Creation of a New Nation
Aim: What were the weaknesses with the Articles of Confederation?
• Background:o Issue: What would be the
relationship between the new states and the national government?• Regional loyalties
o Republic: a government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives• Republicanism: the idea
that governments should be based on the consent of the people
Aim: What were the weaknesses with the Articles of Confederation?
• Weaknesses under the Articles of Confederation:o Congress could not enact and collect taxeso Congress could not regulate interstate or
foreign tradeo Regardless of population, each state had only
one vote in Congresso Two-thirds majority need to pass any law
• 9 out of 13 stateso Articles could be amended only if all states
approvedo No executive branch to enforce the laws of
Congresso No national court system to settle legal
disputeso No national unity
Aim: What problems did the Articles of Confederation have to deal with?
• Shay’s Rebellion 1787:o Daniel Shay leads a rebellion of
farmers in Western Massachusetts
o Caused by economic problems• Lack of currency• Shut down courts that were
step up for debt collection and taxation
• 1,200 farmers begin to rebel• Militia used to put down the
rebellion• Revision of the Articles of
Confederation viewed as necessary
Aim: What problems did the Articles of Confederation have to deal with?
• Western Land:o Western land ordinance: plan for surveying the
lando Northwest Ordinance: procedure for dividing
the land into territories• Set stages for statehood
oCongress appoints governor and judgeso5000 voting residents, a temporary
constitution, and government could be formed
o60000 settlers could write a state constitution and be granted statehood
How did the problems created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the
drafting of a new Constitution?• Philadelphia Convention:
o James Madison-Virginia plan• Bicameral legislator- based on
populationo William Paterson-New Jersey Plan
• Unicameral legislator-based on equal representation
o Roger Sherman- Great Compromise• Bicameral legislator
oOne house based on population (House of Representatives)
oOne house based on equal representation (Senate)
How did the problems created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the
drafting of a new Constitution?• Philadelphia
Convention: (cont.)o Three-Fifths
Compromise• Three-fifths of a
state’s slaves were to be counted as population
How did the problems created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the
drafting of a new Constitution?• Philadelphia Convention: (cont.)
o Division of powers• Federalism: the division of power between
national and state governments• Delegated Powers or Enumerated powers: powers
granted to the national government by the Constitutiono Ex: foreign affairs, national defense,
regulating trade, between states, coining money
• Reserved Powers: powers kept by individual stateso Ex: providing/supervision of education,
marriage laws, regulating trade within the state
• Shared Powers: powers that both federal and state governments enjoyo Ex: taxation, borrowing money, paying debts,
establishment of courts
How did the problems of created by the Articles of Confederation lead to the
drafting of a new Constitution?• Separation of Powers:
o Three branches of government• Legislative-to
make the laws• Executive- to
carry out the laws• Judicial- to
interpret the lawso Checks and
balances
Aim: What were the obstacles to ratification of the newly formed Constitution?
• Ratification procedure:o All states hold
ratification convention
o Ratification- official approval • Required nines
states
Aim: What were the obstacles to ratification of the newly formed Constitution?
• Federalists:o Favored ratification
• Balance of power between states and national government
• Division of Power and Checks and balances
• George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
• Supported by urban population
• Smaller states • The Federalist Papers
o 85 essays defending the Constitution
Aim: What were the obstacles to ratification of the newly formed Constitution?
