*Articles of confederation had several apparent shortcomings.
*Couldn't compose taxes
*Couldn't regulate trade between stage
*Couldn't raise and mantain a military
*Consisted of 1 branch, Legislative
Convention
*First one met in Philadelphia in May 1786 to revise of confederation.
*Georgia sent four delegates;
William Pierce
William Houston
William Few
Abraham Baldwin
Georgia and the Constitution
*Opposed a ban on slavery
*Supported creating a strong central goverment
*Georgia needed help protecting its vast frontier from Indian Raids by the Creeks
Abraham Baldwin
*A Georgia delegate to the convention, forced a tie with Houston causing the question of representation to go in commitee.
*Resulted in the Great Compromise, creation of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Outline of the Constitution
*Preamble: Introduces the concept of "Popular sovereignty"
*The articles: Established the foundation of our government
*The Amendments Guarantee certain rights to all citizens
Ratification
*Requires formal approval by 9 states*Despite problems with the articles of confederation. Some were unsure of this new constitution. GA became the 4 to ratify the Constitution.
Amendment Procedure
*A bill must pass both houses of the legislature by a 2/3 majority in each
*Once the bill has passed both houses it goes on to the states
*Passed in states by simple majority vote
Bill of Rights
*Provided a list of rights for all people
*Helped to dissipate concerns of too powerful of a national government