2.2 A New American Government

2.2 A New American Government

Today's Agenda

• Today in History, Agenda, Learning Targets

• Warm Up: Review of Early Revolutionary Era Government

• Presentation and Notes on New American Government

• Presidential Google Form Homework

Learning Targets

• Describe the debates that impacted the creation of the Articles of Confederation

• Explain why the weaknesses of the Articles led to a critical period after the Revolutionary war ended

• Describe how a growing need for a stronger nation government led to plans for a Constitutional Convention

Open Ended

What would a modern example of salutary neglect be? Provide an example and explanation.

Open Ended

How did the Boston Massacre increase tensions?

What were the articles of Confederation?

• First National "Constitution" of the United States

• A Confederation

• Established “a firm league of friendship” among the States

• 13 independent sovereign nations

• -> Very weak central government

• --> Feared powerful central government

What were the weaknesses of the articles of confederation?

• Unicameral Legislature

• -> Each state had 1 vote regardless of size

• --> Rhode Island had as much say as Virginia

• Congress didn't have the power too:

• -> Create Taxes

• -> Regulate foreign and interstate commerce

More Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• No Judicial Branch

• -> States responsible for interpreting laws

• No Executive Branch

• Amendments to Articles only with consent of ALL states

• -> Created rigidity within the system

The following are excerpts from the constitution explain how these address weaknesses in the articles of confederation

Do your best to answer as I know we have not gone over the constitution yet!

Multiple Choice

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, … to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the Unites States;

• No central leadership (executive branch)

• Congress had no power to enforce its laws

• Congress had no power to tax

Multiple Choice

The Congress shall have Power… To regulate Commerce foreign Nations, and among the several States

• Changes to the Articles required unanimous consent of 13 states

• Congress had no power to regulate trade

• No national court system (judicial branch)

Multiple Choice

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

• No national court system

• No central leadership

• Congress had no power to enforce its laws

Multiple Choice

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

• Congress had no power to tax

• Congress had no power to regulate trade

• No central leadership

What problems surfaced after the Revolution ended?

Political Conflict

• States argued over who controlled rivers, water

• Several signed treaties with foreign governments

Economic Chaos

• States minted their own money

• Taxed goods from other states

• -> Interstate commerce becomes a disaster and treated like international trade

Armed Revolt

• Shay's Rebellion

• -> Armed uprising against Massachusetts government by former soldiers

• --> Revolted against the loss of their property and to tax collectors

• --> Terrified wealthy property owners!!!

Meeting at Mount Vernon

How was the meeting at Mount Vernon important

Meeting at Mount Vernon

• Maryland and Virginia

• -> plagued by trade problems, agreed to a trade conference

• Came to Mount Vernon at Washington's invitation

• -> Virginia Assembly called to a "joint meeting of all the States to recommend a federal plan for regulating commerce.“

• Clear that major changes to Articles of Confederation were needed

• Majority of States later convened in Philadelphia to improve the Articles of Confederation

• -> Becomes the Constitutional Convention

Open Ended

EXIT TICKET: How did weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation lead to the creation of a stronger central American government?

Open Ended

Thoughts, comments, concerns?