unit 2: creating a nation. revolutionary people’s lives virtues—a quality considered morally...
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REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE’S LIVES
VIRTUES—a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S 13 VIRTUES
TEMPERANCESILENCEORDERRESOLUTIONFRUGALITYINDUSTRYSINCERITYJUSTICEMODERATIONCLEANLINESSTRANQUILITYCHASTITYHUMILITY
TIMELINE• July 1776—DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE• Nov. 1777—Articles of Confederation adopted
by 2nd Continental Congress• March 1781—Articles take effect after
Ratification• Oct. 1781—British surrender at Yorktown• Sept. 1783 – Treaty of Paris signed
13 INDEPENDENT STATES
• State Constitutions–Replaced Charters–Based on Ideals of Natural Rights
• Popular Sovereignty– government by consent of governed
STATE CONSTITUTIONS
• Legislatures— creates the laws• Executives—Governors—Carry out the
Laws• Judiciaries—Judges—Interpret the laws
• VOTING LAWS—white males over 21 who owned property/paid taxes
A CONFEDERATION OF STATES
• Raise a singular army
• 1777—Articles of Confederation—– 1st Constitution of U.S.– 1 BRANCH—CONGRESS
• States were free & sovereign— MOST POWER–Voluntary Association
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
• Conduct Foreign Affairs
• Maintain Armed Forces
• Borrow Money• Issue Currency
• 9 States to Pass Laws• All States to Amend
Articles• Could Not Regulate
Trade• Could Not Force
Soldiers to Join Army• Could Not Impose
Taxes
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Western Land Policies• ORDINANCE OF 1785– System of dividing & selling land west of the
Appalachian Mountains
Northwest Ordinance
• Land North of Ohio River & East of Mississippi River
• When population of a territory reached 60,000 the people could apply to Congress for statehood
• Territory rights—no slavery!
MONEY TROUBLES
• During war Congress & States printed Money• Value of Money Fell; Price of Goods Rose• Created Department of Finance-Robert Morris
INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS
• Mississippi River closed to American shipping
• Refused right of deposit at New Orleans
• Continued to occupy forts in Great Lakes
BRITAIN SPAIN
SHAYS’S REBELLION (1786-1787)--Farmers jailed due to debt/taxes--Massachusetts delegates held convention to petition against new government
--Daniel Shays (Continental Army veteran) led farmers to take federal arsenal
-confronted & stopped by MA state militia
SLAVERY ISSUES
1774—PA Quakers first anti-slavery society
North began passing laws to gradually end slavery
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--1787Delegates meet “For the Sole & Express purpose
of revising the Articles of Confederation”
REPS
• WHITE WOMEN• SLAVES
• NATIVE AMERICANS• FREE AFRICAN AMERICANS
• FARMERS• WORKERS• BANKERS
• PLANTATION OWNERS
COMPROMISE
VA PLAN vs. NJ PLANJames Madison 1 House-1 VoteProportional Rep. Per State
2 House LegislatureSenate—2 Reps Each State
House of Reps—Proportional to State
SLAVERY
SLAVES = PROPERTYEach slave counts as 3/5th for purposes of taxation & representation
Congress could not interfere with Slave Trade till 1808
FEDERALISTS• Supported Ratification of Constitution– Madison, Hamilton, & Jay– “FEDERALIST PAPERS”
• Favored Strong Government• No Need for a Bill of Rights
• Wealthy Class
ANTI-FEDERALISTS
• Opposed Ratification– Patrick Henry, George Mason
• Supported State’s Rights
• Wanted a Bill of Rights
• Farmers/Debtors
6 GOALS OF THE CONSTITUTION
1. Form a more perfect union2. Establish justice3. Insure domestic tranquility4. Provide for the common defense5. Promote the general welfare6. Secure the blessings of liberty
HOW?...
7 Principles1. Republicanism2. Popular Sovereignty3. Checks & Balances4. Limited Government5. Individual Rights6. Federalism7. Separation of Powers
REPUBLICANISM• DEFINITION: Citizens elect their representatives
through voting.
• LOCATION: Preamble & Article I
• FOUNDERS: Allows citizens to alter or abolish government peacefully through voting; major concern of the Revolution was representation
• GOALS: Domestic Tranquility & Secure Blessings of Liberty—citizens protect their rights with choice of leaders
Checks & BalancesDEFINE: Each branch of government holds some
control over the other two branches
WHAT ARE THE 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT? Legislative, Executive, Judicial
WHY DO YOU THINK THE FOUNDERS BELIEVED IN THIS PRINCIPLE?
Power of government doesn’t rest in single person
CHECKS & BALANCES
WHAT POWER OVER THE OTHER DOES EACH BRANCH POSSESS?
Executive—Veto Power; appoint judgesLegislative—Congress can override vetoes;
approve judges; amend constitution; impeachment powers
Judicial—declare laws or policies unconstitutional
Separation of PowersDEFINE: Each of the three branches of government
has its own responsibilitiesWhat specific powers does each branch have?Legislative-makes lawsExecutive—carries out lawsJudicial—interprets/applies lawsWHAT GOALS DOES THIS PRINCIPLE RELATE TO? Secure the blessings of liberty as laws relate to
citizen’s rights; Promotes general welfare when laws work for the people
Limited Government
DEFINE: the Constitution limits the actions of government by specifically listing powers it does & does not have
WHAT GOALS DOES THIS PRINCIPLE RELATE TO? Promote general welfare—not too much intervention
by government in people’s livesWHY DO YOU THINK THE FOUNDERS BELIEVED IN
THIS PRINCIPLE?Power to govern didn’t rest in the hand of one or a
few; monarch couldn’t regulate all of society
Popular Sovereignty
DEFINE: People are the source of the government’s power
WHY DO YOU THINK THE FOUNDERS BELIEVED IN THIS PRINCIPLE?Did not like being ruled by a monarch & having no representation in parliament; belief in Social Contract
Individual Rights
DEFINE: Basic Liberties & rights of all citizens are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights
WHY DO YOU THINK THE FOUNDERS BELIEVED IN THIS PRINCIPLE?
Enlightenment belief in natural rights & protections for citizens against tyrannical rule
LEGISLATIVE—ARTICLE I
Makes Laws/Collect Taxes/Declare War
Appropriates funds/Impeaches officials/Affirms appointments
Pass Bills through both Houses
EXECUTIVE—ARTICLE II
President & Cabinet
Chief Diplomat—Foreign Policy/TreatiesCommander in Chief – In charge of MilitaryChief of State– Representative of all Americans
Proposes laws to Congress
JUDICIAL—ARTICLE III
Supreme Court—decide on constitutional cases
Judicial Review—power of courts to review legislative & executive actions & cancel them if Unconstitutional