Transcript Governing a New Nation

Governing a New
Nation
What were the major successes and failures of the
government under the Articles of Confederation?
Brain Vom:
Everything You Know About the Colonies
and Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0LmYE
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The Colonies & Revolution
Declaration of Independence
 Read and think about
 What were the colonists’ beliefs about their rights and the
role of government?
 Minute Spit-It
 A minute for each
group member
 Share with the class
Colonists Beliefs About Gov’t
Beliefs
What Government Will Be Like
Governing a New Nation
 States began to set up new
governments by writing new state
constitutions
 11 of 13 states wrote new
constitutions
 Rhode Island and Connecticut used
their colonial charters but removed
references of the King
 State constitutions tried to avoid
problems they had under British
 Limited central government
 Take power away from executive (state
governor) and gave power to legislatures
(elected by the people)
 Most legislatures were bicameral (two
houses: a senate and house of
representatives)
 Allowed more people to vote
 All but a few states barred African
Americans
 In New Jersey, women allowed to vote till
1807
 Most states: Had to be a white, male, 21 or
older and own property
 7 states added Bill of Rights
 Used to protect individual freedoms
 Virginia was first to add one
 All 13 agreed that government only existed
with the consent of the governed
Bell Ringer
HAVE OUT YOUR HOMEWORK
GRAB A SCRAP PIECE OF PAPER
 What did Americans feel the purpose of
government was when they declared their
independence?
 What were two ways the state constitutions were
made to be more democratic?
 What were the requirements to vote in most
states?
The Articles of
Confederation
What were the major successes and failures of the
government under the Articles of Confederation?
Articles of Confederation
 What is it?
 Adopted in 1777 by the Continental Congress
Ratified by last state in 1781
To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of
the States affixed to our Names send greeting.
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be
"The United States of America".
II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and
every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation
expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship
with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties,
and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each
other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of
them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade
Intro to the Articles
 Read and think about
 Does this seem like a strong government to you? Why or
why not?
 What words stand out to you?
 30 Second Spit
 A minute for each
group member
 Share with the class
Confederation?
 A voluntary association of independent states for
a common purpose
 Set up the government for the United States as a
“firm league of friendship”
 Largest share of power given to states
 States retained their “sovereignty, freedom
and independence”
Government Set-up
 One branch of government: the legislature or
Congress
 One-house legislature (Unicameral)
 All states have a single vote
 9 states had to agree for law to go into effect
 All 13 had to agree before Articles could be
amended
A Limited Government
 Congress could not
 Congress could
 Regulate trade
 Deal with foreign
 Collect taxes
nations and Native
Americans
 Make laws
 Declare war
 Coin or borrow
money
 Run a postal
service
 Enforce laws
Settling Western Lands
 Disputes over ownership of western lands slowed
ratification of Articles
 States did not want to give lands to national
government
 Maryland was last to agree
 Land Ordinance of 1785
 Surveyors divided land into 6 sq. mile townships
 1 sq. mile properties sold within the township
 One section in each township set aside for
schools
 Northwest Ordinance of 1787
 Guaranteed basic rights of
settlers and banned slavery
 Set up a three-step process for
admitting states
• Beginning of Settling:
Governor, Secretary, 3 Judges
• 5,000 free adult male settlers:
Legislature
• 60,000 people: Statehood
The U.S. in 1787
Articles of Confederation
What type of
legislature, unicameral
or bicameral?
Number of votes per
state in the legislature?
Who can levy taxes, the
central government or
states?
What are the powers of
the Congress?
Number and name of
the branches of
Government?
Number of votes needed
to amend the
Constitution?
Number of votes needed
to pass laws?
Which has more power,
the central government
or states?
Unicameral
1
states
$, postal, laws, foreign, war
1, legislature
13
9
states
U.S. Constitution
Bell Ringer
What are the problems that could happen in the U.S.
because of the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation?
SUCCESSES
Each state had one vote & choose delegate
WEAKNESS
Decisions were made slowly
Make roads
Cannot enforce laws
Negotiate foreign treaties
No judicial system
National defense
Coin money
Post offices
Alliances with Europe
Land Ordinances-outlaw slavery in NW
Cannot collect taxes
Cannot solve land disputes between states
Can’t regulate trade between states
Each state has its own currency - confusion
No unity among states, more like countries.