The Early Years
of the Republic
Thus far, we have studied the
1. Colonial Era (1607-1776)
• We were 13 colonies under English rule.
and
2. Revolutionary Era (1775-1783)
• We were fighting for our right to become an
independent nation.
Articles of Confederation
• Our first constitution
• Unicameral (one-house) Congress
• Each state had one vote
• States retain sovereignty
• No chief executive OR judiciary
Because of the fear of a
strong central government,
the Articles did not provide
for a chief executive or
judiciary.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Greatest accomplishment of
Confederation government
Provided a means
by which new states
could enter the Union
1787
Constitutional Era
• Philadelphia Convention
• U. S. Constitution written
The Virginia Plan
•
•
•
Favored by larger states
3 branches: Separation of powers
Bicameral legislature in which the number of
representatives in both houses would be
determined by a state’s population
The New Jersey Plan
• Favored by smaller states
• Unicameral legislature in which
each state would have one vote
The Great Compromise
(Formula for Congressional Representation)
Bicameral legislature
House of Representatives
Number of representatives to be determined by a
state’s population
Senate
Each state would have 2 Senators
The Great Compromise
(Formula for Congressional Representation)
3 branches of government
• Judicial
• Legislative
• Executive
3/5’s Compromise
Each state would be allowed to
count 3/5’s of its slave
population in the census for
representation and taxation
Federalists
•
•
Favored a strong
national (central)
government
Favored ratification
of Constitution
Antifederalists
• Opposed ratification
• Felt too much power had been
given to the national (central
government)
• Wanted a Bill of Rights
The Federalist Papers
• Authors:
• John Jay
• Alexander Hamilton
• James Madison
• Written in support of ratification of
the Constitution
Federalists maintained the
Constitution had features
that prevented the abuse
of government power.
Federalism
Sharing of power between a
central government and
individual states
3 Branches of Government
1. Legislative
• Makes the laws
2. Executive
• Enforces the law
3. Judicial
• Interprets the law
Bicameral
Having two
chambers or
houses
Amendment Process
• Provided for in Article 5
• Allows the Constitution to be
changed to adjust for changing
times
Separation of Powers
Division of the powers of
government among 3 separate
branches
Checks and Balances
A system by which each branch of
government has of checking or
controlling the powers of the other
two branches
Popular Sovereignty
Political authority comes from
the people
Grievance
a wrong considered as
grounds for complaint
The Bill of Rights
• The first 10
amendments to the
Constitution
• Protects individual
rights and freedoms
st
1
•
•
•
•
•
Amendment
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Freedom of press
Right to assemble peacefully
Right to petition the government
rd
3
Amendment
Quartering Troops
The grievance of quartering troops stated in
the Declaration of Independence in private
homes was addressed in the 3rd Amendment.
th
4
Amendment
Freedom from
unreasonable
searches
th
6
and
th
7
Amendments
“For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended
offenses”-----Declaration of Independence
Grievance addressed by
6th and 7th Amendments
Review Item:
• “No
taxation without representation”
referred to the consent of the
governed. It was a grievance
expressed in the Declaration of
Independence that was later
addressed in the U. S. Constitution.
Review Item:
The purpose of the
Intolerable Acts was to
make an example of
Massachusetts.
Review Item:
Thomas Paine, author of
Common Sense, urged the
colonists to
declare independence.
Review Item:
BIAS in the reporting of
historical events is often
present depending upon
the POINT OF VIEW of
the writer.