Declaration of Independence

What is it?

A document stating the United States’ independence from Britain.

Signed on July 4, 1776Signatures include

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams

PREAMBLE

We the People of the United States,

in Order to form a more perfect Union,

Establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility

Not the King U.S. is a Democracy

Better Union of states than before

Create fair legal system

Keep things peaceful at home

Provide for the common defense,

Promote the general Welfare

Join together to defend

Help support people’s wellbeing

And secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and out Posterity,

Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Make sure freedom and liberty to around for us and future generations

The People have created and agreed to follow this new government.

In 1777, the Americans wrote their first plan for government in a document called the

Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation

TheThe Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation?? What’s a What’s a confederationconfederation????

A A confederationconfederation is a _________ of is a _________ of individuals _______ together individuals _______ together

for a _________. for a _________.

The First Attempt: The First Attempt: The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

groupgroup

unitedunitedpurpospurposee

The First Attempt: The First Attempt: The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

• Each state was _________________ and had its Each state was _________________ and had its own ________________.own ________________.

• Each state would send _______________ to the Each state would send _______________ to the “Congress of the Confederation.”“Congress of the Confederation.”

• The Congress was the only ____________ The Congress was the only ____________ government. There was no ___________.government. There was no ___________.

• In Congress, each state got _______ vote.In Congress, each state got _______ vote.

independentindependentgovernmentgovernment

representativesrepresentatives

centralcentralPresidentPresident

oneone

• Congress had no way to Congress had no way to __________ its _______!__________ its _______!

• Congress had no power Congress had no power to collect _________ to to collect _________ to pay for the military!pay for the military!

• The Articles could only The Articles could only be _________ if ______ be _________ if ______ the states agreed!the states agreed!

• States get to keep their States get to keep their ______ and __________________ and ____________

• No _____________ telling No _____________ telling the states what to dothe states what to do

• Congress had the Congress had the power to create a power to create a _________ to ________all _________ to ________all the statesthe states

The First Attempt: The First Attempt: The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

Hey, this sounds great!

Wait! Not so fast…

independenindependencece

powepowerr

governmegovernmentnt

militarmilitaryyprotecprotec

tt

enforcenforcee

lawlawss

taxetaxess

changechangedd

ALALLL

Under the Articles of Under the Articles of Confederation, a President Confederation, a President

would lead the country.would lead the country.

TrueTrue FalseFalse

States would be States would be independent under the independent under the

Articles of Confederation.Articles of Confederation.

TrueTrue FalseFalse

The Articles of The Articles of Confederation created the Confederation created the first American government.first American government.

TrueTrue FalseFalse

There were some

good things and

some bad things

about the Articles

of Confederation.

In general, people

felt like the

government wasn’t

working!

Congress is too weak to Congress is too weak to end the conflicts between end the conflicts between

our states! our states!

But there was no

easy solution… Large states should

have more say!

Small states should

have more say!

More help for

fishermen!

More help for

farmers!

Up with central

government!

Down with central

government!

We need a President!

Who needs a

President?

States Had Different States Had Different NeedsNeeds

Some states depended on fishing, Some states depended on fishing,

while others mostly grew while others mostly grew crops.crops.

States Had Different States Had Different SizesSizes

Some states had many people, Some states had many people,

while others had while others had few. few.

People Had Different People Had Different OpinionsOpinions

Some people Some people fearedfearedOthers thought a central government was Others thought a central government was necessary. necessary.

a central government.a central government.

A central government will have too much power! We’ll

lose our freedom! But we’ll never get

anything done if no one is in charge!!

Something needed to change, but

people didn’t want a central

government to have too much

power!

Everybody thought the Everybody thought the central government should central government should

have more power.have more power.

TrueTrue FalseFalse

Some people were afraid Some people were afraid states might lose their states might lose their

independence.independence.

TrueTrue FalseFalse

Different states had Different states had different needs for different needs for

government to meet.government to meet.

TrueTrue FalseFalse

Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation New IdeaNew Idea

A New Idea!A New Idea!

1 Branch1 BranchLegislative—makes laws 3 3

BranchesBranches

A New Idea!A New Idea!

Legislative:

Makes laws

Judicial: Interprets laws

Executive:

Carries out

laws

But But

Wait!Wait!

How many How many should each state should each state get in the get in the legislature?legislature?

votesvotes

Each state gets to send Each state gets to send representatives to the legislature. representatives to the legislature. Which states would have the most Which states would have the most power if…power if…• The more people a state had, the The more people a state had, the

more representatives it got?more representatives it got?

Answer: The more people, the Answer: The more people, the more power!more power!

Each state gets to send Each state gets to send representatives to the legislature. representatives to the legislature. Which states would have the most Which states would have the most power if…power if…• Each state got one vote, no Each state got one vote, no

matter how small?matter how small?

Answer: People in the small states Answer: People in the small states would have more power.would have more power.

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia PlanThe Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

Battle of the PlansBattle of the Plans

• Legislative branch has Legislative branch has ___ “chambers”___ “chambers”

• Number of votes for Number of votes for each state depends on each state depends on the state’s ___________the state’s ___________

• ________ states would ________ states would have more powerhave more power

populatiopopulationn

22

LargeLargerr

• Legislative branch has Legislative branch has ___ “chamber”___ “chamber”

• Each state gets ___ voteEach state gets ___ vote

• ________ states would ________ states would have more powerhave more power

11

SmalleSmallerr

11

(Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. (Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. Surprise!)Surprise!)

All states should have the same powerAll states should have the same power

Larger states should have more powerLarger states should have more power

Is it more fair for every state to Is it more fair for every state to have the same amount of power no have the same amount of power no matter how few people live there, matter how few people live there, or should states with more people or should states with more people

have more power?have more power?

WHY?WHY?

There were a lot of

differences to

overcome and a lot

of compromises to

make…but

finally…

The The Constitution of Constitution of

the United the United States of States of AmericaAmerica

LegislativeLegislative: :

Makes Makes lawslaws

JudicialJudicial: : Interprets

Interprets lawslaws

ExecutiveExecutive: :

Carries out Carries out

lawslaws

Divide Congress Into Two Divide Congress Into Two Houses Houses

SenateSenateHouse of House of

RepresentativeRepresentativess

Each state gets 2 votes.

The more people the state has, the more votes it gets!

DEPENDS ON POPULATION

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise