SS8H4a
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses
of both the Georgia Constitution of
1777 and the Articles of Confederation
and explain how weaknesses in the
Articles of Confederation led to a need
to revise the Articles.
Concepts:
Governance
Rule of Law
GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the
U.S. CONSTITUTION
PAGE 29 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4a
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What were the strengths and
weaknesses of the Georgia
Constitution of 1777?
Distribution of Power
The student will understand that
distribution of power
in government is a product of
existing documents and laws
combined with contemporary
values and beliefs.
How would you describe the distribution
of power at Moses Middle School?
Which branch of government is
responsible for making laws?
Why did the writers of the Georgia
Constitution of 1777 want to limit the
power of the Executive branch
(Governor)?
GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777
STRENGTHS
• Separation of
Powers
• 8 Counties (local
government) each
county had its own
government, court,
school, and militia
• Citizens were
guaranteed freedom
of religion, press,
and trial by jury
•
•
•
•
WEAKNESSES
Uni-cameral legislature
(one house) had too
much power – appoint
(choose) the Governor
and judges
Governor served only a 1
year term
Only white men 21 and
over with property could
vote
Amending (changing) the
constitution was difficult
Appointed by
executive
council
Very
little
power
Appointed
by legislature
1 year
term
GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE
GA
Constitution
of 1777
STATE
JUDGES
JUDICIARY
LEGISLATIVE
Power to
appoint
Governor and
judges
LEGISLATORS
(lawmakers)
Have most
of the power
Uni-cameral
(1 house) called
the House of
Assembly
Primary Source Document
GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777
Article IX.
All male white inhabitants,
of the age of twenty-one years, and
possessed in his own right of ten pounds
value, and liable to pay tax in this State,
or being of any mechanic trade, and shall
have been resident six months in this
State, shall have a right to vote at all
elections for representatives, or any other
officers...
SS8H4a
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses
of both the Georgia Constitution of
1777 and the Articles of Confederation
and explain how weaknesses in the
Articles of Confederation led to a need
to revise the Articles.
Concepts:
Governance
Rule of Law
GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the
U.S. CONSTITUTION
PAGE 30 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4a
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What were the strengths and
weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation?
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
•
•
•
•
STRENGTHS
1st constitution
Central
government
Federalism –
power divided
between central
(national) gov’t
and individual
state gov’t
Congress could:
–
–
–
–
Declare war
Sign treaties
Deliver mail
Create money
WEAKNESSES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Weak national gov’t
State gov’t too strong
Uni-cameral legislature (Congress)
States only had 1 representative
and 1 vote in Congress
No executive branch or president
No national court system
Could not tax the states to raise
money
Could not regulate (control) trade
Could not enforce laws
Each state had its own currency
and militia
Too difficult to amend (change) the
Articles
CONFLICT & CHANGE
The student will understand that
when there is conflict between or
within societies, change is the
result.
Do all conflicts have to involve
violence and war?
How did the Articles of
Confederation create a conflict?
What changes were needed?
READING ACTIVITY
• GREEN CRCT COACH BOOK page 218
• CRCT PREP BOOK page 50
• WE THE PEOPLE WORKBOOK page 40
CONFLICT & CHANGE
The student will understand that
when there is conflict between or
within societies, change is the
result.
Do all conflicts have to involve
violence and war?
How did the Articles of
Confederation create a conflict?
What changes were needed?
SS8H4b
Describe the role of Georgia at the
Constitutional Convention of 1787;
include the role of Abraham Baldwin
and William Few, and reasons why
Georgia ratified the new constitution.
Concepts:
Individuals – Groups – Institutions
Governance
Conflict and Change
Rule of Law
GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the
U.S. CONSTITUTION
PAGE 31 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4b
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What role did Georgia’s
Abraham Baldwin and
William Few play in the
Constitutional Convention
of 1787?
CONFLICT & CHANGE
The student will understand that
when there is conflict between or
within societies, change is the
result.
What does it mean to
compromise? Give some
examples from your own
experiences.
Why did states argue about the
US Constitution, and what
changed as a result?
Constitutional Convention of 1787
• Why did our Founding Fathers need to
revise the Articles of Confederation?
