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U.S. History. Chapter 7: Creating a Republic. Uniting the Colonies. States wrote Constitutions: to set limits of government powers a nd to spell out the rights of citizens. Constitution. Document that sets out laws, principles, organization, and processes of government. EXECUTE.
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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
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