Why did the Articles of Confederation iItentionally Create a Weak Government

America: Pathways to the Present Chapter 5 The Constitution of the United States (1776–1800) America: Pathways to the Present Chapter 5: The Constitution of the United States (1776–1800) Section 1: Government by the States Section 2: The Constitutional Convention Section 3: Ratifying the Constitution Section 4: The New Government Government by the States Chapter 5, Section 1 • Describe the early government of the United States. • What were some reasons for opposition to the Articles of Confederation? • What were the causes and effects of Shays’ Rebellion? Early Government Chapter 5, Section 1 • • • Early Americans thought of themselves an alliance of separate governments that work together. – Members of states, not a common country State governments had more power than the national government. In 1777, the Continental Congress adopted a set of laws to govern the United States. – Articles of Confederation • Approved in 1781 • the Articles established a limited national government, in which most of the power lay with the states. The Articles of Confederation Compared and contrasted to today’s national government Chapter 5, Section 1 Today’s National Government • Consists of three branches of government: – The legislative branch, or Congress, is responsible for making laws. – Power to tax – The executive branch, headed by the President, executes, or puts into action, laws passed by Congress. – The judicial branch is made up of the courts and judges who interpret and apply the laws. • Forms a national court system. The Articles of Confederation • Consisted of only one branch of government: the legislative branch, or Congress. • Congress carried out the duties of both the legislative and executive branches. • No national court system existed. • Congress could declare war and borrow money, but lacked the power to tax. Opposition to the Articles Chapter 5, Section 1 Americans generally agreed that their new nation should be a democracy, a government by the people. Specifically, they desired a republic, a government run by the people through their elected representatives. Economic Problems Huge amounts of public and private debt creating economic chaos in the new republic. Many upper-class critics of the Articles felt that this problem was due to citizens having too much power in their state legislatures. Concerns About Weak Government A group called the Nationalists felt that a weak national government could not keep order. They argued that European history had demonstrated that people were not naturally wise enough to have so much power over their own affairs. The Annapolis Convention In 1786, Nationalists held a conference in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss economic problems. Although the conference itself accomplished little, delegates agreed to call another convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Shays’ Rebellion Chapter 5, Section 1 Causes of Shays’ Rebellion • In order to help pay off its large debts, Massachusetts passed the heaviest direct tax ever. – • Tax had to be paid in specie Shays’ Rebellion – – – – A group of farmers led by Daniel Shays rebelled against these taxes Farmers drove off tax collectors Forced courts to close when their petitions were rejected. Soon, open conflict raged as angry crowds rioted. Effects of Shays’ Rebellion • Congress had no money to raise an army to counter Shays’ Rebellion. It also could not force states to pay for one. • The Massachusetts state government raised an army that quieted the rebellion. • However, Shays’ Rebellion demonstrated to many prominent Americans that a stronger national government was needed to avoid civil unrest. The Constitutional Convention Chapter 5, Section 2 • What did the Founding Fathers hope to achieve as they assembled for the Constitutional Convention? • What issues divided the convention? • What did the convention do to reach agreement? • What qualities have made the Constitution a lasting document? • How does the structure of the government under the Constitution divide power? The Convention Assembles Chapter 5, Section 2 • • • In May 1787, delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to try to fix the problems of the new United States government. Constitutional Convention – Produced the United States Constitution • Document that has governed the United States for over 200 years. One particularly influential delegate at the Constitutional Convention was James Madison of Virginia – He took detailed notes that would later become the best record of the proceedings. • For his role, he became known as “the father of the Constitution.” Divisions at the Convention Chapter 5, Section 2 The convention in Philadelphia had been empowered only to amend, or revise, the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them. However, two plans for a new national government emerged at the convention. The Virginia Plan • Proposed a bicameral, or twohouse, national legislature • Each state would send representatives in proportion to the number of its citizens. • The new legislature would have: – – – – the power to tax the right to regulate foreign and interstate commerce to veto, or prohibit from becoming law, any act of a state legislature to use force against a state, should that state defy national authority. The New Jersey Plan • Proposed a unicameral, or onehouse, national legislature, and the creation of executive and judicial branches • Each state would send the same number of representatives to the legislature. • The new legislature would have the right to tax and to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. Reaching Agreements Chapter 5, Section 2 • • • Great Compromise – Delegates agreed to create a legislative branch made up of two houses. • One house, the Senate, would have the same number of representatives from each state. • In the other house, the House of Representatives, representation would be based on state population. Three-Fifths Compromise – Three fifths of a state’s slave population would be counted when determining representation. After further debate, the convention approved the final draft of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. The strengths of the Constitution have helped it endure for more than 200 years. Government Structure Chapter 5, Section 2 Federal and State Powers • The Constitution created a federal system of government, in which power is shared among state and national authorities and divided into three categories: – Some powers are reserved for the states only. – Others are delegated to the federal government only. – Still others, called concurrent powers, are held by both the federal government and state governments. Separation of Federal Powers • Within the federal government, a separation of powers was created to prevent any one of the three branches of government from acquiring too much power. • Each branch has its own area of authority, but no one branch has complete power over the government. • The Constitution also set up a system of checks and balances, in which each branch has the power to check, or stop, the other branches in certain ways. This system prevents the misuse of power by any one branch. Congress, the