Strength and Weaknesses

Georgia Constitution of 1777And the

Articles of Confederation

Georgia Constitution of 1777

• After the Declaration of Independence was adopted Georgia’s provincial congress met to create a new government.

• The Constitution of 1777 created a separate legislative, executive, and judicial branch– One house legislature—had the most power– Legislature elected the governor and other state

officials– Governor served one term– A superior court was created for each county

Georgia Constitution of 1777• Strengths– Separation of government branches– Protection of basic rights

• Weaknesses– Legislature had too much power (elected governor and

other state officials)– Legislature had only one house so they had no one to

check them– Governor was only elected to one year term (limited

effectiveness)– It was not ratified by the people so it did not fully

represent their interests or desires

“T” ChartGeorgia Constitution of 1777

• Still have Legislative Branch

• Three Branches• Three Branches had

separate powers• Established counties—

replaced parishes• Established local

(county) governments

• Legislature was unicameral (one house)

• No “checks and balances”-no second house in Legislative Branch

• Governor served only 1 year• Executive branch was weak-

couldn’t veto laws, grant pardons• Legislative elected council-had

power to veto the Governor• Three branches but the legislative

branch was much more powerful than the others

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Articles of Confederation• Written to be the foundation of our new

national government• At 1st it was written with a strong central

government• Many states disagreed with the idea of a

strong central government• When passed the Articles of Confederation set

up a weak national government• States had a lot of authority over their own

rules and laws

Articles of Confederation• Weaknesses:– No way to levy taxes—the country is unable to pay

debts or soldiers– No way to regulate trade-created problems between

the states– Could pass laws but had no way to enforce them on a

state level– Each state received only one vote regardless of

population– No executive or judicial branch of government only

legislative—No one to decide disputes– No way to raise an army without the states’ permission

—nation is defenseless

“T” ChartArticles of Confederation

• First written Constitution of the new nation

• Had a legislature• Strong state

governments

• weak central government• No executive or judicial branch (no

one to enforce laws or hear disputes)• Did not allow the central (federal)

government to impose taxes• Weak Union, feared a strong central

government• No “Checks and Balances”• Central government did not have

taxes, so no military• Central government did not print

money• States had all the power• Each state had an equal vote in

congress regardless of size or population

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Why the change?

• Weak central government• A confederation, or partnership, of independent states• Economy was shaky• States issued near worthless paper money that

merchants would not accept• State governments discouraged trade by taxing products

of other states• Shay’s rebellion (Massachusetts levied taxes to pay for

war debt, and a group led by Daniel Shays rebelled)

Constitutional Convention

• Philadelphia• Georgia sends four delegates – William Pierce,

William Houston, William Few, and Abraham Baldwin• Georgia delegates looked after interest of state opposed ban on slavery

supported strong central government

Compromises

• Great Compromise• Three-Fifths Compromise• The Commerce Compromise• The Slave Trade

The Great Compromise

Problem Legislative Branch • States with large

populations wanted representation based on population.

• States with small populations wanted representation equal representation

Solution Two House legislature

created• Senate – equal

representation (2 per state)• House of Representative –

based on population

Role of Abraham Baldwin

• Cast a critical vote to that ended in a tie.• Kept the convention together• Allowed for the compromise

Georgians who signed the U.S. Constitution

Abraham Baldwin

William Few