Ratifying Our Constitution… To RATIFY means to approve of

Articles of Confederation 1st form of American Government 1781-1789 Created a weak national government Gave most power to the states Adopted in 1777, March 1781 accepted by all of the states Congress was the most powerful branch, but during this time it represented the state governments not the people Ultimately failed because made the Federal government too weak

In 1787 a Constitutional Convention was called….. Met in Philadelphia Original goal was to amend the AOC Ultimately created a new Constitution Before ratification could take place had to settle disagreements between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Federalists Those who favored the Constitution Favored a strong central government

Anti-Federalists Opposed the Constitution because did not feel it protected the rights of Americans Favored states rights and wanted a weak central government Opposed a single executive (President)

Federalist Papers A series of 70 essays published by James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton that gave reasons for supporting the Constitution After reading these essays many doubters began to see the benefits of the Constitution

Why did the Anti-Federalists finally agree to approve the Constitution? The Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution to protect as many individual rights and freedoms and they could include Today, are the 1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution On June 21, 1788 NH became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution making it the Supreme Law of the land

Another problem to solve….Representation in Congress The founders had to decide how to represent the American people in Congress. They created two plans, the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan

New Jersey Plan Plan to represent the small states Wanted a 3 Branch government Wanted a Unicameral Legislature, and each state would have 1 vote Executive Branch would be led by 1 person Judicial Branch would have a Supreme Court

Virginia Plan Three Branches of government A council would be formed from the Executive and Judicial Branches with veto power Bicameral Legislature, decided on the basis of state population. The more people who lived in a state the more power that state would have bc they would have more votes

Great Compromise Created a three branch system of government Created 1 President and 1 Supreme Court Created a Bicameral Legislature The House would be based on population (VA Plan) The Senate would be equal 2/state (NJ Plan)

The Three Branches of Government