Articles and the Convention Notes will be number

Articles and the Convention Notes will be number 4 in T. O. C. -AOC Notes https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=fbf 23 u 6 g 1 k 8 https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=EFIkx. Qd. Z MZ 0

The Articles of Confederation • Before the U. S. Constitution that you know of today, there was another Constitution. The Articles of Confederation (or the AOC) was America’s FIRST Constitution lasting from 1776 -1789. The AOCs purposefully created a weak central government. However, such a decision would prove to be very flawed through America’s infant years. Why did the Founding Fathers create such a weak federal government? The majority of people wanted to ensure the new government was very different from the government of Great Britain. During the 1700 s, Great Britain’s monarch (King George III) still had considerable influence over Parliament, which itself was dominated by the patronage and influence of the English nobility (AKA: THE WEALTHY). America’s new government sought to limit the power of one person and put more power in more people’s hands. They thought Britain’s autocratic King had too much power and was the cause of much discontent in the colonies.

What were the problems with the Articles of the Confederation? Strengths Weaknesses 1. The national government could not force the states to obey its laws. 2. Congress did not have the power to tax. 3. Congress lacked strong and steady leadership. (No executive branch – could not enforce laws) 4. There was no national army or navy. 5. There was no system of national courts. (No judicial branch) 6. Each state could issue its own paper money. 7. Could not regulate trade between the states. Each state could put tariffs on trade between states. 8. All 13 states had to approve a law for it to MAIN PROBLEMpass! THE AOC? WITH 1. The Central Government could declare war and make peace. 2. The Central Government could decide the value of and borrow money (at the national level). 3. The Central Government dealt with foreign countries and sign treaties 4. The Central Government could operate ALL post offices. 5. The central Government could send and recall ambassadors. Gave too much power to the states (LOCAL) and not enough power to the national (CENTRAL) government.

Government Under The Articles of Confederation • The new government contained only one branch- unicameral legislature with no power to enforce laws or settle disputes • It was thus a weak national government with most of the governmental powers retained by the states. • There was not an executive or judicial branch. • Members elected to Congress did not vote as individuals, but as states. • Congress could not levy taxes but could only request/ask funds from the states to run the government. LEVY: an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force

Quick Check 1. 2. The first written plan for the government of the United States was called _____ Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no a) Governor b) Judicial branch c) Equality among the states d) Legislature or court system 3. Which of the following is NOT a strength of the AOC? a) Central/ National government could declare war b) Central government could operate all post offices c) Each state could issue its own money d) National government could sign treaties

So what’s going on in the country? 1786 The young United States is in trouble. • Continual threat of attack from European powers and Native Americans – NO NAVY/ARMY • States were constantly bickering, some almost escalated to violence – TRADE & TARIFFS • National government could not raise tax revenue, therefore could not support a military presence or build roads or canals b/w states • Laws could rarely be passed because ALL 13 states had to agree!

Case Study of the Weaknesses of the Government: Shay’s Rebellion § Massachusetts farmers blamed state taxes on their financial problems § Daniel Shays led a revolt against the state government, trying to capture arms at the state militia arsenal § Neither the states nor the Confederation government had the power to stop the rebellion. § Only a private army was able to stop the revolt under the command of Benjamin Lincoln and with the leadership of George Washington How could a country exist if it could not keep law and order? http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=h. CBa. TV_s. Kv. M

Time for change to occur… http: //www. gpb. org/georgiastories/ georgia_and_the_united_states_constitutio n • The Constitutional Convention of May 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where delegates from 12 of the 13 states were present. • The state of Rhode Island refused to send a delegate because it was afraid of losing its states' rights. • The delegates worked for 4 months behind closed doors of the State House (Independence Hall) to draft a new document known later as the "Constitution. " http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=tw 5 Q Pncdk. TM

Philly Convention • These delegates were selected by their states. They were educated, patriotic, and experienced men, ranging from the ages of 40 to 81. • Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Some men were landowners and some were lawyers or judges. • James Madison – FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION • All delegates held at least one public office. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers. "

Founding Fathers 1. The writers of our Constitution wanted to make sure that the new nation and its citizens would be free and independent. 2. They wanted to make sure that the government of the United States would protect the people from a government that was too powerful and from the autocratic rule of kings. 3. They didn't want the wishes of the people to be denied by any part of government or by the power of any single leader. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=013 aa 1 q 6 Qg. M

George Washington • George Washington had won the respect of his countrymen as commander of the Continental Army. Washington's fellow delegates elected him president of the Constitutional Convention because they held him in high esteem. • Later he will be elected at the first president of the United States of America.

