Transcript A Framework for Government

A Framework for
Government
Key Features of the Constitution

The Great Compromise
2
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Houses:
 House of Representatives (based on population)
 Senate (equal representation)
Three-Fifths Compromise
 Slaves
counted as 3/5 of a person for both representation
and tax purposes
Ratification
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Nine out of 13 states had to approve the
Constitution
Federalists: supporters of the Constitution
(Alexander Hamilton, James Madison)
Anti-Federalists: wanted to add a Bill of Rights
to protect individual states’ rights (Thomas
Jefferson)
The Federalist:
 collection
of 85 essays that summarized the
arguments for immediate ratification
 written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and
John Jay
Arguments
Anti-Federalists
Arguments
Feared the gov’t would serve the interests of the rich.
Doubted the central gov’t could run a large country. Big
Issue: No bill of rights to protect the rights of the citizens
 Leaders
Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams
 Federalists
Arguments
Divisions of powers, System of Checks and Balances to
protect American citizens from the central government
 Leaders
George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison

The New Constitution Called For…
Popular Sovereignty: rule by the people
 Federalism: power divided between
federal (national) government and the
states
 Separation of Powers: power divided
among 3 branches of government
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 Executive
 Judicial
 Legislative
It Also Called For…

Checks and
Balances: each
branch of government
has the ability to limit
the power of the other
branches to prevent
them from becoming
too powerful
George Washington
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Elected as 1st President of the
United States (unanimously)
Task = take the words of the
Constitution and turn them into
an effective U.S. government
Needed a cabinet to help with
Presidential responsibilities
 Thomas Jefferson: Sec. of
State
 Alexander Hamilton: Treasury
Department
 Henry Knox: Sec. of War
Financing the Government
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Tariff of 1789: required importers to pay a
percentage of the value of their cargo when they
landed it in the U.S
Sold Bonds to pay for Revolutionary War
 paper
notes promising to repay money after a certain
length of time with interest
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Alexander Hamilton proposed the creation of a
national bank so Congress could manage its
debts and issue paper money
Bank of the United States established in 1791
for a 20 year period
The Whiskey Rebellion
In 1791, Hamilton urged Congress to pass
a tax on the manufacture of whiskey
 The tax enraged farmers who often used
whiskey to pay their debts
 In 1794, rebellion erupted in western
Pennsylvania
 Farmers terrorized tax collectors, stopped
court proceedings, robbed the mail and
destroyed whiskey distilleries
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The Whiskey Rebellion cont.
In August 1794, President Washington
sent 15,000 troops to crush the Whiskey
Rebellion
 Significance: showed the power of the
Federal government and the strength of
Washington’s presidency

Washington’s Foreign Policy
Shortly after Washington’s inauguration,
French Revolution began in France
 War spread to Great Britain, who fought
against the French
 Americans were divided over how to react,
but Washington stated that the United
States would remain “friendly” and
“impartial” towards both powers
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= NON-INTERVENTION
Rise of Political Parties
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Federalists
Led by Alexander
Hamilton
Favored strong
national government
Loose interpretation of
the Constitution
Wanted to put power in
hands of the wealthy
Democratic- Republicans
- Led by Thomas
Jefferson
- Favored strong state
governments
- Strict interpretation of
the Constitution
- Power should be given
to all landowners,
regardless of wealth
Practice Question
1.
What did the Whiskey Rebellion show
about George Washington?
He lacked the ability to forge foreign
alliances
b. He was a strong president who was willing
to use federal troops when necessary
c. He could not efficiently govern a nation
because he was not well-respected
d. He strongly believed that political parties
should govern the nation
a.
Practice Question
2. The three-fifths compromise sought to
prevent
States with high slave populations from
dominating the House of Representatives
b. The Senate from becoming too powerful
within the bicameral system
c. The Constitution from ultimately being
ratified
d. Antifederalists from winning the debate over
federalism
a.
Practice Question
3. Limited government, a system of checks and
balances, a separation of the powers in
government, and government based on the will
of the people, form the foundation for
a.
b.
c.
d.
Northwest Ordinance
United States Constitution
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence