SS 8 H 4 Student will describe the

SS 8 H 4: Student will describe the impact of the events that led to the ratification of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights a. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a need to revise the Articles b. Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and the reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution

Revolutionary War comes to an end! During most of the war, Georgia was under two governments: n n Royal (British-Governor Wright) Rebel (Patriot-Governor Treutlen) June 1781: Georgia militia, under Colonel Clarke, with help from the Continental Army, took Augusta from the British Battle of Yorktown (October 1781) n The Continental Army, assisted by the French, defeated the British led by General Lord Cornwallis. The French delayed British reinforcements long enough for General Washington’s victory Spring 1782: British forces left Savannah believing they could not defeat the Americans (three years after the siege of Savannah) Treaty of Paris (September 1783) n Ended Revolutionary War…signed by Great Britain, France, and The United States

Georgia’s Constitution: 1777 Replaced the ‘Rules and Regulations’ of the Royal Colony Many philosophies: n n Some wanted a government similar to what was in place: most of the power in the hands of a few wealthy landowners and merchants Whigs: believed strongly in self-government This idea won out: n GA decided on a government based on the separation of powers and the rights of citizens to determine the way they were governed

Georgia’s Constitution: 1777 May 1777: GA adopted 1 st state constitution at a constitutional convention in Savannah n n Parish system eliminated; 8 counties formed Unicameral legislature Had very broad powers n n The ability to make appointments for the judicial branch and the executive branch Severely limited the influence and power of the governor (why? ) One year term Selected by the legislature rather than voted on by the people Ensured the actual power was in the hands of the 12 lawmakers from the legislature (executive council) n Executive council could accept or reject any proposals by the governor John Treutlen (Salzburger) n First Governor (chosen by the constitutional convention)

Articles of Confederation Founding Fathers’ first attempt at a governing document n n Intentionally created a weak national government (why? ) Emphasis on states’ rights with each state maintaining its own sovereignty, freedom, and independence: “a firm league of friendship with each other” n n n One house legislature (unicameral): Confederation Congress No chief executive; no national court system Each state had ONE vote 9 out of the 13 states had to approve any decision

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress could not pay colonial soldiers after the war Did not have the power to regulate trade between the states or between the US and foreign countries n Each state had its own money, making trade difficult among states British reoccupied some of the forts in the Northwest Territory (north of the Ohio River) n Since the US was powerless to stop them, other countries had little respect for the US

Constitutional Convention Began as a way for the large states to discuss trade issues. Met SECRETLY in Philadelphia (1787). 55 Delegates n n Every state but Rhode Island Wealthy, respected, merchants, physicians, generals, governors, lawyers… Georgia Assembly sent William Pierce, Abraham Baldwin, and William Few as delegates to the CC (only Few and Baldwin stayed until the end, signing the new US Constitution James Madison

The Virginia Plan Small State DL GA NJ RI NH SC CT Pop 59 83 184 69 142 249 238 Large State NC VA NY PA MD MA Chart is in thousands Pop 394 692 340 434 320 379 Large States Proposed by Governor Edmund Randolph (Virginia) Included the following: n n n n 3 Branches of government Checks and balances Bicameral legislature Membership based on free population of state Legislature chooses executive Make laws Set up the courts Small states felt this gave far too much power to the Larger states

The New Jersey Plan Small States Wanted to change very little about the Articles of Confederation. n Unicameral legislature Each state would have equal representation. Allow Congress to tax nation’s citizens Edmund Randolph

The Great Compromise Connecticut (Small State) Took ideas from both plans and constructed what we now know as the Constitution. n n Compromise: a way to settle disagreements in which each side gives way a little in it’s demands Abraham Baldwin’s vote for the small state position forced the convention to work out this compromise; Baldwin served on the committee to work out the Great Compromise Created a bicameral (two house) legislature: n n Senate: upper house…each state has 2 members House of Representatives: lower house…by state population Abraham Baldwin

Secondary Convention Issues 1. Slavery n Three-fifths Compromise: 3/5 of the states slave population could count towards the overall population i. e. . 5000 slaves in a state=3000 counted towards that states population n 2. The U. S. Constitution does NOT mention slavery An agreement was made that in 20 years (1807) importation of slaves would stop Fugitive Workers Clause: Runaway slaves must be returned to their masters Representation n House of Representatives: popular vote Senate: selected by the state legislature President: Electoral vote Commander-in-Chief of U. S. armed forces Responsible for relations with other countries 4 year term What made the Constitution a great document was that it allowed for changes as the country grew (Amendment Process) n Amend: to change without having to rewrite (Bill of Rights: 1 st Ten)

Why did Georgia ratify the new Constitution? Youngest state: needed a strong national government for protection n Westward expansion into land occupied by Indians caused conflict Georgia needed the strong national government to protect it from the Indian threat and to acquire land from the Indians in order to expand Ratified the Constitution on January 2, 1788 n Fourth state to ratify by a vote of 26 -0