WHERE DID “WE” COME FROM?

Not “we” the people…but “WE the people”

Declaring Independence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

uZfRaWAtBVg

Where it all began SPOILER ALERT: our nation was created by

colonists who were: Fleeing religious persecution Driven for their own religious identity Looking to get rich Fleeing debtor’s prison Bringing the old world to new places Trying to forget the closed confines of the OLD WORLD Free persons Indentured Servants Slaves

American Governments #1 and 2

Jamestown colony, 1607, held the first representative assembly.

Plymouth landing, 1620, first constitution, the Mayflower Compact “solemnly & mutually in the presence of

God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politick”

Established laws for “the generall good of the colonie” and promised “all due submission and obedience”

Governance Spreads As colonies pop up throughout the “new

world” several things happen: Many of them adopt constitutions and elect

representative assemblies The British Crown install royal governors

and send troops to the colonies Colonies became used to a degree of self-

governance

A Clash of Civilizations The belief in self governance = angry

British government. 1774--Colonies established the “continental

congress” 1776—Congress adopts the Declaration of

Independence Declaring Independence = Birth of a Nation

Our First “National” Government

Even before the war ended the Continental congress passed a constitution. On November 15, 1777 the Articles of

Confederation were approved. The articles of confederation created a “firm

league of friendship” among the states. Each state maintained its own sovereignty,

freedom and independence. It could do whatever is “not…expressly delegated to the United States in Congress here assembled.”

Congress assembled to: provide for common defense, secure liberties and general welfare.

The Government is Officially Formed

They did not go into effect immediately after congress adopted them however.

The 13 states had to ratify the document for the Articles to become law.

11 states ratified within a year. Delaware adopted in February of 1779. Maryland ratified them on March 1, 1781

Mo Governments, Mo Problems Things were not perfect in the world of

the AoC, we will look at problems that Americans would face with both their National Governments and their State Governments

Structure, powers, problems

The National Government

Governmental Structure The government was simple:

One Unicameral Body (one house/chamber). Delegates were elected yearly by the states

in any method they chose. Each state had one vote, regardless of its size

or wealth. There was no executive or judicial branch

of the government, everything was handled by congress.

The only leader was the presiding officer: The President of congress.

They were not the President of the US.

What Could Congress Do? Here is what the Confederation Government

could act on: Making war and peace Sending and Receiving Ambassadors Make Treaties Borrow Money Establish a system of Money Establish Post Offices Build a Navy Raise an Army by asking for State Troops Fix uniform standards of weight/measurements Settle State-to-State Disputes

Problems with a National Government

People were afraid that the national government would be the British Crown 2.0

People had no national identity Edmund Randolph-Virginia George Washington-Kentucky

This lead to decentralization Small farmers etc. were happy The rich were upset at various laws

Dealing with Foreign Entities We were threatened by the following entities:

British Spanish Barbary pirates

Congress was weak in dealing with these because: Couldn’t raise army (Draft or tax) Couldn't create a binding treaty (states undercut

them) Couldn’t settle state by state disputes

Final Weaknesses One vote per state, regardless of size. Congress was powerless to collect taxes or

duties. Congress couldn’t regulate foreign and/or

interstate commerce. No executive branch to enforce acts of

Congress. No national Court system Amendments made only by unanimous state

approval A 9/13 majority was required to pass laws The articles were only a basis of friendship.

Obligations, Conflicts

State Governments

State Structures Many states adopted constitutions and

held yearly elections for the state legislatures. There were huge turnovers on a yearly

basis Politicians pandered and horse traded for

favors, and as a result, things became more “democratic”

The legislative branch was the most powerful in many states, and became “tyrannical”

State Obligations First, by ratifying the Articles, the States

pledged to follow the acts of Congress. This means they would provide the

funds/troops requested Treat outside citizens as equals to their

citizens. Give full faith and credit to public acts/judicial

proceedings of every other state. Surrender fugitives to other states Submit their disputes to Congress to settle Open travel and trade amongst the states And, anything not expressly given to the

Congress

The States Argue The states spent much time arguing with

each other The government wasn’t powerful enough to

settle these disputes. Very rarely did the states back the decisions

of the Congress. Thus, states became increasingly jealous

/suspicious of each other. This is especially true when states would sign

agreements with other foreign governments An act forbidden by the Articles.

The Tipping Point The states taxed each other’s goods and

even banned some items of trade. This lead to soaring prices, and unpaid

debts Violence broke out because of economic

strife. This lead to one of the most frightening

rebellions in our young nation’s history http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ImIEcs

TEVo

The Need for a Stronger Government After the events of Shay’s rebellion many

started calling for the creation of a stronger national government. Especially individuals who were threatened

by economic and political instability. Property owners, merchants, traders and other

creditors. The movement really became powerful in

1785.

Meetings in Mount Vernon Maryland and Virginia were the first two

states who called for change. They originally wished to meet to settle

trade disputes. They met in March of 1785. The sessions were successful in easing their

issues. Because of the success of the meetings,

the Virginia assembly called for a “joint meeting of all the states to regulate commerce”

Annapolis That meeting opened in Annapolis on

September 11, 1786. Only 5 of 13 states were represented. This convention called for yet another meeting.

By February of 1787, seven states had volunteered to send delegates to Philadelphia. Finally, Congress also called to put pressure on

the states to attend. This meeting becomes known as the

Constitutional Convention.