NAME: PER:
CRASH COURSE US HISTORY
Episode #8: The Constitution
Length: 13:03”
NOTES:
- The constitutional government that was originally set up was called the Articles of Confederation. It was bad. It was not good. It only lasted 10 years. It was not a framework, but was a firm league of friendships.
- It set up a one house body of delegates with each state having a single vote who acting collectively could make decisions on certain issues that effected all the states. No president and no Judiciary branch.
- Any decision required 9 of the congressional votes and that way no decisions would ever be made.
- Besides the 2/3rds requirement the congress was very limited on what it could do.
- It could declare war, conduct forming affairs and make treaties. Could coin money but could not collect taxes. If you needed money you had to ask the state politely. 0 amendments were ever passed.
- The government was deliberately weak.
- Weak govt. is like non-alcoholic beer.
- 1. It won the war! Unless you were a slave or Native American.
- 2. Government had rules dealing with the Northwest. Getting control of the land meant taking it from the Indians. The Articles were empowered to make treaties.
- The strong do as they can and the weak do what they must.
- Through treaties signed the Indians surrendered land North of the Ohio river.
- The big accomplishment was the Northwest ordinance of 1787 was a process to create 5 new states between Ohio and Mississippi. It said that the Indians were to be treated better if the settlers wanted to avoid violence.
- It outlawed slavery in all 5 of the new states.
- IT COULD NOT COLLECT TAXES! The national government and individual states racked up lots of debt to pay for the war. The main revenue was tariffs and the states had to do it individually and it meant international trade was a nightmare.
- The British were cranky about us winning the war and they would not trade with us.
- It got so bad in Massachusetts as they closed the courts from closing on their farms. This was called Shay’s Rebellion. It was quelled by the local militia.
- The government could not deal with the crisis. Thomas Jefferson was a fan of Shay’s rebellion.
- It showed too much democratic liberty could threaten private property. People who held government bonds were nervous as they could not be paid back.
- First thing to be done was in Maryland in 1786 to help regulate trade. Only 6 delegates were sent as they were going to revise the articles of confederation.
- They wrote a new charter called the Constitution. It is pretty much the same.
- The 55 men who met in Philadelphia were not gods. They were far from ordinary.
- Most were wealthy more than ½ had college education. (.001 percent attended college)
- 40 % served in the war. They all shared a desire for a stronger national government.
- They thought that it should have judicial, executive, and legislative democracy. They thought it should be an in direct democracy. It should be Republican.
- Alexander Hamilton wanted the President and Senate to serve life terms. That idea went no where.
- All delegates wanted government to protect against tyranny and tyranny by the people. They did not want too much government. They did not want too much democracy.
- That is why the electoral college uses the electoral college 538 delegates.
- The first conflict was between large states and small states.
- The Virginia Plan called for a 2 house legislature with representation in both proportional to the population. The New Jersey plan for small states. It called for single legislative house and representation for each state being equal. It did not succeed.
- The Great Compromise gave us 2 houses with representation based on population and the senate with 2 members from each state.
- Congressman served 2 year terms and senators served 6 year terms.
- The House was supposed to be responsive to the people. The Senate was designed to not pass anything.
- Who should be counted in terms of representation. They used the 3/5ths compromise as the slaves could not vote as they were property.
- The total number of white people and the total of the other people 3/5th of them.
- The constitution also included the fugitive slave clause – a slave could not escape to moving to a state where slavery was outlawed. This becomes problematic.
- The framers really hated tyranny- the constitution embraced 2 things.
- 1. Separation of powers – legislative, judicial, and executive powers.
- 2. Checks and balances- each branch can check the branch of the other.
- Legislature can make laws
- President can veto laws.
- The judicial could veto laws too.
- 3. Federalism- government authority rests on the national and state government.
- I am a citizen the state and country I am from.
- The constitution seeks to protect against the radicalism- that too much democracy can bring.
- Many people were poor and thought they would vote in a president that wants redistribution of property.
- Senators were elected by the states and were supposed to be leading citizen types. Good Americans that take bribes and stuff.
