[ 2.3 ] First Steps

Government under the Articles Unicameral Congress No Executive or Judicial Branch Each state had one vote, regardless of population States retained most powers

Weaknesses of the Articles Congress had no power to levy or collect taxes Congress had no power to regulate trade Congress had no power to enforce Articles Laws needed the approval from 9 of 13 states Amending articles needed unanimous consent No executive branch No judicial branch

Need for Stronger Govt.

Shay’s Rebellion Groups of farmers, led by Daniel Shays, stormed the Massachusetts courts hoping to prevent the foreclosure and loss of their farm When their pleas failed, a rebellion ensued against federal govt. Signified the need for a stronger central govt.

Quiz: The Articles of Confederation What was the main governing body created under the Articles of Confederation? A. a presiding officer B. a judicial branch C. an executive branch D. a unicameral Congress

Quiz: A Time of Troubles, the 1780s What is one reason the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation helped contribute to economic chaos following the Revolutionary War? A. States created their own banks. B. States printed their own money. C. States refused to tax their people. D. States borrowed from the Federal Government.

Quiz: A Demand for Stronger Government What weakness in the Articles of Confederation led to a conflict between Virginia and Maryland? A. Congress did not have the power to collect taxes from the States. B. Congress did not have the power to print currency. C. Congress did not have the power to enforce laws in the States. D. Congress did not have the power to regulate trade among the States.

The Framers Meet This painting, The Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy, depicts the scene on the day the U.S. Constitution was signed after four long months of debate and compromise.

The Framers Meet

Philadelphia Convention 55 Delegates Met to revise the Articles George Washington presided over meeting James Madison, because of his ideas, later became known as the Father of the Constitution

Key Agreements Need for limited and representative govt. National govt. divided into 3 branches Strengthen the national govt. Biggest disagreement was how to represent the states in the new strong federal government

Decisions and Compromises Virginia Plan Large states Strong national govt. Bicameral Legislature Lower chamber to be chosen by people Upper chamber to be chosen by the lower New Jersey Plan Small states State power Unicameral Legislature One vote for each state

Two Plans of Government

Debates and Compromises

The Fight for Ratification Both the Federalists and Anti-Federalists felt strongly about the proposed Constitution. Analyze Charts What do these comments reveal about the sentiments of the time?

The Federalist Papers 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison Defended and provided justification for Constitution

Quiz: Two Plans of Government On which of the following points did the Virginia and New Jersey plans AGREE? A. The new government should have a legislature made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate. B. The new government should have a federal executive of more than one person. C. The new government should have most of its powers vested in a National Judiciary. D. The new government should have three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Quiz: Debates and Compromises Why was Congress forbidden to act on the slave trade for at least twenty years? A. Northerners wanted to ensure that Congress could not ban slavery. B. Southerners wanted to end slavery sooner than the twenty-year period. C. The southern States demanded this concession in exchange for their agreement to the commerce power. D. The northern States demanded this concession in exchange for their agreement to the Connecticut Compromise.

Quiz: The Fight for Ratification The Anti-Federalists focused their arguments against ratification of the Constitution on what main point? A. They felt more details were needed regarding the executive branch. B. There was no constitutional provision for a bill of rights. C. They greatly disagreed with the ratification process. D. They believed the convention should have only revised the Articles of Confederation.