US History Chapter 2 Section 2 Creating a New Government

Main Idea After the revolution, Americans struggled to form a national government and eventually wrote the constitution

Reading Focus What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? What did the founders discuss when drafting the constitution? What was involved in ratifying the constitution?

Post Revolutionary War original Colonies

Articles of Confederation Now that America had won independence, the real challenges lie ahead: > States were like small countries - Imposed tariffs on imports - Some had their own Navy - treaties with foreign nations - own state currency - own government / constitution Need a united Nation with a new type of government “Republic” that could deal with wars and make agreements with foreign nations November 1777- Articles of Confederation adopted (first constitution) which was an association of independent states with common goals

Article Weaknesses and Rebellion Very difficult for congress to put policies into place because 9/13 states had to agree and 13/13 had to agree to amend the article Current government could not pay for war debt because congress did not have power to impose taxes Even had British still occupying parts of the US Shays Rebellion- Economic problems plagues every state, especially new England. Paper Money issued during war not backed by gold or silver (led to inflation) - States still required to people to pay taxes in “hard currency” and would be jailed if unable to pay (this hit farmers hard) - led to protests and riots - Massachusetts 1786- Daniel Shay stormed the debtors court - Even though rebellion squashed, made leaders realize the problems with the articles of confederation

Settling the Western Frontier Articles of Confederation did have an impact on settlement patterns of the Western Frontier 1785- Land Ordinance drew for surveying and settling area: Divided into six square mile township grids (checkerboard) 1787- Northwest ordinance encouraged orderly settlement of newly formed states- OH, IN, IL, WI, MI with religious freedom and civil rights SLAVERY NOT ALLOWED in new territories

New States after Northwest Land Ordinance of 1787

Iowa West Virginia

Drafting the Constitution May 1787- Delegates from all states called to meet in Philadelphia for Constitutional Convention James Madison kept a diary recording the constitution events and is referred to as the “Father of the Constitution” Key Issue at Convention: Finding balance between large and small states as well as respecting northern and southern interests Two plans proposed but only one idea accepted: New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan “Framers”

Quick facts pg 45 The great compromise Enslaved African-Americans counted as 3/5 vote Native Americans did not count Quick facts pg 45 The great compromise

Ratifying the Constitution Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17, 1787- Now it was time for American people to approve (ratify) it Supporters of Constitution – Federalists “Battled over Opposers of Constitution- Antifederalists Ratification” Federalists Antifederalists - believed in strong -feared strong central government government - believed separation of -felt federal gov. would powers limited government abuse states powers and - cause was popular in cities and individual liberties among wealthy (mostly farmers)

Federalist Papers and Bill of Rights Most support for constitution came from anonymous writer (Publius) which wrote a series of 85 essays called the “federalists papers” [ James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Hay ] Essays attempted to persuade delegates to ratify constitution Before agreeing to ratify constitution, anti-federalists wanted a Bill of Rights to address individual liberties 1788- States agreed to ratify constitution as long as Bill of Rights were included- James Madison (1791) drafted the first ten amendments to the constitution Constitution Make-up: Articles I – VII Amendments I - XXVII