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American Revolution
8.1 The Articles of Confederation
The Constitution
• CONSTITUTION– Set of basic principles and laws that give the
government authority
• REPUBLICANISM– Citizens elect representatives who are
responsible to the people
• LIMITED GOVERNMENT– Leaders obey laws with no one having total
power.
• Most state constitutions protected the people’s rights
• These rights included freedom of the press and private ownership of land.
• SUFFRAGE– Voting rights– Most states had different laws on voting– Some allowed free African Americans to votes.
Forming a Union• A national government was
needed to hold the country together
• Some felt this government would be too powerful
• ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION– New central government…it had
problems• No president
– Congress could not tax or get soldiers from the states
• It takes 5 years to get state approval.
• The new government has to deal with lands in the west and how to pay for the war.
• Land is sold for money• THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
– Plan for forming governments in the new land• Get 60,000 people and you can draft a constitution• You can then ask to come into the union• No slavery allowed.
American Revolution
8.2 Problems in the New Nation
• Other countries take advantage of the U.S. because we have no army
• Spain closed the Mississippi river and England refuses to leave
• England closed its ports to American ships and forces them to pay heavy tariffs.
• The congress could not tax British imports
• The British went form state to state negotiating to get the best deal.
• INTERSTATE COMMERCE– Trade between states-could not be controlled
• INFLATION– Increased prices and a reduced value of money– Large amount of money was produced but had almost
no value
• DEPRESSION– A period of low economic activity combined with a rise
in unemployment.
Shay’s Rebellion• Poor farmers in
Massachusetts were losing their farms because of debt
• Shay and his men shut down the courts
• He is finally defeated in battle
• The Rebellion showed how weak the national government was.
A Push for Change
• A meeting of the states is called for, but only five states send representatives.
• Another call goes out for a Constitutional convention in Philadelphia.
American Revolution
8.3 The Constitution
The Constitutional Convention• 12 states send
representative to Philadelphia
• Most were well educated.
• They include Washington, Franklin, and James Madison
• No women, slaves, or Indians were invited.
The Great Compromise
• Some wanted small changes to the Articles while others want something brand new
• How strong should the government be, slavery, and state representation were hot topics
The Virginia Plan
• A strong central government
• Three branches-Executive, Judicial, and Legislative
• A two house legislature
• State representatives would be based on the state’s population
New Jersey Plan
• Called for each state to have one vote
• Called for the government to have the power to tax and regulate trade.
Great Compromise
• Votes in the House of Reps. Are based on the state’s population
• Each state gets tow votes in the Senate
The Three Fifths Compromise
• Southern state want their slaves counted in the population for votes, not taxes
• They decide to count 3/5 to determine representation
• They also decide to wait 20 years to make a decision on slavery.
Our Living Constitution
• FEDERALISM– Sharing power between a central government
and the states
• States control local government, education, local law, and the welfare of their people
• The federal government may use the military under control of the president.
Our Government
• LEGISLATIVE BRANCH– Propose and pass laws and is made up of two houses
• EXECUTIVE BRANCH– Makes sure laws are enforced and is made up of the
president an the departments that run the government• JUDICIAL BRANCH
– Interpret laws, punish criminals, and settle disputes between states.
– Made up of courts• CHECKS AND BALANCES
– Keeps any branch from become too powerful.
Our Government
• IT TOOK 16 WEEKS OF DEBATE TO COME UP WITH THE CONSTITUTION.
American Revolution
8.4 Ratification of the Constitution
Federalists VS Ant federalists
• ANTIFEDERALIST– Those against the constitution– Many felt the government would be too
powerful– It also lacked a bill of rights
• FEDERALISTS– They believe the constitution offers a good
balance of power
The Ratification Fight
• It takes almost 2 ½ years to ratify the constitution.
• It took 9 states to pass it and all 13 for it to go into effect.
Demand for a Bill of Rights
• Several states ratified the constitution with a promise of a bill of rights.
• The first ten amendments to the US constitution are the BILL OF RIGHTS.
• THE US CONSTITUTION IS THE WORLD’S OLDEST NATIONAL
CONSTITUTION!!!!