Challenges of the New Nation

USI.7 a-d

Lesson 1Articles of

Confederation

SOL 7a

SOLSOL 7a: identifying the

weaknesses of the government established by the Articles of Confederation.

EQ:How do governments establish their power?

What do I need to Know?

•Constitutions are written to establish the powers of a government.

Lesson HookImagine that the school will hold a trivia

contest between homerooms. The number of participants in the contest will be based on class size. Each homeroom will be able to enter one contestant for every ten students in class. Is this a fair contest? Why or why not?

Tell students that the new government under the Articles of Confederation gave each state one vote regardless of the size of its population and larger states did not think that this was fair representation.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

• The Articles of Confederation was a constitution written during the American Revolution to establish the powers of the new national government.

The Articles of Confederation:

•Problem 1: Provided for a weak national government

The Articles of Confederation:

• Problem 2: Congress had no power to tax or regulate commerce

The Articles of Confederation:

•Problem 3: Provided for no common currency (money)

The Articles of Confederation:

• Problem 4: Gave each state one vote

The Articles of Confederation:

•Problem 5: Provided for no executive or judicial branch

Writing to Learn:

The Articles of Confederation had several major weaknesses. What do you believe was it s greatest weaknesses? Why?

Quick Quiz

•USI.7a•Ready, Set, GO!

What provided for a weak national government?

In the Articles of confederation Congress did not have the power to:

How many votes did each state get under the Articles of confederation?

What 2 branches of government did not exist under the Articles of confederation?

Lesson 2, 3, 4, and 5

Principles of the Constitution

Sol 7b

SOL

Identifying the basic principles of the new government established by the Constitution of the United States of

America and the Bill of Rights.

Essential Question

How does the American system of government provide for separation of power and protect the rights of individual?

What Do I Need to Know?

American government is founded on the principles of federalism and individual rights.

What is a Federal System?

• A system that divides governmental powers between national government and the governments of the states

A system that divides governmental powers between national government and the

governments of the states

• State government

National government

Federal System

Confederation to Constitution

•Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to the effort to draft a new constitution.

Constitutional Convention of 1787

• State delegates met in Philadelphia and decided not to revise the Articles of Confederation but to write a new constitution.

• George Washington was elected president of the Constitutional Convention.

• Delegates debated over how much power should be given to the new government and how large and small states should be represented in the new government.

• The structure of the new national government as proposed by James Madison’s “Virginia Plan” included three separate branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial

The Great Compromise

• The Great Compromise decided how many votes each states had in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• The Constitution was signed at the end of the convention in 1787.

Ratification of the Constitution

• Nine of the thirteen states had to vote in favor of the Constitution before it could become law.

What is a Compromise?

• An agreement in which each side gave up some of what it wanted

What is a Convention?

• A formal meeting of members, representatives, or delegates, as of a political party, fraternal society, profession, or industry.

What is a Cabinet?

• A group of advisors to the president.

Separation of powers

• Structure of the new national government

• Based on Madison’s “Virginia Plan”

• There are 3 branches

What are the 3 branches of Government?

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

• Executive Branch

What is the legislative branch?

• Congress• Makes laws• 2 houses• Equal representation in the Senate (2

per state)• House of Representatives

(population)

Senate

• Two Senators per state

House of Representatives

• The number of a state’s representatives is based on state’s population

What is the Judicial Branch?

• Supreme Court• Determines if the laws made by

congress are constitutional!

What is the Executive Branch?

• President• Carries out the laws

What are checks and balances?

• They keep each other in check!• Each branch can check the power of

the other.• They keep any one branch from

gaining too much power!

Bill of Rights

• Based on the Virginia Declaration of Rights (George Mason and James Madison’s) and the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom (Thomas Jefferson)

Who wrote the Bill of Rights?

• James Madison was the author of the Bill of Rights

What are the Bill of Rights?

• The first ten amendments to the Constitution

• Provides a written guarantee of individual rights (freedom of speech and religion)

• Define amendments: change a part of anything (documents)

Writing to Learn:

Which of the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights do you think is the most important? Why?

Quick Quiz

•Ready!!!!•SET!!!•GO!!

What is the federal system of government?

What are the 3 branches of government?

What do we often call the legislative branch in national government?

What does the Legislative branch do?

What are the 2 houses of the Legislative branch?

Which house uses population to determine the number of representatives?

Which branch carries out the laws?

Who is our highest national executive?

What does the Judicial Branch do?

Lesson 6

Major Party DifferencesSOL 7c

Anything not reserved for the states are given to the

individual

SOL

7c: identifying the conflicts that resulted in the emergence of two political parties.

Essential Question

• How do political parties both bring people together and lead to conflict within a nation?

What Do I Need to Know?

•Political parties can create both unity and conflict.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had opposing views on the role of national government.

• 2 parties emerged

Alexander Hamilton

• Federalists• Strong national government• Limits on states’ powers• develop industry (big biz)• National bank

Thomas Jefferson

• Democratic Republicans• Weak national govt.• States’ powers• Small business and farmers• No national bank!!!

Writing to Learn:

If you lived during the 1790’s, would you support Jefferson or Hamilton? Explain.

Quick QuizUSI.7c

•Ready•Set•GO!

Who was the Leader of the Federalists?

Who opposed a national bank?

Who wanted a weak national government?

Alexander Hamilton favored limits on:

What was the name of the party that Thomas Jefferson led?

Thomas Jefferson favored small business and _________.

Who favored the national bank?

Who favored a strong national government?

Alexander Hamilton favored __________ on a national scale.

Lesson 7 and 8Accomplishments During

First Five Presidents

SOL 7d

SOL

7d: describing the major accomplishments of the first five presidents of the United States.

EQ:How much do the actions of

leaders determine the success of a new nation?

What Do I Need to Know?

The way new nation face challenges will determine their longevity.

All of the first 5 presidents were Virginians except John

Adams.

•Congress and the first 5 presidents made decisions establishing a strong government that helped the nation grow in size and Power!

George Washington (Va.) - #1

• Federal Court system was established.

• Political parties grew out of the differences between Hamilton & Jefferson.

• The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution.

George Washington (continued)

• Plans were created for development of the national capital in Washington, D.C.–Benjamin Banneker• African-American

complete the design for the city.

John Adams (Ma.) - #2

• The two-party system began during his administration

Thomas Jefferson (Va.) - # 3

• Bought Louisiana from France (Louisiana Purchase)

• Lewis & Clark explored new land west of Mississippi

James Madison (Va.) - #4

• War of 1812–Caused European

nations to gain respect for the United States–Fought for freedom of

the seas

James Monroe (Va.) - #5

• Introduced the Monroe Doctrine warning European nations not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere

Western Hemisphere

Writing to Learn

Which of the first five presidents of the US do you admire the most? Tell why you admire this President and some of his accomplishments.

USI.7d Quick Quiz

•Ready•Set•GO!

Most of the first five presidents were from which state?

•Virginia

Who did Thomas Jefferson purchase the Louisiana Territory from?

•France (Napoleon)

Which president saw a two-party system emerge during his presidency?

•John Adams

Who explored the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi River?

•Lewis and Clark

The Monroe Doctrine warned European nations not to interfere in the ________ _________.

•Western Hemisphere

Which war caused European nations to gain respect for the US?

•War of 1812

Who was president during the War of 1812?

•James Madison

Who was president when the Federal court system was established?

•George Washington

When George Washington was president, what was added to the Constitution?

•The Bill of Rights

Who helped design Washington, D.C.?

•Benjamin Banneker