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No bellwork today! • With reference to origin, purpose and content evaluate the value and limitations of the Declaration of Independence. • You will be divided into three groups. In your group, you must prepare a brief explanation of one of the following: – Origin, value of origin, limitation of origin – Purpose, value of purpose, limitation of purpose – Content, value of content, limitation of content The American Government Problems POST revolution • Uneven distribution of wealth and power! – The rich were getting richer; the poor were getting poorer (By 1770 – top 1% owned 44% of land) – Only 8% of the population could vote • Most state constitutions ignored women, slaves, farmers, and the poor – The top 10% owned 1/7 of the countries people as slaves (Washington had 216 slaves) • State power > National government (Articles of Confederation failed) Wealth distribution in Colonial America City Growth in Colonial America The Articles of Confederation • Articles of Confederation: Document setting up government for the U.S.; originally written in the Second Continental Congress • Signed November 1777 • State power > national government Problems with the Articles of Confederation • States operated separately – Each state had one vote (population???) – Difficult to make decisions (needed 2/3 majority) – Only states had power to tax (not federal government) • Only one government body……no judiciary or president • Congressional powers were limited – Debt! • No unified military or leader The Constitution • States dramatically raised taxes which caused massive rebellions, but Congress could not do anything about it. • Convinced of the urgent need for reform, states sent delegates to The Constitutional Convention. The Constitution • At the Constitutional Convention, delegates produced The United States Constitution, which has governed the U.S. for more than 200 years! • Signed September 17, 1787 • George Washington was elected as the first president. “Our goal is to create a new government instead of fixing the existing one” - James Madison BELLWORK 1. List two social problems in post-revolution America. 2. List two reasons why the Articles of Confederation failed. 3. How did the political views of Jefferson and Hamilton differ? 4. THINKER: Brainstorm a list of rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens in the Bill of Rights. Role of Founding Fathers Post-Revolution Thomas Jefferson • Virginia delegate • Advocated a Committee of the States (work together as one to make decisions; each had one vote) • A large government could become corrupt – give people rights! • Ohio territory should be divided into 5 states Alexander Hamilton • NY Representative • Frustrated with decentralized power – Strengthen national gov! • Congress should have the power to raise taxes and demand money from the states • Established the nation’s financial system – Bank of the U.S. – Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin Franklin • Delegate from Philadelphia • Helped establish a postal system • First Postmaster General of the United States • Strong supporter of freedom of speech, religion and press • Integrate blacks into society James Madison • Virginia representative • Slaves, as property, would be protected by their masters • Nothing prevented “excessive democracy” • Father of the Bill of Rights (originally 20) Government Structure under the Constitution • Federal System of Powers: power is shared among state and national authorities (EX: education systems are reserved for the states, while only the national government can declare war.) • Separation of Powers: 3 branches – Legislative: the Senate (100 – 6 yrs) and the House of Representatives (435 – 2 yrs) – Judicial: 9 Supreme Court justices; life terms – Executive: President; 4 year terms (2 limit) • Checks and Balances: each branch has the power to check each other; stops one from becoming too powerful The Constitution also establishes the order of succession for the presidency During the creation of the Constitution, two political parties emerged…… Federalists • supported the Constitution and a strong national government • George Washington • Alexander Hamilton • Benjamin Franklin • James Madison Anti-Federalists • opposed the Constitution, and wanted individual rights and state/local control • “commoners,” farmers, middle class • Thomas Jefferson • Samuel Adams • James Monroe The Bill of Rights • In 1791, ten amendments were added to the Constitution; these are known as The Bill of Rights. • Amendment: An addition or alteration made to the Constitution. • There are a total of 27 amendments today. • • • • • • • • • Bill of Rights 1: speech, press, assembly, religion, petition 2: right to bare arms 3: no quartering troops 4: searches & seizures 5: private property, double jeopardy, self-incrimination 6: speedy/public trial, witnesses, lawyer 7: guarantees jury trial in federal cases 8: no cruel or unusual punishment 9: individual rights to the people; cannot be abused by government • 10: powers not in the Constitution are reserved for the states Crash Course American History • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsC cbD8 Homework • This week we will focus on Westward Expansion, slavery, and the causes of the Civil War. • For homework (due Thursday) you will read chapter 7 from A People’s History of the United States and create outline notes. • Use Zinn ch. 1 worksheet as guidelines; needs to be summarized!