Unit 5: Founding a New Nation

Articles of Confederation

• Brought the 13 states together and created a common legislature, Established departments to oversee necessary business between the states, Ensured citizens traveling from one state to another had the same rights.
• 1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788.
• another country

What did the delegates want to ensure in a new national government?

• a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3.
• People are the source of any and all governmental power
• That it was not too powerful.

Confederation

• It was stronger than it was under the articles
• People are the source of any and all governmental power
• an alliance of independent states

Why did colonists not want a strong national government?

• They believed it could threaten people's natural rights
• Each citizen counts towards the total number of representatives. 3 out of every 5 slaves count towards the total number of representatives.
• By the number of representatives a state has.

Ratify

• to approve
• A weak federal government resulted in individual states protecting their interests in ways that were harmful to the nation as a whole.
• A group of delegates named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president. When citizens vote in Presidential elections, they vote for an "elector" who will vote for the Candidate that wins the state.

Main Principle of the Articles

• manage public health and welfare, make and enforce state law, develop educational systems, oversee trade within a state
• Congress could establish a free trade zone in the US and negotiate with other countries to import American goods. Allowed the US to end the slave trade with foreign nations in 1808.
• Limited Government

Decentralized

• The uprising of farmers to protest high taxes, heavy debt, and the threat of debtors' prison.
• Most radical and democratic. Stated there would be no governor. Gave all free men suffrage.
• governmental power is spread among more than one person or group

Unicameral

• clearly stated
• A person who wanted to end slavery in the United States
• One-house legislature

Characteristics of the Government Under the Articles

• Unicameral legislature, No President, No National Court System
• State Governments
• clearly stated

Congress of Confederation

• Commerce Clause
• name given to the unicameral legislature under the Articles of Confederation
• Southern states would have larger representation for a smaller voting population.