Constitutional Government

CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT-America’s Way of Doing Things-

ROUGH DRAFT OF GOVERNMENT

-The Articles of Confederation-

Two Forms of Government• Federal Government = National Government (i.e. Congress, President, a King, etc.)

• State Government (i.e. Governor, Senate, Assemby, etc.)

We Won! Now What?• 13 Colonies had won their

freedom.• No national government in

charge of all 13 states• Each state had own laws

and gov’t, and wanted own power. Did not want to be ruled by another state.

Be afraid, be very afraid…• 13 states wanted to join together for

protection• States feared strong rulers and

wanted to have equal power.• Didn’t want another King (Monarchy)

Rough Draft of Government• 13 States sign Articles of

Confederation in 1781• System makes decisions as a

group of states• Only lasted 8 years because it

stunk.• Confederation National

government was way too weak to get anything done.

DJ Nimocks Presents BCCS’s 1st Annual Superstar Bash

Individual

• On your own, decide which ONE musical artist or band you would want to perform at BCCS

• You have 2 minutes

Group

• In your rows, decide which ONE musical artist or band you would bring to perform at BCCS

• You have 2 minutes

Class

• As a class, decide which ONE musical artist or band you would want to perform at BCCS

• You have 5 minutes

I. Articles of Confederation:National (All 13 States)

① National government could make war

② National government could make peace

③ National government could sign treaties with other countries (France, England, etc.)

④ National government could print money

II. Articles of Confederation:States (i.e. New York, Georgia, etc.)

① Each state set own taxes, print money

② Each state controlled trade and had its own army

③ Each state donated money to national government

④ Each state elected only one person to vote in national Congress, no matter how big the state was

III. Problems!• Very Strong States = Weak

United States• The national gov’t could not

make people pay taxes.• They had to rely on

donations from states

IV. Crisis in Massachusetts!• In 1786, a group of

Revolutionary War veterans and farmers in debt and trying to save their farms rebel.

• Attacked gov’t buildings and tried to steal weapons for a rebellion.

• Led by Daniel Shay = Shays’ Rebellion

V. Shays’ Rebellion• The national gov’t

had no army to stop rebellion.

• Had too little money or power to do anything

• Private army paid by wealthy businessmen barely stop the rebellion