Rules of the Convention • Before the Constitutional Convention began, a rules committee decided how the process would work. • No matter how many delegates a state sent, each state was given only one vote. If a state sent more than one delegate, all delegates had to come to an agreement about their state's one vote. • Any delegate could voice an opinion. • All proceedings would be kept secret until the Constitutional Convention presented a finished Constitution.

Quick Check 1. Name one event that proved the Articles of Confederation were too weak 2. The group that attended the Philadelphia convention is known as the _____

Georgia’s Role at the Constitutional Convention William Pierce • • • Talented officer in the Revolutionary War While he attended all the convention and agreed with the end result, he never did sign the constitution However, he created invaluable "Character Sketches, " which provides a contemporary narrative on the personalities of the convention members. Because of Pierce, the knowledge of the founding fathers we have to day exists!

Georgia’s Role at the Constitutional Convention Abraham Baldwin Founder of UGA Baldwin changed his vote on small-state representation to the national Senate. he was instrumental in bringing about the compromise that established representation in each house of Congress—equal representation in the Senate and apportionment based on population in the House of Representatives. Baldwin himself considered his role in the so-called Great Compromise of the constitutional convention to be his greatest public service. http: //www. gpb. org/georgiastories/st ories/abraham_baldwin William Few In 1786 Few was appointed to Congress by the state legislature; the next year he represented Georgia in the constitutional convention in Philadelphia that drafted the U. S. Constitution. His signature is on that document, along with that of Abraham Baldwin. He later served four years as a U. S. senator, one term as a state representative, and three years as judge of the Second Judicial District in Georgia

Georgia’s Influence at the Convention 1. Representation in National Legislature William Houstoun voted for large state representation (Virginia Plan) Abraham Baldwin voted for small state position (New Jersey Plan) – – • Baldwin’s vote forced THE GREAT COMPROMISE & served on committee to work our compromise 2. Ratified Constitution because: – – Needed strong national government to protect GA from Indians Slavery – 3/5’s Compromise

Virginia Plan • The larger states favored the Virginia Plan. According to the Virginia Plan, each state would have a different number of representatives based on the state's population.

New Jersey Plan • The smaller states favored the New Jersey Plan. According to the New Jersey Plan, the number of representatives would be the same for each state.

The Great Compromise 1. The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. This would satisfy the states with smaller populations. 2. The House of Representatives would include one representative for each 30, 000 individuals in a state. The Great Compromise led to the bicameral legislature that we know today! Small States are still not happy until…

Three-Fifths Compromise • Smaller states were still not happy until the 3/5 ths compromise was formed. • The 3/5 ths compromise allowed slave states to only count each slave as 3/5 ths of a person to lower population in slave states.

Bill of Rights • Some delegates, however, would not approve the Constitution when it was sent to the states for ratification until it included a bill of rights listing the individual rights of every citizen. • So, the Convention promised a bill of rights would be attached to the final version. Several amendments were immediately considered when the first Congress met in 1789. • Twelve amendments, written by James Madison, were presented to the states for final approval. • Only ten were approved. Those ten make up the Bill of Rights. They are also the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

3 Branches of Government: SEPARATION OF POWER • To avoid the risk of dictatorship or tyranny, the group divided the new government into three parts, or branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=q 0 MTEm 2 a 7 PA&feature=related

Quick Check 1. Who were the two Georgia delegates that attended the Constitutional Convention? 1. 2. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the Great Compromise was introduced in order to a) b) c) d) 3. Which one was responsible for the creation of the Great Compromise and why? end the debate over slavery. separate Virginia and West Virginia. maintain peace between England America. give equal representation to both large and small states. The ten amendments written by James Madison and approved by the states are known as the _____ __ ______.