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Articles of Confederation
This was the first government of the united states of america. it gave most of the power to the states and had a very weak central government. -
Problems With the Articles of Confederation
One of the problems with the articles was that the states had the power to tax so the government couldn't get money to pay off war debt. The central government could make the laws but it was up to the states to inforce them. So not a whole lot laws were followed by the citizens. To amend the articles of confederation, all the states had to aprove of it. And the states had to approve 9/13 to even pass a law. -
New Jersey Plan and Virginia Plan
The New Jersey plan was supported by the smaller states and they wanted equal representation. The Virginia plan was supported by the larger states and called for proportional representation. These things led to the great compromise. This gave both proportional and equal representation. -
Philidelphia Convention
The convention that they decided that the articles of confederation was a bad government and that we needed a new one was the Phillidelphia Convention. They discussed we needed a stronger central government and less power to the states. -
Ratification of the Constitution
There were two groups seperated on their beliefs about the constitution. There were the federalists who were for the constitution. and the anti federralists who were afraid that the constitution would take too much power from the states. 2/3 of the states had to ratify it for it to become official. -
Washington as President
George Washington was unanimously voted to be the first president. Being the first president of a new nation, he had to figure out how to solve the countries finantial debt from the war. He decided to get a cabnet to help and advise him. The constitution doesn't say anything about a cabnet but Washingon did it anyway. -
Constitution
New government after A of C got discarded. gives more power to the central government and less power to the states. -
First Political Parties
Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed about alot of things. Hamilton wanted a stronger central government while Jefferson wanted more power to the states. Jefferson thought that a government like that would turn into tyrany. so they split into 2 parties (which was against Washington's advice). the two groups were called democratic/republican,and federalists. -
Cincinnatus (519-530 b.c.)
Cincinnatus left his life as a farmer to lead the Roman army to war. After the war, he was asked to be a dictator but he already did his job as a military leader so he turned it down to go back to farming. He was a great example of civic virtue. Civic virtue is when both leaders and citezens live modest lives. -
John Locke (1632-1704)
John Locke was an English plilosifer that spoke of state of nature. That is when there is no government. He said that the strong would control the weak and the weak would join to control the strong. He also spoke of natural rights. Those are rights that everyone are born with. Including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He also spoke of social compact. that is when you give up your right tohurt him back to the government. so both your rights and his are protected. -
Other John Locke Stuff
He also said that a good government protected natural rights. He also said that no king should rule absolutely. -
Montisquieu
Montesquieu was a French philosipher that spoke of a republican government. A republican government is when the citizens vote for representitives to vote for leaders to lead our government. He also talked about seperation of powers and balance of powers. Seperation of powers is when the government is divided into three branches. Balance of powers is when the three branches have equal powers so no one branch can control other branches. -
The Ratification Process
All 13 of the states had to vote on whether to ratify or not ratify the constitution. 9 out of the 13 (or 2/3) of the states had to ratify it for it to become a government. The people who wanted to ratify the constitution were called federalists and the people who didnt want to ratify it were called anti-federalists. -
Arguments Over Constitutional Interperatation
The constitution was made to be flexible and changed so arguments arose. Creating a national bank was not in the constitution so Jefferson did not think that there should be one. Jefferson believed in a strict constitution. Hamilton thought the constitution should be more flexible. Both were right.. -
Domestic Issues
Sorting out the government and washington getting his cabnet. His country was in alot of debt. Taxing the people was a big problem because the states did not want to be taxed. -
Foriegn Issues
One of the foriegn issues included the French Rebellion. Like us, they wanted to be independent and get away from the monarchy they were in. Britain seized the cargo of our ships because we remained neutral and wouldnt fight with them.