• Antifederalists:o Opponents to ratificationo Opposed strong central
governmento Doubted that a single
government could manage affairs of country
o Lacked protection for individual rights
o Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee
o Supported by rural areaso Large stateso The Federal Farmer
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the President:
o Chief Executive• Enforce or put the laws
into effect• Act as administrator of the
federal bureaucracy• Issue executive orders
that have the effect of laws
• Appoint judges and diplomats
• Remove appointed government officials within the executive branch
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the President:
(cont.)o Chief Diplomat
• Make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate
• Make executive agreements with nations without Senate approval
• Extend or withdraw diplomatic recognition to a nation
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the President:
(cont.)o Commander in Chief
• Broad military powers that are shared with Congress
• Stronger during times of war
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the President:
(cont.)o Chief Legislator
• Recommend legislation to Congress
• Veto potential laws
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the
President: (cont.)o Chief of State
• Symbol of the nation
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the President:
(cont.)o Judicial Powers
• Grant reprieves• Pardons• Amnesties
Aim: What are the powers given to the President by the
Constitution?• Powers of the
President: (cont.)o Head of the Party
• Leader of political party• Unwritten constitution
Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect
the President?• http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=hC6FYpxTYR4
Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect
the President?• Electing the
President:o Article II of the
Constitution outlines the process of electing the President and powers of office
Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect
the President?• Electing the
President:• Electoral College System:
o Voters cast ballots for electors
o Electors cast ballots for President and Vice President
o Number of electors determined by number of Senators + number of representatives
o Majority of electoral votes to become President• 270 electoral votes
Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect
the President?• Electing the President:
o100 Senators + 435 Representatives + 3 electoral votes to Washington D.C. (23rd amendment)
Aim: Why did the founding fathers create the electoral college to elect
the President?• Electing the
President:o Census: counting of
the population every ten years• Impacts number of
electoral votes• http://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=NhMgy894v5Q
Review Do Now:• Who actually elects the President of the United States? How is the number of these individuals chosen?• List and explain two of the roles or powers of the President of the United States.
Aim: What are the powers given to the
legislative and judicial branches in the
Constitution?• Powers of the
judicial branch:o Article three of the
Constitutiono Creates the Supreme
Court and gives Congress the power to create lower federal courts
o Creates a National and State court system
o Role is to interpret the laws
Aim: What are the powers given to the
legislative and judicial branches in the
Constitution?• Powers of the
judicial branch:o Jurisdiction:
Authority, of the federal courts in order to make clear which cases go to the federal courts and which to state courts• Two court systems• Subject Matter
Aim: What are the powers given to the
legislative and judicial branches in the
Constitution?• Powers of the
judicial branch:o Judicial Review: enables
the courts to hear cases involving the application and interpretation of law• Laws can be ruled
unconstitutional• Marbury v. Madison
Aim: What are the powers given to the
legislative and judicial branches in the
Constitution?• Powers of the
legislative branch:o Article I establishes Congresso Bicameral legislature: Two
houses• House of Representatives:
o At least 1 per state based on population
o 2 year termso Elected by votes of
congressional districtso 25 years oldo Citizen for 7 yearso Resident of State in
which you are elected
Aim: What are the powers given to the
legislative and judicial branches in the
Constitution?• Powers of the
legislative branch:o Senate:
• 2 per state• 6 year terms• Original Constitution
Senators were elected by state legislature
• Amendment 17: Direct election of Senators
Aim: How does a bill become a law?
• Step #1: Member of Congress introduces a bill oCongressional
clerk gives the bill a number and title
oBill goes to the appropriates committee
Aim: How does a bill become a law?
• Step #2: Committees review and vote on the billo Committee specialize in
certain areas• Ex: Foreign policy• Listen to facts and
opinions• Make changes or
amendments to the bill
• Send back to the House and Senate for debate
Aim: How does a bill become a law?
• Step #3: Senate and House vote on the billo Senate and House
debate the bill separately
o If the majority of the Senate and House approve the bill it is sent to the President
Aim: How does a bill become a law?
• Step#4: President signs or does not sign billo If the President
signs the bill it becomes law
oPresident can veto the bill
oCongress can override veto by 2/3 majority
Aim: How does a bill become a law?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_4LQ96Pds• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxT7QjlvDqM
Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the
Constitution?• http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=UTX9YsMywks
Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the
Constitution?• Formal Amendment
processo Article V discusses
ways to amend or change the Constitution
o Method #1:• Proposed by
Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses
• Ratified or approved by the State legislature in ¾ of the states
Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the
Constitution?• Method #2:oProposed by
Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses
oRatified by conventions held in ¾ of the states
Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the
Constitution?• Method #3:
o Proposed at a National Convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures
o Ratified by the state legislature in ¾ of the states
Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the
Constitution?• Method #4:
o Proposed at a National Convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures
o Ratified by conventions held in ¾ of the states
Aim: What are the formal and informal ways to amend the
Constitution?• Informal Amendment
processo Those not specifically
mentioned in the Constitutiono Precedent and traditions
• Ex: Cabinet and political parties
o Congressional legislationo Presidential actions
• Ex: President does not have to declare war to send troops
o Elastic clauseo Judicial review
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