Creating the Constitution

A Confederation of States 1776: Declaration of Independence signed September 1783: Treaty of Paris ends War During the war, the 13 states started writing their own constitutions constitution: a statement of basic principles of a nation, state, etc. What does this tell us about what sort of government the states expected after the War? In 1774 the Continental Congress met to try to work things out with Britain. It had no control over the States. Because of these problems, some states wanted a national government that could govern over the states Why would some people oppose this? Continental Congress: a convention of delegates from all 13 states; It had to beg states to send soldiers and supplies for the War

A Confederation of States 1777: Continental Congress drafts the Articles of Confederation Confederation = an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league Articles of Confederation = the nation’s first constitution Under the Articles, each state could retain its “sovereignty, freedom, independence”

A Confederation of States Powers given to Congress under the Articles: Declare war Negotiate with other countries Establish a postal system Settle disputes between states

A Confederation of States Under the Articles, Congress could not: Impose taxes. Why is this a problem? No executive branch to carry out laws No judicial branch to settle legal disputes

A Confederation of States Major accomplishments under the Articles: Land Ordinance of 1785 How would western land be divided Set aside one section in each township for a school Sale of land raised $$$$

A Confederation of States 2. Northwest Ordinance (1787) How will western lands be governed Set rules for how states would be created Each new state would have equal status as the original states Slavery was outlawed It is considered the most important law passed during the period of confederation.

A Confederation in Crisis Trouble with foreign countries States were not bound to follow agreements that Congress made with other countries Congress couldn’t raise enough money to pay it’s war debt Congress couldn’t force states to pay taxes Overseas trade shrank No system for national defense

Confederation in Crisis Quarrels Between the States States imposed tariffs (import taxes) on goods coming from other states States were printing their own money Country slid into an economic depression States ignored Congress’ decisions People didn’t have faith in the value of the money High debt, falling trade, business closures, high unemployment

Confederation in Crisis Shay’s Rebellion (1786) Famers occupy a courthouse in Massachusetts to protest Protests spread Congress can’t raise money to defend Massachusetts A wake-up call for Congress The Articles were too weak and had to be fixed Constitutional Convention called in May, 1787 to fix the Articles Farmers were hit especially hard by economic troubles Many Americans were worried that Congress wasn’t strong enough to defend them

Why would the States purposely create a weak government under the Articles of Confederation? Why is the period of the Articles of Confederation called the Critical Period in American History?

The Constitutional Convention May, 1787: Delegates from 12 states (no Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia to fix the weak Articles of Confederation Soon, the purpose became writing a new Constitution James Madison: “The Father of the Constitution” They worked in secret during the summer

The Constitutional Convention Issue #1: Representation in Congress? Large vs Small States 2 Proposals Virginia Plan: Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral) Each state's representation in the houses would be based on its population

Constitutional Convention New Jersey Plan Congress would have one house (unicameral) Each state would have equal representation in Congress Compromise Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral) Senate = equal representation House of Representatives = representation would be based on population

Constitutional Convention Issue #2: Slavery Northern vs southern states Many northern states wanted to abolish (outlaw) slavery Southern states would not agree to the Constitution if slavery was abolished Southern states: count slaves for representation in the House; don’t count slaves for tax purposes Northern states: don’t count slaves for representation but do count then for tax purposes Compromise: Every 5 slaves would be counted as 3 whites = Three-fifths Compromise

Constitutional Convention Issue #3: How to elect the President Should Congress should elect the President? Should the people elect the President? Compromise: create the Electoral College which is made up of electors from each state who would cast votes to elect the president and vice president September 17, 1787: Constitution signed and Convention adjourns

Ratifying the Constitution 9/13 states must ratify Not everyone supported Federalists vs Anti Federalists Federalists: supported Constitution with a strong central government that shared power with states Anti-Federalists: preferred loose association of states

Ratifying the Constitution Federalist Papers 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison Published in newspapers Goal: convince people to support the Constitution "most powerful public relations campaign in history“ June 21, 1788: 9th state ratifies

Ratifying the Constitution The Bill of Rights Anti-Federalists: the Constitution doesn’t protect individuals' rights against the government They wouldn't sign until those rights were listed in the Bill of Rights Bill of Rights was added First 10 amendments to the Constitution