Articles of Confederation and The Constitution Influences

Articles of Confederation and The Constitution

Influences – Magna Carta (1215) • King had to follow rules like everybody else. – English Bill of Rights (1689) • King/Queen had to get Parliament’s approval before passing any laws or taxes • Gave people more voice on government

Influences Continued… – Enlightenment » Use of Reason » Belief in Human goodness » John Locke-Social Contract between the government and people » Government’s duty to protect inalienable rights

Influences Continued… – Early American Documents • Mayflower Compact (Selfgovernment • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut-1 st state constitution • VA Statute for Religious Freedom (Jefferson 1786)

Articles of Confederation • Articles of Confederation-America’s 1 st Constitution (plan of government) – 1776 -2 nd Continental Congress begins work on a plan of government • National government=republic-a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives • States would join together in a Confederation-loose Union • States would have more power than National government

Division of Power • States had power to tax, enforce laws • Power of Central government: wage war, make peace (foreign relations), regulate Indian affairs, coin and borrow money • Unicameral Congress- each state had only 1 vote • Executive Branch=3 person Committee chosen by Congress-very limited power

Ratification (ratify=to approve) • • All 13 states needed to ratify A of C before it took effect Written and approved by Second Continental Congress in 1777 -all but one state had ratified it by 1779 Maryland-last state because of concern over western land claims – Landlocked- could not expand like NC, GA, VA – Worried larger states would have more power Ratified in 1781 (March)

The Northwest Territory – – The Land Ordinance of 1785 • Law that established a procedure for surveying and selling western lands north of the Ohio River • Used by land speculators to accumulate land The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Created NW territory to be divided into 3 to 5 smaller territories (IL, IN, OH, WI, MI) • When smaller territories reached 60, 000 could apply for statehood • Included Bill of Rights for settlers guaranteeing freedom of religion, public education, and trial by jury

Problems Under Articles of Confederation – Financial Problems • • • Money depreciated (lost value)-inflation High prices that led to food riots War left high debt-asked states for money -states only contributed 1/6 of needed money Department of Finance-led by Robert Morris, proposed: 5% tax on imported goods Rhode Island opposed it-not passed

Trade • John Adams to London to discuss problems with Britain-slow leaving US, closed their ports to US ships, imposed high tariffs on American products • John Jay-Secretary of Foreign Affairs • Spain-Question of trade in Miss. River and GA/FL border

Shay’s Rebellion-1786 -1787 • Mass. Farmers viewed national government as another form of tyranny • Daniel Shays and angry farmers forced courts to close so judges could not take farmers land b/c they couldn’t pay taxes or debts • January 1787 -Shays and men marched toward arsenal in Springfield Mass: met state militia • Four people killed, uprising ended • Question over government control of unrest and violence

Slavery • 1776 -1786 -11 states (all except SC and GA) outlawed or heavily taxed importing slaves • Quakers-1 st anti-slavery society • 1783 -1804 -slavery abolished by Mass, NH, CT, RI, NY, and NJ • Issue-whether people could have slaves; whose decision-state or national

The Constitution • – – Philadelphia Convention May 1787 -55 men (no RI) Purpose-to revise the Articles of Confederation and to discuss trade issues Plan-To give government increased powers and authority to solve nation’s problems Decision-a new plan of government had to be created

Virginia Plan • Written by James Madison (Father of the Constitution)-proposed by Edmond Randolph – Branches • Executive-carry out laws • Legislative-make the laws • Judicial-see justice was done under the laws; interpret

Checks and Balances • system of Checks and Balances among the 3 branches • Purpose-So no one branch would be able to control the entire government

Congress – – Division Lower House-House of Representativeselected By the People; based on population Upper House-Senate-elected by the lower house Conflicts the larger a state’s population, the more representatives it would have Fear that larger states would control legislative; unfair to smaller to states

New Jersey Plan – Legislature-one house, each state send same number of representatives (equal representation) – Who proposed? Smaller States. William Patterson of NJ – How elected? Representatives elected by state legislatures

The Great Compromise – Two House Legislature (Bicameral) • Lower House-House of Representatives-# of Representatives based on population-elected by people (VA plan) – Upper House-Senate-Equal representatives (2) chosen by state lawmakers (NJ plan)

3/5 Compromise – Plan-5 slaves=3 People for purpose of representatives and taxation – Who benefited? Southern States – How did they benefit? More rep. In Congress; greater voice in selection of President: # of Rep. = # of electoral votes (House + Senate)

Role of President – Commander-n-chief of armed forces-responsible for relations w/ other countries – Power to appoint judges and other federal officials (Supreme Court and Cabinet) – Veto Laws

North Carolina’s Role – – Williamson’s Contributions Impeachment 2/3 Majority to override a presidential veto

Trade Compromise – Issue: National government should control trade between states • North wanted Congress to control • South wanted each state to set own rules – Compromise: Congress power to control trade with other countries and could tax imports but not exports – Slave trade: wanted to abolish slave trade but had to compromise: Said Congress could abolish Slave Trade in 20 years and they did

Ratification • Federalists-Supporters of the Constitution – The Confederation was too weak – The Constitution would balance state and national power-federal system – State Constitutions would protect individual rights

• Federalists Papers – Essays written to gain support for Constitution – Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

• Anti-federalists-opposed the Constitution – – – Made the national government too strong The Constitution would weaken the states A National Bill of Rights was needed to protect individual rights

• – – Ratification The Constitution needed 9 statesthat would equal 2/3 Delaware-1 st state to ratify Rhode Island last state Some states would not ratify until they received a Bill of Rights

• Bill of Rights – 1 st 10 amendments – Inspired by VA Declaration of Rights and Declaration of Independence