Objective 11Objective 11;;

Examine the natural rights Examine the natural rights philosophy and the nature of philosophy and the nature of government expressed in the government expressed in the Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence, comparing it to the Social Contract comparing it to the Social Contract theory, and evaluating it as a theory, and evaluating it as a persuasive argument.persuasive argument.

Congress appointed 5 people to Congress appointed 5 people to write a document declaring write a document declaring independence.independence.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson.Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson, the youngest, did most Jefferson, the youngest, did most of the writing.of the writing.

He was greatly influenced by John He was greatly influenced by John Locke’s philosophy.Locke’s philosophy.

The Social Contract TheoryThe Social Contract Theory argues that the state arose out of argues that the state arose out of the voluntary acts of free people.the voluntary acts of free people.

It says the state exists only to It says the state exists only to serve the will of the people and serve the will of the people and they have the right to give or they have the right to give or withhold political power as they withhold political power as they choose. choose.

Major concepts of Social Contract;Major concepts of Social Contract; Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty Limited GovernmentLimited Government Individual RightsIndividual Rights Equality of menEquality of men Locke argued that the reason men Locke argued that the reason men

put themselves under a put themselves under a government is the preservation of government is the preservation of life, liberty and property.life, liberty and property.

The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence justified the Revolution through the justified the Revolution through the Social Contract Theory.Social Contract Theory.

Jefferson argued that King George III Jefferson argued that King George III and his ministers violated social and his ministers violated social contract. contract.

Jefferson included many of the ideas Jefferson included many of the ideas of Social Contract in the Declaration. of Social Contract in the Declaration.

It was a justification of the Revolution.It was a justification of the Revolution.

What items did Social Contract What items did Social Contract and the Declaration have in and the Declaration have in common?common?

Roger ShermanRoger Sherman

Robert LivingstonRobert Livingston

Objective 12Objective 12;; Recognize the achievements and Recognize the achievements and

strengths as well as the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the Articles of weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the problems Confederation and the problems resulting from it, including Shay’s resulting from it, including Shay’s Rebellion.Rebellion.

Nov. 15, 1777Nov. 15, 1777, after 17 months , after 17 months of deliberation, the of deliberation, the Articles ofArticles of ConfederationConfederation were approved. were approved.

First frame of government for the First frame of government for the U.S.U.S.

Sovereignty was given to the Sovereignty was given to the States in 1781.States in 1781.

Became effective after MarylandBecame effective after Maryland ratified them on March 1, 1781.ratified them on March 1, 1781.

Government Structure.Government Structure. Congress was the sole body and was Congress was the sole body and was

unicameral. unicameral. Delegates elected yearlyDelegates elected yearly Each state had one voteEach state had one vote No executive or judicial branchesNo executive or judicial branches One member was chosen to be the One member was chosen to be the

presiding officer for one year.presiding officer for one year. Civil officers appointed by Congress.Civil officers appointed by Congress.

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress;; Make war and peaceMake war and peace Send and receive ambassadorsSend and receive ambassadors Make treatiesMake treaties Borrow moneyBorrow money Set up monetary systemSet up monetary system Establish post officeEstablish post office Raise army and build navyRaise army and build navy (Had to ask States for troops)(Had to ask States for troops)

Set uniform standardsSet uniform standards Settle disputes between statesSettle disputes between states

State ObligationsState Obligations;; Pledged to obey Articles and acts of Pledged to obey Articles and acts of

CongressCongress Would provide funds and troops Would provide funds and troops

requested by Congressrequested by Congress Areed to cooperate with other States Areed to cooperate with other States

in legal mattersin legal matters

States retained powers not States retained powers not explicitly given to Congressexplicitly given to Congress

States were responsible for States were responsible for protecting their people protecting their people

Accountable for promoting Accountable for promoting “General Welfare” of the people“General Welfare” of the people

Weaknesses of the Central Weaknesses of the Central Government under the Articles Government under the Articles of Confederationof Confederation;;

Did not have power to taxDid not have power to tax Could not regulate tradeCould not regulate trade Must have agreement of 9 States Must have agreement of 9 States

to make new lawsto make new laws All 13 States must agree to amend All 13 States must agree to amend

Articles.Articles.

Critical Period, 1780’sCritical Period, 1780’s;; Oct., 19, 1781 American Oct., 19, 1781 American

Revolution endedRevolution ended 1783 – Treaty of Paris signed1783 – Treaty of Paris signed U.S. faced many economic and U.S. faced many economic and

political problems due to the political problems due to the weaknesses of the Articles.weaknesses of the Articles.

States argued among themselves States argued among themselves and Central Government could do and Central Government could do nothing about it.nothing about it.

States often refused to monetarily States often refused to monetarily support Central gov’t.support Central gov’t.

Many made agreements with Many made agreements with foreign nations w/out foreign nations w/out Congressional approval.Congressional approval.

Taxed each other’s products. Taxed each other’s products. Printed their own moneyPrinted their own money Economic chaos resulted and led Economic chaos resulted and led

to violence.to violence.

Shay’s Rebellion 1786;Shay’s Rebellion 1786; Many farmers began to lose their Many farmers began to lose their

land because of inability to pay land because of inability to pay taxes.taxes.

Shays, former officer in Shays, former officer in Continental Army, led an armed Continental Army, led an armed rebellion forcing judges to close rebellion forcing judges to close courts. Also led an attack on a courts. Also led an attack on a federal arsenal.federal arsenal.

The rebellion was eventually put The rebellion was eventually put down by militia but Mass. down by militia but Mass. Legislature passed laws easing Legislature passed laws easing burden of taxes on debtors.burden of taxes on debtors.

Need for a stronger Need for a stronger governmentgovernment;;

Central gov’t could not deal w/ Central gov’t could not deal w/ nation’s problems.nation’s problems.

Demand grew for a stronger Demand grew for a stronger national gov’t.national gov’t.

Those who favored a stronger Those who favored a stronger national gov’t were property national gov’t were property owners, businessmen and owners, businessmen and creditors.creditors.

Achievements under the Articles;Achievements under the Articles; Size of America doubled. Size of America doubled. (Slide 35)(Slide 35)