Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Objective: Understand the basic structure of the 1st National Government of the United States Continental Congress had the task of of establishing a System of Government which would meet the needs of a People and serve the states as a whole. During the war each state governed itself independently of each other. Under the Articles of Confederation a unicameral (one House) legislative branch or lawmaking body was established. 1. Representation: should representation in the legislative branch be based on population, or should each state receive equal representation regardless of size? Large States- favored representation based on population. Because they represented more people they should have a greater say on issues. Small States- felt their opinions were as valid as the large States and wanted equal representation. Outcome: Representation would be based on equality, giving 1 vote to each state regardless of size. 2. Supreme or Sovereign Power: can supreme power be Divided? If so where should the majority of power be held, at the State or National level? Can a National Government be effective without supreme power. Many delegates feared a strong National government, States wanted to control laws that would suit each state best. Result: power was divided between State and National Governments, with supreme power belonging to the States. This created a weak National Government with 13 Independent States as opposed to 13 United States. 3. Western land claims: who has the right to land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi river? Half the States had land claims while the other half did not. Some States would benefit (raw materials, population growth, revenue). Most difficult issue to solve, the states without land claims refused to adopt the Articles of Confederation unless a Compromise was reached. Thomas Jefferson suggested that the western lands be given to the National Government and eventually new States created Result: both sides agreed to the compromise and the Articles of Confederation went into effect in March of 1781. Because of the fears of a strong National Government we failed to give it the power needed to operate effectively. Congress could not impose taxes Congress could not regulate trade Nine of 13 states needed to agree to pass laws All states had to agree to amend the Articles No executive branch to enforce laws passed by Congress No judicial branch to interpret laws passed by Congress Settled western lands north of the Ohio river and east of the Mississippi river. Established 5 new states (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana) 1. Britain refuses to leave: According to the Treaty of Paris of 1783 Britain was to vacate U.S. lands Britain wanted to maintain control of the valuable lands around the Great Lakes (fur trade, resources) Closed ports to American merchants to discourage Americas growth. Lack of a strong National Government made it difficult To impose a boycott against British goods. 2. Spain causes problems: Refused to recognize U.S. land rights west of the Appalachian Mountains (made treaties with Indians, Set up forts, refused use of port of New Orleans. Kept Americans west of the Appalachian Mountains from conducting trade (to expensive to transport goods) 3. Shay’s Rebellion: During the war large debts were incurred, wealthy landowners who lent money needed to be repaid. Increase taxes to generate revenue, caused inflation (cheap money) Increased taxes sent many poor farmers into debt, forced to Sell their land and animals Conflicts occur in Massachusetts in 1786 between state Militia and poor farmers. Showed insensitivity of Government to the plight of farmers Farmers gained national recognition, Government feared a New revolution of the poor. “What a triumph for our enemies to find that we are incapable of Governing ourselves” George Washington May – September 1787 55 delegates meet in Philadelphia to discuss the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and what changes can be made to strengthen the National Government. George Washington would serve as President of the meetings Delegate realized that the Articles of Confederation were hopeless and that they needed to form a new Government Proposed by Edmund Randolph to congress on May 29 1787 Plan written by James Madison (father of the Constitution) Bicameral legislature (2 House) representation in both houses based on population. 3 branches of Government- Executive, Legislative, Judicial Checks and Balances- divided power so that no one branch receives too much power Smaller states complained that they would lose power and influence because representation in both houses was based on population (favored the large states) Introduced by William Patterson, counter proposal to the Virginia plan. Attempt to strengthen the National Government by granting new powers (regulate trade, tax, supreme power) 3 branches of Government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) Unicameral Legislature (1 House) 1 vote per state regardless of size (favored the small states Roger Sherman, helped settle the conflict over representation by creating a bicameral (2 house) legislature. 1) House of Representatives – each states representation would be based on population (favors larger states) 2) Senate – 2 representatives per state regardless of size (favors the smaller states) Settles conflict whether slaves would be counted as people For representation purposes. South wanted the best of both world 1) Representation – slaves are valuable people 2) Rights/Freedoms – slaves are property Compromise would count slaves as 3/5’s of a person Congress would be given the power to regulate trade. Couldn’t ban slave trade until 1808. Delegated powers– powers granted to the National Government Reserve Powers- powers kept by the State Governments Separates delegated powers among 3 branches of Government To prevent one branch from having to much power. Executive– President (commander in chief, veto, enforces laws) Legislative– Congress ( laws, declare war, elastic clause) Judicial- Supreme Court (law of the land) Monday September 17, 1787 39 delegates signed the constitution and sent it to the people for ratification. A 10 month struggle would ensue before the Constitution would be ratified. Federalists – Supporters of the Constitution. (James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Dickinson) Mostly educated, wealthy, urban elite. Antifederalists – opponents of the Constitution. (Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee) Mostly rural farmers and planters. Distrusted a strong National Government, feared tyranny, thought new government favored educated, and wealthy over ordinary people. Federalists papers – 85 essays on government written under the pen name Publius. (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were the authors). Goal was to persuade delegates to ratify the constitution by explaining the advantages it would bring. Robert Yates – “Brutus” wrote a number of anti Constitution essays Constitution ratified – for the new government to be approved 9 of the 13 states would have to ratify it. By July 1788 11 States had ratified the Constitution, Rhode Island and North Carolina wouldn’t join the union until the new Government was already at work. The biggest concern of the antifederalists was the addition of a Bill of Rights. Because they distrusted government they wanted to spell out some basic rights to make sure those Rights were protected. Bill of Rights listed freedoms that no government, state or federal could deny. First ten amendments to the Constitution, approved in 1791