Chapter 7 A New Constitution Lesson 1 A New Government for New York When the colonists declared independence n 1776 New Yorkers no longer viewed themselves as belonging to the British New Yorkers elected ID: 446316
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Slide1
Constitution and Statehood
Chapter 7Slide2
A New Constitution
Lesson 1Slide3
A New Government for New York
When the colonists declared independence n 1776, New Yorkers no longer viewed themselves as belonging to the British.
New Yorkers elected
representatives
, people chosen to speak for others. They included
John Jay
, a lawyer from NYC.
1777 – representatives met in
Kingston
to make a state
constitution
– a written plan of government. Slide4
New York State Constitution
Signed on April 20, 1777
States New Yorkers had important rights that could not be taken away.
Ex: following their own religions and a trial by jury. Slide5
New York’s First Elected Officials
June 1777 –
George Clinton
is elected to be the first governor of NYS. He served for 21 years.
A state
legislature
– lawmaking body – was also elected.
Only white men with property could vote and be members of legislature. Slide6
Forming the National Government:
The Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress wrote the
Articles of Confederation
during the Revolution.
The Articles created a weak central government for the U.S. with no main leader and a Congress with very little power.
Goal: The founding fathers wanted a weak government because they feared the people’s rights being taken away. Slide7
The Articles Fail
Mid-1780’s – the weak government was a problem because the 13 states were not working together.
It looked like the U.S. would fail if a change was not made. Slide8
The Constitution Replaces the Articles
May 1787 –
Constitutional Convention
was held. It was a meeting of representatives from the different states in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Goal: Improve the government.
Solution: the
United States Constitution
was written as a plan of government.
September 17, 1787 – Constitution was signed. Slide9
The U.S. Constitution: Structure
Begins with
Preamble
(introduction) with words “We the People.” It states the goals of the Constitution.
Goals
: to form a strong nation, protect people’s freedom, and improve people’s lives.
The document goes on to describe the plan for governing the U.S. Slide10
The Branches of U.S. Government
Three branches (parts) to make sure there is a
balance of power (checks and balances)
so none of the branches becomes too powerful. Slide11
Executive Branch
President
Duties: makes treaties, commands armed forces, and acts as head of state. Slide12
Judicial Branch
Federal Courts
Duties: interpret meaning of Constitution, interprets federal laws Slide13
Legislative
Congress
Duties: Makes laws, sets taxes,
b
orrows money declares warSlide14
Ratifying the Constitution
The Constitution required 9 of the 13 states to approve it for it to pass.
Critics worried it would give the central government too much power.
John Jay
and
Alexander Hamilton
supported the Constitution and raised support in NY.
July 26, 1788
– NY becomes the 11
th
state to approve of the Constitution. Slide15
The Bill of Rights
1791 –
Bill of Rights
is a list of 10 amendments, or additions, to the Constitution.
Goal: to protect the rights of the people so they cannot be taken by the government.
Other amendments would be added to the Constitution with time. Slide16
Bill of Rights (Cont
)
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=efKy4J81PTg
See page 202 of textbook for list. Slide17
United State Elects a President
1789 –
George Washington
was elected the first President.
Martha Washington
was the nation’s first First Lady.
New York City
was the
capital
– a city where the government meets.
April 30, 1789 –
Washington took the oath to “protect and defend” the Constitution. Slide18
Important New Yorkers
1790 – capital moved from NY to Philadelphia.
New Yorkers John Jay and Alexander Hamilton were picked for important jobs
by President Washington.
John Jay
was the chief justice (head judge) of the Supreme Court.
Alexander Hamilton
was the secretary of the treasury.
He was in charge of the nation's money. Slide19
Early New York State
Lesson 2Slide20
Meeting at Big Tree
From 1780 to 1800 the number of people in New York State jumped from 200,000 to 600,000 and young people realized they would have to move to find land.
New Yorkers wanted the land in western NY inhabited by Iroquois.
Red Jacket
, a Seneca leader, did not want to sell land but knew the Iroquois were not strong enough to resist.
1797 – Meeting at Big Tree (
Geneseo
) the Seneca agreed to sell most the land for $100,000 and keep the rest for Iroquois Reservations. Slide21
New Yorkers Move West
Utica
was an important town because it was the start of the
Genesee Road,
which led to New York’s western
frontier
(the edge of a settled area).
Early 1800s – New Yorkers traveled the Genesee road west to New York’s frontier and cleared farmland.
Result: Central and western New York became important farming regions for New York State. Slide22
Two New Cities
Buffalo
and
Rochester
were founded in the early 1800s.
They were founded along the
Genesee Road
. Slide23
Buffalo
Today Buffalo is New York’s second largest city.
Used to be a Seneca village on Buffalo Creek.
Joseph Hodge
is believed to have been the first non-Native American settler.
1780s - He escaped slavery and opened a store to trade with the Seneca families.
Joseph Ellicott
was a surveyor (a person who maps land).
1803 – He began drawing a plan of Buffalo city.
Buffalo became an important trading center because of its location on Lake Erie. Slide24
Rochester
Today Rochester is New York’s third largest city.
Founded were Genesee River flows into Lake Ontario.
Important because the fast flowing water is a good source of power.
Result: water powered mills built to cut wood and grind wheat into flour.
1803 – Nathaniel Rochester bought land on Genesee River and people began to move to the new town.
1817 – town was originally named
Rochesterville
. Slide25
The War of 1812
Background
: NYC continued to grow while new towns were founded and t
rade continued with Europe.
Trouble arose when Britain and France went to war in the early 1800s.
Causes of the War
:
Britain blockaded American trade with France and other European countries.
British boarded American ships and kidnapped American sailors. They forced them to fight in the British navy. Americans began to rally saying
“Free trade and sailors’ rights!” Slide26
The War of 1812
1812 – U.S. declares war on Britain.
Many battles were fought in New York.
1813 – British attacked Buffalo and set the town on fire.
The one house that was not burned down belonged to
Margaret St. John
who was the only inhabitant who refused to leave her home when the British marched in.
1814 –
Battle of Plattsburgh
British tried to sail from Canada into New York on Lake Champlain.
Americans at Plattsburgh did not allow it and defeated the British. Slide27
The War Ends
1815 – fighting ended
Effects of the War:
Neither side won the war but the war proved the United States was a formidable force and could stand on its own. Slide28
The Empire State
1820 – New York had grown to have the largest population of all the states.
It’s official nickname became the Empire State because George Washington has called it the “Seat of the Empire.”