- Electoral College- It has the potential to elect a president that did not win the popular vote. The electors were supposed to be prominent and educated and men of property.
- The constitution is an impressive document- it has lasted a long time.
- It was ratified not without a fight.
- 9 out of the 13 states were required to ratify the constitution. In order to convince delegates to vote on it 85 essays were written as the Federalist Papers. These explained why a strong government is necessary and not a threat to people.
- 2nd amendment – that they can protect themselves it is listed as a right not a privilege.
- Anti- Federalists deserve some attention- they were usually supported by common people like farmers. They saw less need for a strong national government. They were afraid of a strong government especially one dominated by the wealthy.
- “That no extensive empire can be governed by Republican principles.”
- Smaller governments can protect rights of people better. How large should government be?
- The constitution is only a starting point.
VOCAB: This section is for words that one does not understand.
1. Quell:
2. Why were things so difficult for states to agree regarding the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan:
3. Federalism:
QUIZ QUESTIONS
1. What was the document that the government of the US was based on? Articles of Confederation.
2. Describe the good and bad of the Articles of Confederation?
- It set up a one house body of delegates with each state having a single vote who acting collectively could make decisions on certain issues that effected all the states. No president and no Judiciary branch.
- Any decision required 9 of the congressional votes and that way no decisions would ever be made.
- Besides the 2/3rds requirement the congress was very limited on what it could do.
- It could declare war, conduct forming affairs and make treaties. Could coin money but could not collect taxes. If you needed money you had to ask the state politely. 0 amendments were ever passed.
- The government was deliberately weak.
3. What did the Land Ordinance of 1787 do?
- The big accomplishment was the Northwest ordinance of 1787 was a process to create 5 new states between Ohio and Mississippi. It said that the Indians were to be treated better if the settlers wanted to avoid violence.
- It outlawed slavery in all 5 of the new states.
4. What was the big downfall of the Articles of Confederation?
- It could not collect taxes
5. Why was Shay’s Rebellion so significant?
- The British were cranky about us winning the war and they would not trade with us.
- It got so bad in Massachusetts as they closed the courts from closing on their farms. This was called Shay’s Rebellion. It was quelled by the local militia.
- The government could not deal with the crisis. Thomas Jefferson was a fan of Shay’s rebellion.
- It showed too much democratic liberty could threaten private property. People who held government bonds were nervous as they could not be paid back.
6. What were the 2 things the constitution embraced ?
- 1. Separation of powers – legislative, judicial, and executive powers.
- 2. Checks and balances- each branch can check the branch of the other.
- Legislature can make laws
- President can veto laws.
- The judicial could veto laws too.
- 3. Federalism- government authority rests on the national and state government.
- I am a citizen the state and country I am from.
- The constitution seeks to protect against the radicalism- that too much democracy can bring.
- Many people were poor and thought they would vote in a president that wants redistribution of property.
7. Who were the anti-federalists?
They were usually supported by common people like farmers. They saw less need for a strong national government.
They were afraid of a strong government especially one dominated by the wealthy.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. The strong do as they can and the weak do what they must. How does this quote relate to what was going on in early America?
2. Why was it so difficult for the states to get the ratification of the Constitution? Why did each group of states have their own plan IE: Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
3. How large should government be? Is our government too big?
NAME: PER:
CRASH COURSE US HISTORY
Episode #8: The Constitution
Length: 13:03”
NOTES:
SUMMARY OF THE VIDEO:
VOCAB: This section is for words that one does not understand.
1. Quell:
2. Why were things so difficult for states to agree regarding the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan:
3. Federalism:
QUIZ QUESTIONS
1. What was the document that the government of the US was based on?
2. Describe the good and bad of the Articles of Confederation?
3. What did the Land Ordinance of 1787 do?
4. What was the big downfall of the Articles of Confederation?
5. Why was Shay’s Rebellion so significant?
6. What were the 2 things the constitution embraced?
7. Who were the anti-federalists?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. The strong do as they can and the weak do what they must. How does this quote relate to what was going on in early America?
2. Why was it so difficult for the states to get the ratification of the Constitution? Why did each group of states have their own plan IE: Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
3. How large should government be? Is our government too big?