u.s. history chapter 7: creating a republic. uniting the colonies states wrote constitutions: to set...
TRANSCRIPT
U.S. History
Chapter 7: Creating a Republic
Uniting the Colonies
States wrote Constitutions: to set limits of government powers
and to spell out the rights of citizens.
Constitution Document that sets
out laws, principles, organization, and processes of government
EXECUTE Carry out; do what
is required New state
governments had legislatures to pass laws; governors would execute the laws.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Articles were weak because no court system existed to settle disputes between states.
Also, there was no executive to carry out the laws.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
After Shay’s Rebellion, George Washington and others thought the Articles should be revised.
They believed the government failed to solve the nation’s economic problems
Depression A period when
business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises.
Noah Webster He believed the nation
needs a strong central government to be effective.
No real power rests with the federal government in a “pretend union.”
Noah Webster He believed that
individual states have too much power to form a true union.
Alexander Hamilton agreed.
Constitutional Convention Goal to revise
the Articles of Confederation.
Constitutional Convention George Washington
and Alexander Hamilton were two of the leading delegates
Benjamin Franklin and James Madison were also delegates
Two Rival Plans
VIRGINIA PLAN VS. NEW JERSEY PLAN
Both advocated three branches of government
Small states favored the New Jersey Plan because it proposed that all states have equal representation in the legislature
The New Jersey Plan could have proposed “one vote per state.”
COMPROMISE Agreement in which
each side give up some demands
The Great Compromise: Constitutional Convention agreed to create a two-house legislature.
GREAT COMPROMISE Seats in the House
of Representatives would be awarded according to population
Every state would have two seats in the Senate
GREAT COMPROMISE 3/5ths of the slaves in
a state were included to determine state representation
Resolved the conflict between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
9 out of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution before it could become law
Ratification & Bill of Rights
In key states, the tide slowly turned in favor of ratification of the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution through the amendment process.
Bill of Rights List of freedoms
that the government promises to protect.
AMEND Make changes to a
document Bill of Rights: Ten
amendments to the Constitution
ROMAN REPUBLIC Convention
delegates wanted to create a republic, a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives.
ROMAN REPUBLIC Convention
delegates patterned this idea after the Roman Republic
Romans valued public service
MAGNA CARTA 1215 English
document helped shape new American government
Basic idea that people have certain guaranteed rights
JOHN LOCKE Enlightenment
writer who said that the relationship between government and the people it governs is a social contract.
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Division of the responsibilities of government branches to keep any person or group from gaining too much power.
BARON DE MONTESQUIEU
Enlightenment writer who stressed that government powers should be clearly defined and divided
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Montesquieu suggested 3 separate branches of power be created: legislative, executive, and judicial
FEDERALISTS Argued that a
strong national government could be effective and protect states’ rights
ANTIFEDERALISTS Argued that the
Constitution must spell out ways to protect people’s basic rights
Admitting New States 1787: Northwest
Ordinance set up government for Northwest Territory, guaranteed basic right to settlers, and outlawed slavery there.
NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
A territory had to have a population of 60,000 free settlers
A territory could ask Congress to admit it as a new state
CEDE
To give up any claim to territories
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!