User:Atcovi/VA and US History/Government in the 1780s

Wartime Challenges

 * Democracy - Athens; everybody votes on everything.
 * Republic - Rome; vote representatives, who will vote on issues for you.

1775 - The states write new constitutions independent of royal governors.
 * Common Features
 * Most had bicameral legislatures (senate and house of representatives).
 * Voting restrictions still applied.
 * Listed the rights of a citizen.
 * Reducing the power of a governor.

Governance

 * The 2nd Continental Congress comes up with the Articles of Confederation.


 * Between 1782-1802, the national government claims the land west of the Appalachians.

The Constitution has been set up and is waiting for the 9 out of the 13 states to ratify it. By 1788, 9 states have accepted it and the Constitution was established.

The last 4 states did not agree yet, so the federalists started lobbying. The Federalist Papers were created in which 85 essays were written by the "Publius", in which it presented the reasons for supporting the Constitution.

The Anti-Federalists were created, who went against the Constitution. They publish a series of letters and argued that the Constitution may infringe on the citizens' rights. They wanted a Bill of Rights which stated that they protect the individual.

James Madison creates the Bill of Rights. He creates 10 amendments from 85 suggestions and adds it to the Constitution by 1791. The last 4 states will ratify the Constitution years before based on the promise that they will have their Bill of Rights.