Why did the founding fathers reject the idea of a Democracy
the uneducated masses could never be trusted with so much power
A government where the citizens rule through their elected representatives
Republic
The idea that governments should be based on the consent of the people
Republicanism
an alliance where it was a loose association of states
Confederation
Powers granted to congress
Declare war make peace negotiate treaties borrow money set standars: weights and measures, coinage postal service deal with native americans
Powers denied to congress
No executive department no national court could not tax could not regulate trade 2/3 majority need to pass a law amendments need unanimous consent
Land ordinance of 1785
set up a plan to survey the land
divided out into 36 sections
one section=640 acres
family farm= 1/4 of a section @ 1$/acre 160 acres
Northwest ordinance of 1787
- set up requirements for admission for new states
- congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges
- territory with 5,000 voting residents could write a temporary constitution and elect their own gov
- total pop 60,000. had to be approved by Congress
- each state function independently
- problems under the articles of confederation
- pursed its own interests
- each state had one vote regardless of its size or pop
- articles could not be amended without unanimous vote
- the nation was deeply in debt from the war and congress did not have the power to tax
- proposed a tarriff, but it died when Rhode Island rejected it
Shays rebellion
- one of many farmers in debt after the revolution
- lived in western massachusetts
- victim of too much taxation
- he led an army of 1200 to take over the arsenal in Springfield after he had closed the courts
- The state militia was called out to stop him
- Problem- would more rebellions take place by farmers
- pointed out the weaknesses of the national gov
Constitutional convention
- delegates form 12 states assembled at the Philadelphia State house
- rhode island missing
- 55 delegates who met in the heat
- windows closed tight
- men in 30s and 40s (educated0
- Ben frank, alex hamilton, james madison, roger sherman
- washingotn was elected pres
Virginia PLan
-james madison
-bicameral legislature based on proportional representation
-Lower house; elected by voters
upper house; elected by the lower house
New Jersey Plan
William Patterson
unicameral legislature in which each state would have equal representation (1 vote each)
The great compromise
roger sherman of connecticut bicameral legislature Lower house vs Upper House Lower house: house of reps -proportional -popular vote Upper house: senate -equal -elected by state legislature
Three Fifths Compromise
How to count Southern Slaves in the pop for the purpose of REPRESENTATION and TAXATION
-1000 slaves x 3/5=600 +white pop=total pop
Divided powers between the national and state governments
Federalism
Delgated powers
aka (enumerated): powers granted to the national gov
- foregin affairs
- national defense
- regulate trade between the states
- coin money
Reserved powers
Those kept by the states
- education
- trade within state
- marriage laws
Shared Powers
tax
borrow money
pay debts
System of Check and balances
to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful
Electoral college
purpose: to elect the president
- each state would choose a number of electors equal to the number of Reps in Congress plus the number of Senators
Official approval- required by the agreement of at least 9 states
ratification
Ratification procedure
Each state would hold a special convention
voters would elect delegates to the convention
these delegates would vote to approve or reject it
this process mostly bypassed the state legislatures
they would be giving uo more power with the new constituion
the first state to ratify the constitution
delaware
the ninth state to ratify the constituion
new hampshire
