Download - Growth of Federalism in America
Growth of Federalism in America
• Since 1787– United States federal
and state governments have tried to work together peacefully.
– It doesn’t always work out that way.
Growth of Federalism, A Brief History…
• 1781– Articles of Confederation in place
• No federal government at all• Only 13 states working together in a confederacy!
• 1789– US Constitution signed
• Established strong republic government based on federalism– Federalism
» a division of legal authority between state and national governments
Then our first disagreements begin…
• Texas joins US in 1846 as a slave state
• Great Compromise of 1850– Allowed new states from Great Plains joining the US
to decide whether or not to allow slavery• Called popular sovereignty
– Idea that states could chose how they dealt with slavery.
• Remember NW Ordinance of 1787• Didn’t allow slavery in NW territories.• New states felt it did not deal with them since they were not in
that area of the US.
Slavery is first major issue to deal with federalism
• By 1860, USA has 36 states– 21 free states– 15 slave states
• November of 1860– Election of Abraham
Lincoln
• Won with 42% of popular majority
• 11 states secede from the Union
– Secede = leave
The Effects of the Civil War• Had the South won
1. Federal government would no longer exist in South
2. Each state would have equal rights
3. Articles of Confederation would be re-established
The Effects of the Civil War
• Because the North won!1. Federal government
remains sovereign!1. Becomes the
almighty!
2. State rights will forever be weakened!1. Must answer to the
federal government
And the Federal government continues to grow in strength
• Between Civil War (1861) and end of WWII (1945)
– Federal government controls most of what is happening in United States
– Example: • Local police forces must answer to FBI
And the Federal government grows… Government Projects
State Universities get built
And the Federal government grows… Government Projects
CCC men work for government
And the Federal government grows… Government Projects
TVA builds dams for electricity!
The Grant System
• Why do state governments do what the federal government asks them to do?
– The Grant System• Federal government can give money to states.
Why would they? 1. Federal government owns a lot more money than
states.
2. Won’t share with them if they do not do what federal government tells them to do.
This leads to federal mandates
• Federal mandates– Requirements that the federal government
imposes on state and local governments.
– Examples:• Laws directing states to take certain action dealing
with a specific issue. – Asbestos Response Act of 1986
» Forced local schools to close until asbestos was cleaned out!
Federal Mandates
• Example 2– Give states the right to
deal with situations on their own or have federal government do it for them.
• 1970 Clean Air Act– Illinois
» government set up programs
– Ohio » Set up E-Checks in
every other county
Federal Mandates
• Example 3– Federal government will attach ‘strings’ to
federal aid going to states. • Forces them to do certain things for federal
government.
• Example: – 1986
» Congress wanted drinking age in US to be 21 everywhere!
» Louisiana said no! We love Mardi Gras!
Louisiana Highways, 1986
Louisiana Highways, 1990
Louisiana Levies, 2005
Hurricane Katrina, 2005
Federalism works!
• ONLY WHEN STATES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORK TOGETHER!