Download Chapter 9 Creating a Nation Section 1 Forming a Union State

Chapter 9 Creating a Nation
Section 1 Forming a Union
State Constitution
Constitution: a document presenting a plan of government.
Bicameral: two houses legislature.
Colonists felt concerned about giving too mush power to a few people as a
result; they divided power between two branches:
1) Legislative branch- lawmaking branch
2) Executive branch- the branch of government that carries out the laws
made by the legislative branch.
Rights of Citizens: Although the Revolution did not win full equality for all
Americans it began to move America in that direction. It became difficult to
claim “All men are created equal” in a society that enslaved people, or did
not allow women or Native Americans the rights of free white property
owners or blacks.
Bill of Rights
Spelled out certain rights the states had to recognize and protect. These
rights included trial by jury and freedom of press.
The Articles of Confederation: a constitution drafted by Congress on
November 15, 1777.
Articles Ratified: means it has been approved.
The Articles became the first constitution of the United States. The main
author of the Articles, John Dickinson, called it a “firm league of friendship”
among the states. It established a loose alliance of states rather strong central
government. This would have the people afraid.
The Articles of Confederation made congress the lawmaking body with each
state having one vote.
Powers of Articles: declaring war, raising an army, and navy, making
treaties borrowing money, and establishing Postal system.
Weaknesses of the Articles:
1)
2)
3)
4)
No authority over individual citizens or state government.
Could make laws, but provided no measures to carry out those laws
No provision for a court system
No power to taxes.
Section 2 The Confederation Era
Settling the West
The Land Ordinance of 1785
Stated that the land would consist of 1 square mile, containing 640 acres, a
$1.00 per acre revenue of the land would help create public schools. This is
the first example of federal aid to education.
The Northwest Ordinance 1787
Stated that no less than three and no more than five territories could be
carved out of this territory. As soon as 5,000 adult white males settled in a
territory, it then can become a territory. When population reached 60,000 it
could apply for statehood.
Restrictions to become a state
1) Their government must be a republic- types of government in which
representatives are elected by its people.
2) Ensure freedom of religion and guarantee trial by jury.
3) Prohibited slavery in the territory
4) 5,000 adult makes- a territory 60,000 could apply for statehood.
Eventually five states arose from the Northwest Territory: Ohio (1803),
Indiana (1816), Illinois (1818), Michigan (1837), and Wisconsin (1848).
A Failing Economy: the new nation moved dangerously close to bankrupt.
Between 1781 and 1789 the states gave congress only about one-sixth of the
money it requested. The nation had entered an economic depression:
business activity slows down and unemployment increases.
To add to the problem, Great Britain had passed laws making it difficult for
American merchant ships to enter its ports. Great Britain also made the
British West Indies off limits and shipping industry suffered as well.
Difficult times for Farmers: Throughout the war the demand for food was
high. To keep up many farmers borrowed money from banks to buy more
land and equipment. After the war demands for farm products decreased.
Farmers grew and could not repay the money they had borrowed. The banks
began taking the farmers lands away to pay their debts.
Shays Rebellion: Government authorities began to jail or seize farmers’
property. These farmers viewed new government as just another form of
tyranny. Daniel Shay- led farmers to attack and close to courts in two
Massachusetts countries from taking farmers land away. In early 1787 Shay
led 1,000 disgruntled farmers against the Springfield arsenal. Shays
Rebellion caused great alarm, and people who believed in orderly
government became fearful. The United States did not seem to be united.
Section 3 The Constitutional Convention
Washington and other leaders though arrived in Philadelphia with one goal
in mind- to revise the Articles of Confederation. On May 24, 1787, delegates
arrived to represent 12 of the 13 states. Only Rhode Island did not send a
delegate. Its state leaders wanted nothing to do with creating a stronger
central government.
Prominent people: Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and James
Madison.
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Thomas Paine had duties in Europe and
could not attend.
James Madison: was a key person in this convention. Madison favored
writing a new constitution instead of revising the Articles of Confederation.
Madison earned the nickname “Father of the Constitution.”
The Virginia Plan: called for strong central government with three branches
of government:
1) Legislative, 2) Executive, and 3) Judicial. The Virginia plan also
called for a two house congress. In both houses legislature the number
of members would be based on population. Thus, large states would
have more representation then small ones.
Virginia Plan upset small states
New Jersey Plan: it too provided for three branches of government. But only
a single body congress. No matter how large or small, each state would have
one vote in the legislature.
The New Jersey plan upset large states.
The Great Compromise:
The word compromise- means an agreement in which each side agrees to
give up something to gain something more important.
The Great Compromise called for congress to be made up of two houses: 1)
Senate and 2) House of Representatives. Each state large or small would
have two senators. In the House of Representatives, the number of seats each
state would be based on population.
Next problem, how would slaves count for representation?
The Southern states wanted to count slaves as part of their population. By
doing this they would have more representation in congress.
A solution COMPROMISE
Three-Fifths Compromise: only three-fifths of the enslaved person in
Southern states would be counted on both representation and taxation.
Signing the Constitution: After 4 months of hard work the delegates
completed the new Constitution would go to the states, where at least 9 of
the 13 states would have to ratify it before it could become the law of the
land.
Section 4 A More Perfect Union
Ideas behind the Constitution: ideas from Europe influenced the farmers of
the Constitution. The idea of limiting power of a ruler was taken from
England’s Magna Carta of 1215. The idea of representative government
came form England.
A Stronger National Government
The division of power between the national government and the states is
called Federalism: gives the U.S. a flexible system the national government
has power to act for the country as a whole and states have the power over
many local matters.
Powers of Federal Government
Include the power to declare war, to issue money, to regulate trade with
other countries and among states and to make treaties.
Power of State Government
States have the power to regulate trade within their borders; establish local
government; to conduct local elections; and establish public schools.
Separation of powers : to keep it from becoming to powerful, the farmers
found it necessary to separate the powers into three branches. They created
three branches of government the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Legislative Branch: Lawmaking U.S. Congress. It is made up of the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
Members of the House, called representatives are elected by the people. The
number of representatives in each state is based on that states population,
serves a two year term.
Senators: each state has 2 senators who serve six year terms.
The Executive branch: carries out the laws passed by the legislature,
President and Vice President. The President is commander-in-chief of army.
The Judicial branch: interpret laws; this branch includes the Supreme Court,
the highest court in the land.
Electing the President: The Electoral College is made up of people called
electors who represent the voters in each state. The number of electors is the
same as the total number of senators and representatives in that state.
Checks and Balances: it gives each branch control over the other branches.
The President can either sign the bill or veto the bill. If it is vetoed the
congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote by both houses of
Congress.
Impeachment: two-thirds vote of House of Representatives
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Federalists: favored the constitution and the strong national government.
Anti-Federalists: were against the constitution and against strong national
government. They believed in state government.