Birth of a Nation

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Birth of a Nation

• USI.7

T. Stephens
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Articles of Confederation
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What were the Articles of Confederation?

• The Articles of Confederation was a constitution
  written during the American Revolution to
  establish the powers of the new national
  government.

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The Articles of Confederation

• Provided for a weak national government
• Congress had no power to tax or regulate commerce
• Provided for no common currency (money)
• Gave each state one vote (size)
• Provided for no executive or judicial branch

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The Articles of Confederation

• Problem 1 Provided for a weak national
  government
• A weak national government
• Gave individual states the most authority over
  their own affairs

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The Articles of Confederation

• Problem 2 Congress had no power to tax or
  regulate commerce
• Congress authority was limited
• Any power not expressly given to Congress
  belonged to the states
• Congress could declare war and peace, but had no
  power to levy taxes
• Congress could command an army and navy and
  handle foreign affairs
• Congress could make laws but could not make the
  states follow the laws

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The Articles of Confederation

• Problem 3 Provided for no common currency (money)

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The Articles of Confederation

• Problem 4 Gave each state one vote This was
  meant to make each state equal
• Many people thought representation should be
  based on the number of people in each state
  (States with more people should have more votes)

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The Articles of Confederation

• Problem 5 Provided for no executive or judicial
  branch
• How do you make states obey the laws?
• Who could determine if the laws were fair?
• Who will carry out the laws?

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The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
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What were the basic principles of government
stated in the Constitution and Bill of Rights?
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The Constitution

• Established a federal system of government based
  on power shared between the national and state
  governments

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What is a Federal System?

• A system that divides governmental powers between
  national government and the governments of the
  states

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A system that divides governmental powers between
national government and the governments of the
states
Federal System

• State government

• National government

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Separation Of Powers

• Structure of the new national government
• Based on Madisons Virginia Plan
• There are 3 branches

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What are the 3 branches of Government?

• Legislative Branch
• Judicial Branch
• Executive Branch

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What is the legislative branch?

• Congress
• Makes laws
• 2 houses
• Equal representation in the Senate (2 per state)
• House of Representatives (population)

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Senate

• Two Senators per state

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House of Representatives

• The number of a states representatives is based
  on states population

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What is the Judicial Branch?

• Supreme Court
• Determines if the laws made by congress are
  constitutional!

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What is the Executive Branch?

• President
• Carries out the laws

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What are checks and balances?

• They keep each other in check!
• Each branch can check the power of the other.
• They keep any one branch from gaining too much
  power!

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Who wrote the Bill of Rights?

• James Madison was the author of the Bill of Rights

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What is the Bill of Rights?

• The first ten amendments to the Constitution
• Provides a written guarantee of individual rights
  (freedom of speech and religion)

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Major Party Differences2 new political parties
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Hamilton vs. Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had
  opposing views on the role of national
  government.
• 2 parties emerged

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Alexander Hamilton

• Federalists
• Strong national government
• Limits on states powers
• develop industry
• National bank

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Thomas Jefferson

• Democratic Republicans
• Weak national govt.
• States powers
• Small business and farmers
• No national bank!!!

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First Five Presidents USI.7d
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The First 5 Presidents

• What were the major national issues and events
  faced by the first five presidents?

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All of the first 5 presidents were Virginians
except John Adams.

• Congress and the first 5 presidents made
  decisions establishing a strong government that
  helped the nation grow in size and Power!

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George Washington

• Federal court system was established.
• Political parties grew over proper role of
  national govt.
• Bill of Rights added to the Constitution

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George Washington cont.

• Plans were initiated for development of the
  national capital in Washington, D.C.
• Benjamin Banneker, an African American astronomer
  and surveyor, helped complete the design for the
  city.

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John Adams

• Not from Virginia
• A two-party system emerged during his
  administration
• We still use the 2 party system today

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Thomas Jefferson

• Louisiana Purchase (France)
• Lewis and Clark explored the new land west of the
  Mississippi River.

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James Madison

• War of 1812
• The war caused European nations to gain respect
  for the United States

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James Monroe

• Wrote the Monroe Doctrine warning European
  nations not to interfere in the Western
  Hemisphere