Creating the Constitution

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Creating the Constitution

• Chapter 5, Section 1
• pp. 134-141

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Note Taking Reading Skill Identify Main Ideas
Reading Skill Identify Main Ideas
NOTE TAKING
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Early State Governments

• After independence, each colony set up a new
  constitution all created republics people
  elect their representatives
• Debate over whether to have a king, a president,
  more democracy, or a unicameral (one house)
  legislature
• Most states created a bicameral (two house)
  legislature A senate and a House of
  Representatives

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Early State Governments, cont.

• Constitutions means much more power for common
  people
• Larger legislatures, choice of both houses of
  Congress, more accountability
• Some states required property ownership to vote,
  some did not
• House gains more power over time
• Freedom of religion written into most state
  constitutions no national support (taxes)

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Congress Creates the Articles of Confederation

• 1777 Articles original constitution
  Confederation loose association of states
• Rejected centralized power (like in Britain)
• New federal government
• Congress of delegates chosen by state
  legislatures (not the people)
• Each state had one vote, regardless of size
• No executive branch
• National Congress
• Limited powers
• Declare war, negotiate peace
• Could not raise money
• State approval for major affairs

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Congress Creates a Plan for Western Lands

• Congress raised money by selling land in the
  Northwest Territory
• Problems with how to control it, though
• Conflicts between settlers, speculators, and
  Native Americans
• Threats from British and Spanish as well
• Regulating frontier critical to Unions stability
• Land Ordinance of 1785
• System for distributing public lands
• Grid system
• Favored the wealthy

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Western Lands, cont.

• Northwest Ordinance
• Territorial government governor, secretary,
  three judges appointed by Congress
• Citizens enjoyed same rights as states
• At 5,000 population, could establish an elected
  legislature governor still in control
• At 60,000 population, could apply for statehood
• Banned slavery in the territory

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Focus on Geography Settling the Northwest
Territory
Settling the Northwest Territory
FOCUS ON GEOGRAPHY
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Conflicts With Spain and Britain

• Spain distrusted American expansion didnt
  allow trade with New Orleans
• Caused trouble between settlers in West and the
  federal government
• Britain still used mercantilism trade
  agreements that heavily favored them only were
  allowed
• Dispute over trade rights with West Indies
• British kept forts on the American frontier
• Congress powerless to deal with these problems

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Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• No common currency between states
• Congress relied on contributions from states
  could not raise money
• Shays Rebellion showed how weak the federal
  government was TOO WEAK! rebellion of farmers
  who could not pay for their farms
• State had to respond national level could do
  nothing!
• People realized a stronger government was needed

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Quick Study Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
QUICK STUDY
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Transparency Shays Rebellion
Shays Rebellion
TRANSPARENCY
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Progress Monitoring Transparency Section 1
PM TRANSPARENCY
Progress Monitoring Transparency