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From Confederation to Constitution: Forging a New Nation

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Central Theme: Two Founding Moments

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Two Founding Moments:

  • Declaring Independence: the vision of democracy

  • Forging  a New Republic: practical issues of forming a nation that challenge the vision of democracy

 

 

Perspective: The political leadership of the United States tried to shape a new national government that provided the safeguards again= st too much concentrated power.  = Both the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution can illustrate this. = That objective is an underlying theme that shaped both the Articles of Confedera= tion and United States Constitution

 

The Problem in= 1776: No National Government

 

Issue: Fear of Concentration of Power

 

Consequence:  Articles of Confederation

 

·         Proposed by Second Continental Congress – 1777

·         Ratification – all 13 States

·         Form of National Government – 1781 – 1789

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Structure

 

Assumption:  Distribute Power of Government to = States and to the People

 

Decision:  A Loose Confederation of States

 

Single Chamber= of Congress

 

·         Elected Representatives from States

·         Each State Had One Vote

·         Legislation – Nine States

 

Powers of Cong= ress – Articles of Confederation:

 

·         Decisions on Public Lands

·         Regulate Foreign Affairs

·         Declare War

·         Mediate Interstate Boundary Disputes

·         Administer Relations with Native Americans Outside Boundaries of States

 

Limitations of Congress

 

·         Levy Taxes

·         Raise Troops

 

 

Positive Outco= mes – A Success

 

·         Won the War

·         Policy for Public Land

 

Negative Outco= mes – A Failure

 

·         Taxation, troops, trade and currency

·         Weak Central Government – Credibility with Foreign Nations