Governing A New Nation
Chapter 7 Section 1
Pages 204 - 209
“Americans sought to create a republic in which the
states had more power than the central
government.”
- Background Knowledge (P. 204)
What is a “republic”?
THOUGHT:
Americans did not want to give
up state powers for a strong
central (Federal) government.
1776 – 1777
Most states created their own constitutions to
establish the boundaries for their government so as not
to allow them to gain too much power.
CONSTITUTION
A document that stated the rules under which a government could
operate.
Executive
Governor
State
Constitution
Legislative
Congress
Judicial
Court System
Virginia was the first state to add a Bill of Rights to their
state Constitutions, but many others soon followed.
Powers of Central
Government
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Could make laws
Could declare war
Could make/borrow money
Could operate a postal system
Could deal with Indians/Foreign
Countries outside of 13 states
Weak Central
Government
Limitations of Central
Government
1. States had more power
than central government
2. Could NOT control trade
3. Could NOT collect taxes
4. Could NOT enforce laws
5. Only one Branch
(Legislative)
State Constitutions
All 13 states had to approve (ratify)
the Articles of Confederation before
it became official.
Maryland refused to approve them
until all states gave up their land
claims west of the Appalachian
Mountains. (See page 207 Map)
Virginia was the last state to give up
their land claims in 1781 and only
then did Maryland give their
approval to the Articles.
While Congress adopted the Articles
in 1777, they were not ratified until
1781.
Why was it important for the central (federal)
government to receive the land claims from
the 13 states?
6 Miles
The Land Ordinance of 1785
created a “Grid System” by which
new lands would be organized
into townships.
ie. Pike Township / German
Township
6 Miles
Three Step Process For Becoming A State:
1. Congress appointed a governor,
secretary, and 3 judges to each new
territory.
2. Upon gaining 5,000 free adult male
settlers, it could elect a legislature.
3. It needed 60,000 free adults to be
considered for statehood.
Five States would be carved out of the
Northwest Territory:
Ohio
Indiana
Illinois
Michigan
Wisconsin
The NW Ordinance of 1787 established the
method for new lands to become an official
state in the United States.
The Constitutional Convention
Chapter 7 Section 2
Pages 212 - 217
WHO: 55 delegates from 12 states
WHAT: Constitutional Convention
WHEN: Summer of 1787
WHERE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WHY: Revise Articles of Confederation/
Create New Constitution
HOW: “The Great Compromise”
George Washington
Roger Sherman
James Madison
George Mason Alexander Hamilton
Ben Franklin
James Madison
Executive – Carry Out The Laws
PRESIDENT
Strong Central
Government
Legislative – Make The Laws
Upper House
Lower House
Judicial – Interpret The Laws
Based Upon Population
William Paterson
Executive – Carry Out The Laws
PRESIDENT
Strong Central
Government
Legislative – Make The Laws
One House
Judicial – Interpret The Laws
Each State = Votes
Expanded the powers of congress to raise money and control trade.
Executive – Carry Out The Laws
PRESIDENT
Roger Sherman
Strong Central
Government
Legislative – Make The Laws
Judicial – Interpret The Laws
House of
Based Upon Population
Representatives
Senate
Each State Gets 2 Senators
North Wanted
South Wanted
Slaves not to be counted
toward the population of
the south.
Slaves to count as people
toward the population of
the south.
To eliminate the buying
and selling of slaves
anywhere in the U.S.
To have freedom to buy
and sell slaves anywhere
in the U.S.
Slaves would count as 3/5 of a person toward
the population count.
Slaves could be imported for 20 more years
(until 1808) and then the U.S. could eliminate
the importation of slaves.
Articles of
Confederation
The Articles were a pact
between separate states.
U.S. Constitution
The Constitution was
created to form “a more
perfect union” and got its
power from the people of the
U.S.
Debating The Constitution
Chapter 7 Section 3
Pages 218 - 221