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Wednesday, December 3rd

AgendaDo Now Homework DiscussionNotes on the Articles of Confederation Constitution

Homework

Homework CheckHomework Check1. What was the purpose of the articles of confederation?

To create a limited national government and a set of laws to govern the U.S., and to leave most of the political power with the states.

2. What are the responsibilities of each of the 3 branches?Legislative: makes the lawsExecutive: puts the laws passed by Congress into action; Judicial: interprets and applies the laws.

3. What are some provisions of the PA state constitution?White male suffrage was granted regardless of wealth; unicameral (one house) state legislature; representatives in PA’s legislature had to run for election every year

4. Democracy: a government by the peopleRepublic: government run by the people through their elected representatives

5. Why did MA require taxes to be paid in “Specie”?Compared to paper money, specie was far more scarce and therefore more valuable.

Review: Early Government

• Very few wanted a strong national government• Most viewed 13 states as more important than nation as

a whole (Anti-Federalists)• A balancing act

So what is a Constitution

DEFINITION:

A plan of government that describes the different parts, divisions of power and responsibilities.

Abandoning the Articles

• Democracy?– Government by the people

• Republic?– Government run by the people through

their elected representatives

Economic Issues

• A brand new nation, a new national debt

• The wealthy did not like “ordinary citizens” to have too much power– Does this problem continue to exist today?

A Government that is too weak is as dangerous as one which is too

strong… Federalists, or Nationalists, wanted to

strengthen the national government

• This group included military officers, members of congress, merchants, planters, lawyers

• Famous faces: George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, etc.

Shays’ Rebellion

• Massachusetts initiated a tax and demanded it be paid in specie – Gold and silver instead of paper money

• Daniel Shays was already in debt– Felt entitled to more respect, became the leader of a

rebellion against the government– shut down the courts that were sending them to

debtors prison on behalf of big Boston banks

Shays’ Rebellion

The Constitutional Convention

• 1786– Failed meeting in Annapolis, MD

• 1787– Met again in Philadelphia– 55 delegates– All states but RI– Youngest signer: 26 Jonathan Dayton of NJ– Oldest signer: 81 Benjamin Franklin

Father of the ConstitutionJames Madison

• 36 years old, VA• shy, uncomfortable speaker• student of government,

history, philosophy

• Idealistic, he believed that constitutions could establish political institutions that encourage the best people while restraining the worst.

Disagreement over Articles:

AMEND THEM?Why?

REPLACE THEM?Why?

Delegates decide to replace the Articles with a new

Constitution

• The VIRGINIA PLAN– Created a bi-cameral government– Representation by each state’s population OR

by the financial support each state gives to the central gov’t

– Elected by popular vote for lower house; state legislators nominate representatives

Delegates decide to replace the Articles with a new

Constitution

• The NEW JERSEY PLAN– Unicameral– Equal representation for each state– Elected by state legislatures

Reaching AgreementsTHE GREAT COMPROMISE

• Roger Sherman &Oliver Ellsworth

• Created legislative branch made up of two houses (VA Plan)– Senate: 2 reps per state– House of Representatives:

relative to population

THE 3/5TH COMPROMISE

• Should slaves count as part of the state’s population?

• 3/5th of a state’s slaves would be counted for representation in the House

The United States Constitution

The United States ConstitutionThe United States Constitution

September 17, 1787 – September 17, 1787 –

The convention approved the final draftThe convention approved the final draft

Goals set in the preamble: Goals set in the preamble:

We the people of the United States of America, in order to We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general wellfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to general wellfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.Constitution for the United States of America.