To create a stronger Federal (national /
central) government that would UNITE the
young country together.
• What happened to the Articles of
Confederation?
The Founding Fathers wrote a new
constitution
SS8H4b
Describe the role of Georgia at the
Constitutional Convention of 1787;
include the role of Abraham Baldwin
and William Few, and reasons why
Georgia ratified the new constitution.
Concepts:
Individuals – Groups – Institutions
Governance
Conflict and Change
Rule of Law
ABRAHAM BALDWIN
BOTH MEN WERE
REPRESENTATIVES
FROM GEORGIA
WHO HELPED
CREATE AND SIGN
THE UNITED
STATES
CONSTITUTION.
ABRAHAM
BALDWIN PLAYED
A BIG ROLE IN THE
GREAT
COMPROMISE THAT
HELPED CREATE A
BI-CAMERAL
LEGISLATURE
WILLIAM FEW
HELPED WRITE THE
CONSTITUTION
WILLIAM FEW
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION of 1787
CAUSE
EFFECT
ARTICLES
OF
CONFEDERATION
THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION
• State governments
had too much power
Constitutional
Convention
of
1787
• National government
could not levy taxes,
enforce laws, or control
trade
• Great Compromise:
Bi-cameral legislature
benefits both big and small
states (population)
• No executive branch
(President)
• 3/5ths Compromise:
3 out of 5 slaves counted
toward population and
were also taxed
• No judicial branch
(no federal courts to
settle disputes
between the states)
• Bill of Rights: 1st ten
amendments to the
Constitution guaranteeing
rights for citizens
• Federal government
becomes more powerful
• Separation of Powers
- Legislative branch
makes laws
- Executive branch
enforce laws
- Judicial branch
interpret laws
• Bi-cameral legislature
• House of Representatives
based on state population
• Senate – 2 representatives
from each state
BI-CAMERAL
2 REPRESENTATIIVES
FROM EACH STATE
REPRESENTATIVES
FROM EACH STATE
BASED ON POPULATION
CONFLICT & CHANGE
The student will understand that
when there is conflict between or
within societies, change is the
result.
What does it mean to
compromise? Give some
examples from your own
experiences.
Why did states argue about the
US Constitution, and what
changed as a result?
SS8H4b
Describe the role of Georgia at the
Constitutional Convention of 1787;
include the role of Abraham Baldwin
and William Few, and reasons why
Georgia ratified the new constitution.
Concepts:
Individuals – Groups – Institutions
Governance
Conflict and Change
Rule of Law
GEORGIA STATEHOOD and the
U.S. CONSTITUTION
PAGE 32 IN GEORGIA JOURNAL SS8H4b
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Why did Georgia ratify the new
U.S. Constitution?
RATIFYING THE
US CONSTITUTION
Why did Georgia ratify the new
U.S. Constitution?
• Wanted federal gov’t to have power to
unite the country
• Needed federal gov’t to help fight
Native Americans in order for
Georgians to move westward onto
new lands
• 4th state to ratify on January 2nd, 1788
RULE of LAW
The student will understand that in a
democracy, rule of law influences the
behavior of citizens, establishes
procedures for making policies, and
limits the power of government.
What are some rules in each of your
classes? What are some rules in sports
or games that we play?
What part of the U.S. Constitution limits
the power of government?
Distribution of Power
The student will understand that
distribution of power
in government is a product of
existing documents and laws
combined with contemporary
values and beliefs.
What are some documents that distribute
power? Which branch of government is
responsible for making laws?
What was wrong with the Articles of
Confederation that influenced the states
to create a new U.S. Constitution?
GOVERNANCE
The student will understand that
as a society increases in
complexity and interacts with
other societies, the complexity of
government also increases.
Think back to elementary school. How
are the rules more complex in middle
school? Do you think they’ll be more
complex in highschool?
The 13 states each had their own society
and government. What are some
examples of states interacting together,
which then made the national
government more complex?
SOURCES
• www.Glencoe.com
• http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/sscien
ce/constitutionResouces.html
• http://www.usconsulate.org.hk/pas/kids/im
ages/branches.jpg
• www.milan.k12.mi.us/.../image001.jpg
• http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convent
ion/christy/