ArmandoHeredia.com

Notes for AmGov | 09-02

09-02_AmGove Notes

Recap:

Articles of Confederation’s lack of power

Created problems

End of the 1780’s Economic problems

Lot of dent from Revolution

People are owed money by the government

Bankruptcy Issues

One opinion | Without a strong central government people on the streets are trying to put pressure on the government to do certain things.

People aren’t governing directly

Mob rule seems to be prevailing

Governments are being pressured to enact stay-acts or stay-laws

Like a bankruptcy protection.

People saw it as trying to get out of legitimate debt

Saw it as a threat to the right of property

PPT:

Problems of the 1780’s

1. Democracy out of control
2. State threats to property
3. Shay’s Rebellion
   1500 to 2000 people were following Shay. In the state of Mass people were losing property (agricultural society). Shay and his mob take over a courthouse where foreclosure proceedings are taking place.
   Leaders of the Colonial society were not happy with the situation, state governments seem to be making it worse, and Washington said “We are fast verging on anarchy and confusion.” John Adams and others decide they need to fix things

Constitutional Convention

1. Originally called to “revise” the Articles, but decided to replace it.
   “The government is broken, we need to fix it.” Virginians felt like the Articles were not good and needed to be replaced. They brought a new plan for government.
   Educated, wealthy land owners, white, young men (average age), group of privilege
2. Result is sometimes referred to as a “bundle of compromises”. It is a bunch of compromises amongst politicians. Most believed that the government needed certain things, tax power, central government, etc.

Convention Compromises

1. Representation of the statesHow will states be represented in a new form of government? Previously there was only one delegate per state.

   ~Virginia Plan –representation should be based on population. The larger the population of the state the more representatives that you get per state. Population equals more power.
   Anti thought – all states are equal, so size shouldn’t affect representation.

   ~New Jersey Plan based on equality of the states

   Both sides have valid points, worked through the summer, reach a compromise

   ~Great Compromise (Connecticut) Compromise created a bicameral legislature
   Bicameral – two houses of legislature
   The house of representatives – representation by population
   Senate – Equality – Senators (2)

   There are two things you should not watch being made, legislation and sausage. ~ Otto VonBismark

2. Slavery – Number of slave related compromises in the constitution
   ~ Should slaves count in determining representation? Northern and Southern conflict
   Slaves should be counted for some other reason, if you count slaves as population the states will be taxed higher.

   ~ Three/Fifths Compromise – Count slaves as 3/5 of a person for determining representation.
   Traditionally attributed to the idea that this would create a balance between the North and South

   Argument that slavery was a constitutional right.

3. Presidency
   Articles of Confederation had no executive branch, some feared the powers given were afraid it would lead to a dictator
   ~How to elect?
   Some thought the president should be chosen by the congress.
   Some felt this would create a weak pres dependant on the congress

   Some wanted a direct election by the people.
   Weak presidency due to unwise election

   Compromise: The Electoral College
   Body made up every four years.
   We choose people to go to the electoral college, not really vote for the president

Basic Principles of the Constitution

Talk about big ideas and overall structure of the constitution

1. Republican form of government with checks on majority rule
2. Elected Representatives
3. Separation of powers
   Read some of the writings of James Madison, good but not sufficient to protect people from government tyranny. Politicians are ambitious people, the ambition of the pres needs t be counteracted by the other branches so they set up:
4. Checks and Balances
   Give each branch a little power of the other branches, enough to block and counteract
   Ambitious people keep each other in line.