Download Powers of the National Government

A GOVERNMENT IS FORMED
1783-1791
To Be Free,
One Must Be Chained
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What are your duties & responsibilities as a citizen of the United States?
What is the role you play in government?
What makes a perfect society?
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Powers of the National Government
To declare war and make peace.
To coin and borrow money.
To deal with foreign countries and sign treaties.
To operate post offices.
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Weaknesses of the Confederation
The national government could not force the states to obey its laws.
It did not have the power to tax.
Congress lacked strong and steady leadership.
Weaknesses
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There was no national army or navy.
There was no national system of courts.
Each state could issue its own money.
Each state could put tariffs on trade between states.
A New Nation Faces Problems
Land Ownership Problems
 Pioneers ignored the fact that the land belonged to the American Indians.
Trading Problems
 Great Britain closed its ports to American shippers.
Problems with the Spanish
 Spain would not allow Americans to ship goods from New Orleans.
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Problems with Congress
Each state had only one vote.
Congress had no power to tax imports.
Each state was printing its own money.
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade among the states.
No national courts existed, only state courts.
Demand for Change
Business Owners, Merchants, Shippers, Manufacturers, and Bankers
government.
wanted a stronger
Annapolis Convention of 1786
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Proposed by James Madison.
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Only five states sent delegates.
James Madison
Shays’ Rebellion
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Proved the need for a strong central government.
Farmers were upset by low farm prices and high state taxes.
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In 1786, The American economy was in trouble. Many people could not pay their debts.
Farmers in Massachusetts started an armed rebellion against the state. Their leader was
Daniel Shays, a Revolutionary War Captain. He asked the Massachusetts government to
ease up on debtors. When it did not, his troops conducted raids all over the state.
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Since there was no national army, the Massachusetts state government had to put down
the rebellion alone. Shays’ Rebellion showed the leaders of the new states that they
needed a stronger national government than was provided by the Articles of
Confederation.
Demand for Change
Constitutional Convention
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Respected delegates from all states except Rhode Island met in May 1787.
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George Washington was chosen to lead the convention.
Need for a New Start
The Purpose of the Convention
 Delegates needed to develop a completely different system of government
The Virginia Plan
 Called for representation based on population
The New Jersey Plan
 Each State was to have an equal vote in the government for more control
Debates
The key issue was how much power the central government and the states should have
The Great Compromise
The Compromise Committee
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Proposed a legislative branch made up of two houses
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Delegates accepted the plan on July 16, 1787
Other Compromises
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The Three-Fifths Compromise permitted three out of every five slaves to be included
in the population and taxation count
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Congress could not affect the slave market until 1808
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Congress would regulate trade between states and foreign countries
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The central government would print money
Executive Branch
 Would enforce laws
Judicial Branch
 Would interpret laws
Legislative Branch
 Would make laws
A Federal Government
 Is divided between central and state governments
The Northwest Ordinance
 Stated that land east of the Mississippi and north of Ohio would become three to five new
states
The Constitution
 Was signed by the delegates on September 17, 1787
State Conventions Are Organized
The Constitution
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Needed to be accepted by nine of the thirteen states
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Anti-Federalist thought the Constitution did not provide protection of personal
freedoms
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Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay explained what the Constitution
really meant
-- The Federalist Papers
State Conventions Are Organized
Ratification of the Constitution
 Delaware was the first state to ratify in 1787
 Rhode Island was the last state to ratify on May 29, 1790
A New Government
 George Washington was elected President in April of 1789
 John Adams was elected Vice President
Bill of Rights
 Was added to the Constitution to provide for personal freedoms
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John Adams
The Bill of Rights
Even though the Constitution was ratified, many people feared the central government
would have too much power. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution after
opponents of the Constitution convinced the nation that a strong central government
without safeguards for the people was a danger to liberty.
The Bill of Rights consists of ten amendments, or additions, to the Constitution. It
guarantees basic liberties, such as freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion. It was
ratified in 1791, three years after the Constitution went into effect.
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Connections
How many amendments have been added to the Constitution?
What are the first ten amendments called?
What five freedoms does the First Amendment guarantee?
What does the Second Amendment guarantee?
What does the Third Amendment prohibit?
If First Amendment guarantees us freedom of speech do you think it’s okay to scream
“Fire!” in a crowded theater when there is no fire? Why or why not?
What is a search warrant?