Name: Why was the Constitution Created? Portfolio Sample #3-Early US Source Packet Form A DIRECTIONS: Using the readings below, complete the attached graphic organizer. This will help you write your first draft of the next informational essay, Why was the Constitution Created? Document A: Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the [original thirteen] states II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the [national government of the] United States, in Congress assembled. III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other IX..The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value nor borrow money on the credit of the United States nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine States assent to the same: XIII. Every State shall abide by the determination of the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State. GLOSSARY Perpetual: lasting forever Retains: keeps Sovereignty: a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself Jurisdiction: the power or right to govern an area, make judgments about the law, and/or to arrest criminals, etc Delegated: given power to do something Welfare: well-being Assent to the same: agree with the decision Abide by the determination: follow the laws (that Congress passes) Inviolably: extremely respectful Alteration: change Hereafter: from this point on Confirmed: approved
Document B: Map of Military Centers
Document C: Letter from George Washington to John Jay George Washington to John Jay, August 1, 1786 Dear Sir [John Jay]: Your sentiments, that our affairs are drawing rapidly to a crisis, accord with my own. What the event will be is also beyond the reach of my foresight. We have errors to correct. We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation. Experience has taught us, that men will not adopt & carry into execution, measures the best calculated for their own good without GLOSSARY Sentiments: opinions Affairs: current events Drawing rapidly: Turning quickly into Accord: agree Foresight: the ability to see what will or might happen in the future Execution: action Measures: actions Coercive: forcefully persuasive Conceive: think the intervention of a coercive power. I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation, without having lodged somewhere a power which will pervade the whole Union in as energetic a manner, as the authority of the different state governments extends over the several States.... Many are of opinion that Congress have too frequently made use of the suppliant humble tone of requisition, in applications to the States, when they had a right to command obedience. Be that as it may, requisitions are a perfect nihility, where thirteen sovereign, independent, disunited States are in the habit of discussing & refusing compliance with them at their option. Requisitions are actually little better than a jest Lodged: places Pervade: to spread through all parts of Energetic: requiring a lot of effort Suppliant humble tone of requisition: formal and humble [not forceful] way of asking (i.e., for troops, money) Applications: documents to make formal requests Perfect nihilty: completely useless Compliance: doing what you ve been asked or ordered to do Jest: Joke Things cannot go on in the same [way] forever. It is much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of people being disgusted with the circumstances will have their minds prepared for any revolution whatever. We are apt to run from one extreme into another.
Document D: Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison January 30, 1787 Dear Sir, Paris, January 30th, 1787 I am impatient to learn your sentiments on the late troubles in the Eastern states. So far as I have yet seen, they do not appear to threaten serious consequences. Those states have suffered by the stoppage of the channels of their commerce, which have not yet found other issues. This must render money scarce and make the people uneasy. This uneasiness has produced acts absolutely unjustifiable; but I hope they will provoke no severities from their governments... GLOSSARY Sentiments: opinions Late troubles in the Eastern states: Shays Rebellion Channels of their commerce: ways of conducting business and making money Render: make Scarce: hard to find Severities: harsh punishments I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth Encroachments: taking away Sound: of excellent condition should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. Yours affectionately, Th. Jefferson
Document E: Checks and Balances Diagram Document F: Excerpt from US Constitution ARTICLE I The Legislative Branch Section 8. The Congress shall have the power 11: To declare War 12: To raise and support Armies 13: To provide and maintain a Navy. 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections [put down rebellions] and repel Invasions; ARTICLE II The Executive Branch Section 2.1 The President shall be the commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States...
Paragraph 1: The Articles of Confederation Why was the Constitution Created? Informational Graphic Organizer DIRECTIONS: Using the documents, answer the questions in the right-hand column in COMPLETE SENTENCES. Paragraph Doc Topic of Document How does this document show the need for a new constitution? 1. Think outside of the box: Why do you think the authors of the Articles of Confederation would be reluctant to create a strong central government with control over individual states? A The outline of the Articles of Confederation 2. According to Article IX, how many states out of the 13 had to agree for a law to pass? Is that a lot more or lot less than a simple majority (7 of 13)? 3. According to Article XIII, how many states had to agree to make changes to the Articles of Confederation themselves? How easy or difficult would this make revising the government? 1.What problems do you see when looking at this map? [Hint: how evenly spread out are the military bases through the country?] B Visual of Military Centers 2.How could European countries and local Native Americans take advantage of the US during the 1780 s based on the map?
Paragraph 2: The major problems facing the US in the 1780 s 1.What are the major concerns George Washington wrote about to John Jay regarding the current government? C Lack of central power 2.Why did Washington believe a change was necessary? What economic issues were plaguing the country in the late 1780s? D The major problems facing the US in the 1780 s What good thing resulted from the chaos caused by Shays Rebellion? [Hint: think about what Jefferson believed to be the purpose of a rebellion.]
Paragraph 3: How did the Constitution seek to fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation 1. What are the 3 branches of government established by the Constitution? E Checks and Balances Chart 2. How does the system of checks and balances keep one branch from becoming too powerful? 1. What military powers would the president have? 2. What military powers would Congress have? F Constitutional Powers of the Executive and Legislative Branches 3. Think outside the box: How could this (the answers to #1and #2) solve the problems faced under the Articles of Confederation during Shays Rebellion?