From Confederation to Constitution: Forging a New Nation

Central Theme: Two Founding Moments

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 against 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 Confederation 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

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 Congress – 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 Outcomes – A Success

· Won the War

· Policy for Public Land

Negative Outcomes – A Failure

· Taxation, troops, trade and currency

· Weak Central Government – Credibility with Foreign Nations