英美概况Unit 4 the political system in the United.ppt

Unit 4 The Political System in the United States Focal points The 13 British colonies in America The Articles of Confederation The making of US Constitution The Three Branches of the Federal Government Checks and Balances The Bill of Rights Political Parties Original 13 colonies 13 united colonies were not very clear about their future political system of the United States and about their relationship between the states and the government of the new nation. Articles of Confederation The situations after the War of Independence: The US was not a unified nations as it is today. Each new state had its own government and was organized very much like an independent nation. Each made its own laws and handled all of its internal affairs. After the war, the new states agreed to set a plan of cooperation. This agreement was called the Articles of Confederation. It was the first constitution of the United States, agreed to by Congress November 15, 1777; ratified and in force, March 1, 1781. The articles established a firm league of friendship between and among the 13 states. the Articles reflect the wariness by the states of a strong central government. Afraid that their individual needs would be ignored by a national government with too much power, the Articles purposely established a constitution that vested the largest share of power to the individual states. Under the Articles each of the states retained their sovereignty, freedom and independence. the Articles of Confederation failed (why?). The failure made many Americans believe that the Congress needed more power. In order to strengthen its power, the Congress asked each state to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia to discuss the changes which would be necessary to strengthen the Articles of Confederation. The meeting was later known as the Constitutional Convention, began in May of 1787. Constitution In the course of the Convention, the delegates designed a new form of government for th