A New Nation

A New Nation

• What are the responsibilities of a country?• What does a country do?• What are some of the things that the new

United States must do that it didn’t have to worry about when it was a group of colonies under British control?

New Responsibilities

• So we’ve discussed the new responsibilities that comes with our new freedom

• Now it’s time to create our government

• Government—a way in which a group is organized, its laws, its values, etc.

Group Work

Your group is responsible for creating a brand new government that is in charge of everything

that you want it be in charge of in your new society. What type of government will it be?

Who will be in charge? What laws will you have? What rights do people have? What are the punishments? Don’t leave anything out!

Things to consider:

• Type of government?• How it is run?• Who has the power?• Rules/Responsibilities?• Basic rights of

individuals?• Punishments?• Voting? Dictatorship?

• Trade?• Who makes laws?• Who enforces laws?• Army?• Taxes?• Possible changes?• War?• What do you value?

Government Gauntlet

• Mr. Forney will throw some scenarios at you and you need to see whether or not the government that you created can handle the problem that is posed.

• Good luck!

War!

• You’re country is attacked by another country! Do you have a means to protect your country and its citizens?

New Laws

• Is there a way to make new laws in your country?

Enforcement

• Who is in charge of enforcing the laws that you have? Is there a police force?

A court system?

• Do you have a court system? Do you have a way to determine the guilt or innocence of people or are they all guilty if charged?

Debt

• The country is in debt. Do you have a way to get out of it?

Murder

• Someone commits murder in your country. What will happen next?

Death

• The leader of your country dies. What will happen next?

Basic Rights

• What basic rights do citizens of your country have?

Punishments

• Are people aware of the punishments if laws are broken?

Trade

• Will you trade with other countries?

Overall Grade

• Based on what you see, what overall grade would you give your government and why?

A New Government—The Articles of Confederation (AOC)

Things to remember:-the colonists feared strong central government-each state wanted to control themselves-there are benefits of coming together

The AOC

• First government of the USA• What is a confederation (confederacy)?

• A. Loose collection of states• B. All states equal in power• C. States have all power, national government

only has power that states give it• D. Diagram—from board, draw in notebook

Problems of the AOC

• Homework page• Are these really “problems?”

Shay’s Rebellion

• Farmer’s uprising that showed the national government couldn’t protect the people

• Do the articles need changing?

Annapolis Convention

• Meeting to change the Articles• Not enough states showed up• Decided to meet later in Philadelphia to either

change the Articles or get a new government altogether

Constitutional Convention

• Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 where it was decided to get rid of the Articles and create a brand new government

Constitutional Convention

• Not all states agree as to how this new government should look

• Debate and compromises• Main arguments between Federalists and

Anti-Federalists

Debate?

• Federalists– Those who favor ratification of the new

Constitution– Strong Central government– James Madison, Ben Franklin

• Anti-Federalists– Those who were against ratification of the new

Constitution– Wanted a Bill of Rights– Thomas Jefferson

Three Main Compromises

1. Great Compromise2. 3/5 Compromise3. Slave Trade Compromise

Using books, answer the following:A. What’s the issue? B. What was decided?C. Who did it favor?D. Who did it hurt?

Timeline

• Dec 7, 1787—Delaware ratifies Constitution• June, 1788—9th state (VT) ratifies• January, 1789—Washington elected president• May 29, 1790—all states ratify• December, 1791—10 Amendments (Bill of

Rights) are added

Reading the Constitution

• The Red pages in your book• Inside (spine) = actual text• Outside (edges, brown) = translated text• Crossed out parts = changes to the original

Constitution that are no longer used

It’s like an outline:• Constitution is written using the following:

I. Articles1. Sections

1. Clauses

There are seven Articles to the ConstitutionI. Legislative BranchII. Executive BranchIII. Judicial BranchIV. Relations Among StatesV. How to Amend the ConstitutionVI. National SupremacyVII. Ratification of the Constitution

Find the following:

• 1. Article I, Section 2, Clause 2• 2. Article II, Section 1, Clause 1• 3. Article III, Section 1, Clause 1

• 4. Qualifications to be in the Senate• 5. Qualifications to be president

The Three Branches

• Legislative—makes the laws– Made up of Congress• House of Representatives• Senate

The Three Branches

• Judicial—interprets the law– Headed by the Supreme Court

The Three Branches

• Executive—Enforces the law– Lead by the President

The Legislative BranchArticle I

• The law making branch• Congress– Senate—100 members (2 from each state)– House of Representatives—435 members (ranging

from 1-53 from each state)

What are the qualifications to be in the Senate and the House?

How a Bill Becomes a Law

• We will watch “I’m Just a Bill” twice• Write down the steps of how a bill becomes a

law

The Executive Branch

• Headed by the President of the United States-Made of a Cabinet

-Group of people who advise the president-Cabinet leaders are called secretaries-They are in charge of departments

-President elected by the Electoral College!!

The Judicial Branch

• Lead by the Supreme Court– 9 members– Have power of “Judicial Review”• To declare a law unconstitutional

“No Vehicles in the Park”

• The town of Owlville had a park that was being overrun by vehicles of all types. To make the park a place where residents might find peace and enjoyment, the town leaders put up a sign that said “No Vehicles in the Park.” While the law seems clear, there has been some disputes over the interpretation of the law. Decide the following cases taking into account both the letter and intention of the law.

• John lives on one side of town and works on the other. He will save ten minutes if he drives through the park.

• To keep the park clean, there are trash cans located throughout the park. The sanitation department wants to drive a garbage truck into the park to collect the garbage.

• Two police officers are chasing a suspected bank robber. If one cuts through the park, he/she can cut off the bank robber on the other side.

• An ambulance has a dying car accident victim in the back. The shortest way to the hospital is through the park.

• Some of the children want to ride their bikes in the park. What about skateboarders?

• Mrs. Smith wants to take a walk in the park with her child in a baby stroller.

• A tank has been donated to the park to commemorate the town’s war veterans. Can it be placed in the park?

• A horse and buggy ride has been proposed to carry people through the park to help boost tourism.

Key Ideas that makes it all work:

1. Federalism—organization of power that is opposite the Articles of Confederation– See diagram on board

Key Ideas Continued….

2. Separation of Powers--dividing the power of government among three different branches

Key Ideas Again….

3. Checks and Balances--when the three branches have certain powers over the other two

-look at handout

Oath of Citizenship

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom

or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on

behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the

law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental

reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Which of the following is an obligation of a citizen according to the Oath of Citizenship above? a. To vote b. To serve on a jury c. To defend the nation d. To be informed

Which of the following is NOT A RESPONSIBILITY of citizenship in the United States? a. To serve on a jury b. To obtain a driver’s license c. To vote d. Obey the law

Essential Questions• How does conflict and compromise lead to a balance of

power?

• How does the Constitution limit government power and protect people?

• How do people protect their rights in a democratic society?

• Should national, state, and local governments all be allowed to tax you?

Reflection Questions

• 1. List three things you learned about the government and/or the Constitution during this simulation?

• 2. Were you successful in the simulation? Why/why not?

• 3. What was the most challenging part of the activity?

• 4. Identify the two checks and balances used in the simulation.

• 5. Why might you vote to pass a bill of the opposite party? What happened when you or someone in your party voted for a bill of the opposite party?

• 6. How can a minority party still achieve its goals in Congress?

• 7. If we started playing this game again tomorrow from the beginning, what would you do differently?