DID YOU CATCH THESE BIG IDEAS? |
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Americans will now have to make decisions about how they will now change their new country.
Some will move west.
Some will stay and create a new governmental system
Some will move west.
- Follow Daniel Boone along the Wilderness Road in search of the fertile farmland of the west.
- Encounter conflicts with the Native Americans already on the land.
Some will stay and create a new governmental system
- Creation of state constitutions - some with separate branches of government, short terms of office, bills of rights. All states had a republican form of government where the people elect others to make decisions for them.
- Creation of a national system of government = Articles of Confederation. In the "Articles" the national government had few powers because many people were afraid that a strong government would lead to tyranny. For example, there was no president, no national court system and no national army and no way to force states to pay taxes to the national government. Most power was left to the states to decide.
Articles of Confederation:
- The Articles of Confederation was our first national written plan of government. The Confederation Congress established the rules for running the country based on the previous experience under the British government. For example, because they feared one man becoming too powerful they didn't create a position for a chief executive or a president.
- Listed below are 7 weaknesses of the Articles and the outcome of these weaknesses.
Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance - these were two actions taken by the Confederation Congress that were seen as successes:
Shays's Rebellion
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Figure 1Figure 2constitutional congress |
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1787
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compromises at the convention
"The Great Compromise"
Problem to overcome: How will the number of votes that each state get be determined? Should more populated states get more votes? Differing Ideas:
Compromise:
The United States Capitol building in Washington D.C. is where the Senate and US House of Representatives meet today. These lawmakers were created by way of the "Great Compromise"
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"3/5ths Compromise"
Problem to overcome: Do we count slaves as people when determining how much taxes each state pays? Do we count them as people when determining representation? Differing Ideas:
Compromise:
doing the math5 slaves would count as 3 people
10 slaves would count as 6 slaves 15 slaves would count as 9 people |
the battle FOR ratification
On September 15, 1787, the delegates voted their support for the Constitution in its final form. All but three delegates signed the
Constitution. It was then sent to the Confederation Congress, which sent it to the states for ratification, or approval. A new battle now began as two groups, those in favor and those against, fought out the decision of whether or not to ratify or accept the Constitution in each state.
Constitution. It was then sent to the Confederation Congress, which sent it to the states for ratification, or approval. A new battle now began as two groups, those in favor and those against, fought out the decision of whether or not to ratify or accept the Constitution in each state.
Federalism Examples
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federalismThe Articles of Confederation had given most of the power to the states while reserving a few powers for the national government -- the power to make war, make peace, make treaties and make money. However, the Constitution was different, it was based on a system called FEDERALISM in which power was shared. Under this system some powers were given only to the states (i.e. establishing schools) , some only to the national government (i.e. declaring war) and some were shared (collecting taxes). Americans live under both national and state governments.
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FEDERALISTS
Definition: Those who favored ratification, or acceptance, of the new US Constitution. Leaders: James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton Main Belief: Favored a new constitution that would give share power between federal (national) and state governments. |
ANTIFEDERALISTS
Definition: Those who were against ratification, or acceptance, of the new US Constitution. Leaders: Patrick Henry, George Mason Main Belief: They feared giving too much power to a person or group who would become abusive of that power. |
The Bill of Rights
One of the many points of contention between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was the Constitution’s lack of a bill of rights that would place specific limits on government power. Federalists argued that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, because the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal government. Anti-Federalists held that a bill of rights was necessary to safeguard individual liberty. The Bill of Rights is a list of limits on government power. For example, what the Founders saw as the natural right of individuals to speak and worship freely was protected by the First Amendment’s prohibitions on Congress from making laws establishing a religion or abridging freedom of speech. For another example, the natural right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in one’s home was safeguarded by the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirements. |
Ratification Achieved
With a bill of rights added and with the support of Virginia, the nation's most powerful state, and New York, a geographically important state, all 13 states ratified or approved of the new US Constitution.
With a bill of rights added and with the support of Virginia, the nation's most powerful state, and New York, a geographically important state, all 13 states ratified or approved of the new US Constitution.