The Birth of a Nation

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

A. Articles of Confederation 1.The ______________________is the first United States Constitution a.Ratified during the __________ in order to create a ____________ b.It created a loose Confederation of states creating a _______________________ c.Created a ____________________where each state has _________ 1)Pass laws with __ out of 13 votes 2)Amending the Articles required ____________ d.Had no ____________or national _____________ Articles of Confederation Revolution Unified army “firm league of friendship” One-house legislature One vote 9 All 13 states Single leaderCourt system

B. Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation 1.The Articles created a plan for the _________________ and development of the United States. 2.The ______________________: established a system of land surveying and settlement we still use today 3.The _______________________: created a 3 step process for the admittance of new states to the Union. A.Step One – Congress would appoint a governor, secretary, and three (3) judges for a territory. B.Step Two – After ________ free male inhabitants moved into the territory, they elected a legislature and non-voting delegates to Congress. C.Step three – When a territory had a population of _______ free male inhabitants they could apply to become a state. Systematic growth Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Ordinances 5,000 60,000

C. Weaknesses of the Articles 1.They could not _____citizens directly. They could ask the states for money, but they had no power to force the states to give money to them. a.Could not ___________________ b.Could not _____________who fought in the Continental army 2.They could not _____________________or _______. a.States become _____________and ________________ 3.They did not have the power to _______________. 4.Any power not clearly given to the Confederation Congress belonged to the _______. 5.They required all _____________ to approve a change or amendment in the Articles. tax Pay off war debts Pay soldiers Regulate commercetrade CompetitorsBitter enemies Enforce laws States All 13 states

WeaknessEffect No power to tax Government always short of money No power to regulate interstate trade Quarreling among states, difficulty arranging trade with other countries No power to enforce the laws Government depended on states to enforce the laws Nines stated needed to approve laws Difficult to enact laws Unanimous decision of states for amendments No practical way to change the powers of government No executive Branch No way to coordinate work of government No national court system No way to settle disputes among states

D. The Road to the Constitution 1.Weaknesses in the Articles began to show after the __________was over. a.During war had a _____________ b.After war, each state government looked out for their _____________ 2.States taxed their citizens excessively (______) 1.Farmers could not pay ______, which led to a rebellion known as _______________ Revolution Common goal own interests ironic debts Shays’ Rebellion

E. Shays’ Rebellion 1.____________, a Massachusetts farmer, could not pay his high state taxes (b/c the Confederation Congress could not pay him) and the state was going to take his farm. He led a _________that lasted from September 1786 to March 1787, storming an _______ and disrupting court business to stop the government from taking more land from farmers. Daniel Shays’ Rebellion arsenal

Shays’ Rebellion 2.Congress was __________to stop the rebellion. The Massachusetts state militia had to put down the rebellion. 3.As a result of Shays’ Rebellion, many people began calling for a ______________________. Stronger central government powerless

F. The Annapolis Convention 1.At the Annapolis Convention in 1786, delegates from 5 states met to discuss ways to promote trade among the states. 2.The delegates believed that creating national trade laws would help the economies of all states. 3.To create these new laws the Articles of Confederation would have to be amended because the national government had not been granted the power to regulate trade among the states.

F. The Annapolis Convention 4.These delegates called for all states to send representatives to Pennsylvania to discuss the amendments or changes to the Articles of Confederation. 5.At first, many Americans doubted the national government needed strengthening, but news of Shays Rebellion made people realize that a stronger national government was needed.

G. The Constitutional Convention 1.In May of 1787, 55 men representing 12 of the 13 states met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island was the only state not represented. 2.The goal of this convention was to give the government increased powers to solve the nations problems. 3.All delegates at the convention were wealthy and well thought of in their state. They consisted of merchants, planters, physicians, generals, governors, and especially lawyers.

G. The Constitutional Convention 4.The delegates at the Constitutional Convention were called the Founders, or the Founding Fathers of the United States. 5.George Washington was elected the president of the convention and he became known as the “Father of our Country”.

G. The Constitutional Convention 6.James Madison contributed to the convention by being informed, he kept thorough notes, worked out the Virginia Plan, which became the basic framework of our government. Because of his contributions he is known as the “Father of the Constitution”.

G. The Constitutional Convention 7.The delegates decided the Articles of Confederation could not be amended, and they had to create a new plan of government. 8.At the convention the delegates wanted to discuss their ideas freely, so the discussions were kept secret. 9.The delegates agreed the national government should: 1) remain a republic 2) collect taxes as well as control trade among states and other countries, and 3) have three parts; a congress that made the laws, a president to ensure that laws were followed, and courts to try cases of national law.

G. The Constitutional Convention 10.The delegates did not agree on; 1) how many votes each state should have, 2) how the president would be chosen, and 3) how the power should be divided between the states and national government. 11.The delegates decided that the government would have 3 branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, with a system of checks and balances, which would prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.

G. The Constitutional Convention 12.The delegates had to compromise on the issues of representation, slavery, the presidency and trade. 13.The new Constitution was signed by 39 of the original 55 delegates on September 17, 1787.

H. Ratification of the Constitution 1.The Confederation Congress presented the new Constitution to the states for approval or ratification. 2.Special Conventions in 9 of the 13 states would have to approve the new Constitution before it became the law of the land. 3.The people would decide on this new Constitution.