be Divided?
Congress proposed a new type of gov’t. in a set of laws called the Articles of Confederation – One in which 2 levels of government shared the most important powers…
In other words, A. state governments had more control over
laws in certain matters B. National government was more supreme in
others. – This new form of govt. was called a CONFEDERATION!
Articles of Confederation
1. Gave the new National Government power to:
1. Declare War 2.Make Peace 3. Sign Treaties 4. Establish a Postal Service.. However – they didn’t think of 2 things…
They didn’t create a separate department to carry out and enforce these laws.
They didn’t create a court system to interpret these laws either!
Review – What were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
1. Congress cant collect taxes
2. Cant control trade
3. 13 separate states lacked unity
4. Regardless of population – each state had only 1 vote in Congress.
Who gets the Western Lands?
• Congress passed the Northwest Land Ordinance of 1787 that provided direction for dividing land into territories..
• Western lands could become a state under 3 conditions:
• 1. Congress appoints who is going to run it.• 2. When the territory had 5,000 people, they
could draft a constitution.• 3. When the population grew to 60,000 – could
apply their constitution for statehood.
Why is this important??
• The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 became the Confederation’s greatest achievements:
• These laws established the “blueprint: for future growth of out nation.
Borrowers Vs. Lenders..
Another problem was that creditors (people who lent $ to the states) wanted high taxes so that the states would pay them back.
However, high taxes sent poor farmers into debt – when the creditor sued, the farmer’s land, goods would go directly to the state –
Did anyone really win?
One more…
Since the U.S. couldn’t pay back it’s debts to British merchants, Britain refused to evacuate its forts near the Great Lakes.
Even worse, Spain was still there and posed a threat to westward expansion.
Recap…
• What were the problems with the new Confederation again?
• 1. Congress couldn’t collect taxes for money.• Couldn’t control any kind of trade.• Regardless of size/population – each state only
had one vote in Congress.• No branch to enforce or interpret new laws.• 13 separate states lacked unity.
Section 2 – A New Constitution
A. Constitutional Convention!
The weaknesses convinced many leaders that they couldn’t survive without a strong central government. - Leaders such as George Washington, John Adams, Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Morris.
1. Most influential “Nationalists” was James - Madison – from VA, Head of Commerce Committee – well aware of VA’s trade problems – totally believed a stronger NATIONIONAL Government was needed.
2. Called for a meeting of all the states to come and talk..
3. NY Delegate, Alexander Hamilton suggested that the Congress join in Philadelphia again to revise the Articles of Confederation. – Became known as the Constitutional Convention.
B. The Founders…
1. The 55 reps included some of the most SHREWDEST and amazing leaders in the county.
2. TJ called them an “Assembly of Demigods”
3. Chose stern and proper George Washington as presiding officer..
C. The Virginia and New Jersey Plans –
1. Now, the Virginian Reps arrived to Philly with a plan (mostly from James Madison) for a new national government.
2. “The Virginia Plan” –
a. wanted to scrap the Articles of Confederation
b. The Legislature be divided into 2 houses:
• 2 House Legislature – with membership based on a state’s population.
• Voters elect members of the LOWER HOUSE – those members would then elect members of the UPPER HOUSE.
• How many “houses” then are involved in this plan??
• How do you think the small states felt about this?
3. William Paterson from New Jersey said – NOOOOO WAY that’s going to happen.
4. Proposed the New Jersey Plan – proposed a single housed Congress (1 house Congress) – One Vote equals One State.
5. Members of each plan were deadlocked – Finally..Roger Sherman from Connecticut suggested the GREAT COMPROMISE.
D. Great Compromise:
1. Gave a 2 house Congress (House of Reps and Senate) to satisfy both small and big states.
a. 1sr House is called the SENATE - Each state would have the same amount of reps in the Senate – NO MATTER POPULATION SIZE (to make the big states happy)
b. 2nd House is called the HOUSE OF REPRESENTAIVES Based on
POPULATION to make the small states happy.
What was this Compromise called..?
Wait…are slaves considered part of the people??
E. Compromise Over Slavery
1. Franklin suggested that each state could elect 1 member for every 40,000 people in the state.
2. Created a SPLIT between northern and southern states..
3. Southern delegates wanted SLAVES to be counted as people represented (What…??, REALLY..?)
4. Northern states said “Fine, but you need to count them for taxing purposes as well).
5. Roger Sherman came up with the Three-Fifths Compromise:
a. Every 5 enslaved people in a state would count as 3 free people to determine both representation and taxes.
Became North Vs. South (Already)
- Southerners feared a strong national government with power over trade might put taxes of their tobacco going out and slaves coming in.
- Therefore, wanted this new constitution FORBID interference with slave trade and the power to put taxes on their imports and exports.
• On the other hand, Northern delegates knew that Northern Merchants needed a government with the power to control trade (foreign imports coming into the US)
