The Confederation and the Constitution Chapter 9

The Pursuit of Equality  Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom  Quakers and anti- slavery  1 st Continental Congress and slavery

Making a Constitution  2 nd Continental Congress – 1776 calls on states to draft new constitutions  Aimed at long term instead of short term

Creating a Confederation  Before independence committee appointed by 2 nd C. Congress  Articles of Confederation  Adopted by Congress 1777  Not ratified by colonies until 1781

Our first Constitution  Articles of Confederation  13 joined together to try and address common problems  2 major problems –  1) cannot regulate commerce  2) Couldn’t collect tax

Land Laws to keep in mind  Land Ordinance of 1785  Northwest Ordinance of 1787  Note: British stay in Americas

Shay’s Rebellion  Importance: Showed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Alexander Hamilton  Calls upon Congress to call a convention in Philly the next year to fix Articles of Confederation  Hamilton is an advocate of a strong central government  Constitutional Convention is set (G.W. leader) in Philly May 25, 1787

Making Changes  Congress instructs delegates to revise Articles but some delegates want to start over  Virginia Plan for Congress vs. New Jersey Plan  Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)

New Constitution  New Constitution calls for a President (to enforce laws)  3/5 compromise  Called for end of slave trade by end of 1807  Only Rhode Island is not present at Convention

Safeguards for Conservatism  Protection of private property a priority  3 branches of government with checks and balances  Demand for a solid and sound currency

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists  George Washington / Benjamin Franklin  Most lived along the seaboard  Wealthier / more educated /better organized  Controlled the press  Sam Adams / Patrick Henry / Richard Henry Lee  States rights advocates  Back country dwellers / 1 horse farmers  Poorer

Bill of Rights  Federalist Papers written  Bill of Rights added as a concession to anti-Federalists  First 10 amendments of Constitution

States must sign on  Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island initially do not sign it. (Laggard states)  Finally sign after it is the working government after a few months  Had to ratify since they could not safely exist outside of the government