President, and the Federal Courts Chapter 5, Section 2 Congress • “Makes the law” • Each of the two houses of Congress was granted different powers. • Each was also designed with different methods of election and different term lengths – – House more receptive to public opinion Senate more stable. The President • “Carries out the law” • The President would be chosen by a group of electors from each state. • The candidate with the majority of votes in the electoral college would become President. • The President was granted enormous powers, including the power to veto acts of Congress and to appoint judges for the federal courts. The Federal Courts • “Interpret the law” • The Constitution calls for one Supreme Court and several lesser courts • The details of the federal court system were intentionally left vague. • Supreme Court justices would be appointed for life by the President with the consent of the Senate. Ratifying the Constitution Chapter 5, Section 3 • How did the position of the Federalists differ from that of the anti-Federalists? • Why did the Federalists win approval of the Constitution? • What were the arguments for and against a Bill of Rights? The Federalist View Chapter 5, Section 3 • • • For the Constitution to become law, 9 out of the 13 states had to ratify it. – Special conventions called in each state would decide whether or not to ratify the Constitution. Those who favored the Constitution were called Federalists. – The Federalists included many Nationalists • George Washington • James Madison, • Alexander Hamilton To make their case for the Constitution, the Federalists wrote a series of 85 essays, collectively known as The Federalist. – One issue addressed in these essays was that one powerful faction, or group concerned only with its own interests, could not control the government under the Constitution. The Anti-Federalist View Chapter 5, Section 3 • • • • Those who opposed the Constitution were called anti-Federalists. – Believed that the Federalists’ plan threatened state governments and the rights of individuals. Anti-Federalists included: – older revolutionary figures such as Patrick Henry – people in isolated areas who had less need for a strong national government – Former Nationalists who wanted a national government but were unhappy with the Constitution. According to the anti-Federalists, a President would be too similar to a king and also objected to the proposed federal court system. While the Federalists feared the people more than government, the anti-Federalists feared government more than the people. Why the Federalists Won Chapter 5, Section 3 The Federalists had several advantages over the anti-Federalists. These included: (1) The Federalists drew on the widespread feeling that the Articles of Confederation had serious flaws. (2) The Federalists were a united, wellorganized national group, while the antiFederalists tended to consist of local politicians who did not coordinate their activities on a national level. (3) The Federalists had an actual document and plan which they could defend. The antiFederalists had no constructive plan of their own to offer. (4) The Federalists had the support of George Washington, a respected Revolutionary War hero. Delaware, New Jersey, and Connecticut quickly ratified the Constitution. In June 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution. For and Against the Bill of Rights Chapter 5, Section 3 For the Bill of Rights • Many Americans believed that the national Constitution, like most state constitutions, should include a clear declaration of the rights of the people. • In September 1789, Congress proposed twelve constitutional amendments, largely drafted by James Madison and designed to protect citizens’ rights. • Ten of these amendments were ratified by the states. These ten amendments became known as the Bill of Rights. Against the Bill of Rights • Most Federalists saw no need for these amendments. • These Federalists claimed that under the Constitution, the people and the government were the same. Therefore, the people needed no additional statements to protect their rights. The Bill of Rights Chapter 5, Section 3 The New Government Chapter 5, Section 4 • Who were the new leaders selected by President Washington? • What challenges did Washington’s government face? • What details were involved in planning the capital city? The New Leaders Chapter 5, Section 4 • On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States – Leading Federalist John Adams of Massachusetts became Vice President. – Washington also selected a Cabinet, a group of federal leaders who both advise the President and head national agencies. • Edmund Randolph of Virginia to the post of Attorney General • Henry Knox as Secretary of War. • Thomas Jefferson was named Secretary of State • Alexander Hamilton became Secretary of the Treasury. Jefferson and Hamilton Chapter 5, Section 4 Secretary of State Jefferson • Served several years as ambassador to France • Returned to the United States in 1789. – • In addition to politics, he was a – – – – • He quickly became involved again in domestic affairs planter writer inventor His interest in architecture led him to build several homes, including his most famous, Monticello. Jefferson was not a strict Federalist and later became one of Washington’s harshest critics. Treasury Secretary Hamilton • Alexander Hamilton was chosen to head the government’s largest department, the Department of the Treasury. • Hamilton had been an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolution, where he had carried out important military missions. • In contrast to Jefferson, Hamilton believed that governmental power, properly used, could accomplish great things. Washington’s Government Chapter 5, Section 4 • Washington knew that during his first administration he and his officials were establishing precedents for how to govern. • Worked to establish a tone of dignity in his administration. • The President held regular receptions for government officials • Escorted by soldiers when he traveled. – felt that pomp was necessary to command respect, – others viewed as reminiscent of a king and his court. • In 1792, Washington won unanimous reelection. His second term, however, became marked by criticism and controversy. Planning a Capital City Chapter 5, Section 4 The Need for a Capital City • During Washington’s first year in office, the government resided in New York City. • In 1790, the capital was moved to Philadelphia while a new capital could be planned and built. • The Residence Act of 1790 specified a 10-square-mile stretch of land on the border between Maryland and Virginia for the new capital. This area, to be called the District of Columbia, would be governed by federal authorities, not by either state. Planning the District of Columbia • French architect Pierre-Charles L’Enfant developed the city plan. – • The District of Columbia, later renamed Washington, District of Columbia – • • African American mathematician Benjamin Banneker helped survey the city Suppose to mimic European cities The federal government moved there in 1800. Washington, D.C., remains the most visible legacy of the Federalists’ belief in the power and dignity of the new government.