Creating the Constitution Chapter 6
Vocabulary Articles of Confederation Constitutional Convention Northwest Ordinance Constitution of the United States Great Compromise
INTRO After years of fighting, George Washington did not want to be the leader of the united colonies, despite the population’s outcry. Thought he’d be another monarch The Articles of Confederation, the nation’s first constitution, established a framework for government, but gave the states more power than the federal government Contributed to poor economy and poor national defense Things going from bad to worse
INTRO A more effective government was needed The Constitutional Convention took place in philadelphia, 1787, where delegates from each state met to discuss how a proper, more effective government would look.
A CONFEDERATION OF STATES The DOI asserted that the colonies were independent states All wrote their individual governments All had 3 things in common Equality, freedom, democracy EXCEPT that only NJ gave voting rights to women and African Americans who owned property All had slavery All states south of Pennsylvania said slaves were not equal in regards to human rights
A CONFEDERATION OF STATES Congress had no authority over states A national government was needed But it was a tricky situation. Why? Drafted the Articles of Confederation Each state would retain sovereignty, and any power not specified to congress would fall to the states Only congress could declare war, talk with foreign countries, and establish a postal system Couldn't impose taxes (that's why the army was so broke) Took 3 years to be ratified (voted into law)
A CONFEDERATION OF STATES The revolutionary war ended with the Treaty of Paris Britain gave up a region known as the Northwest Territory Appalachian mountains to the mississippi river In 1787 congress passed the Northwest Ordinance to establish rules for the creation of governments in the Northwest Territory and eventually the western states. It set the general guide for admission of future states When a territory had 60,000 free inhabitants they could form a government Congress had to approve Slavery was banned in any state formed within this region
A CONFEDERATION IN CRISIS Many felt that there was too much power in the states Lack of central authority made relations with foreign countries difficult Britain agreed to withdraw troops from the NW territories, once it saw that congress was weak it refused to pull them out and instead supplied native americans, encouraging them to attack settlers.
A CONFEDERATION IN CRISIS Trade between states was not ideal Imposed taxes, did not follow laws, lack of confidence in paper money Country slid into economic depression Falling crop prices and loss to foreign markets put Farmer’s tensions at a high. Summer 1786, angry farmers marched on massachusetts courts, it quickly expanded to include over 1,000 farmers. Known as Shay’s rebellion after its leader, Daniel Shay Fear of anarchy loomed
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Every state but Rhode Island Revising the Articles of Confederation 55 delegates consisting of all the badasses Ben Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, etc. James Madison did the most around the constitution Considered “father of constitution” Enlightened thinkers like John Locke and Baron de Montesque influenced the drafting of the constitution Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Elected Washington as “presiding officer” Sworn to secrecy Drafted the Virginia Plan 3 branches of government, checks and balances, Bicameral Legislature (two houses) New Jersey Plan Amendments to the Articles of Confederation Less powerful national government
THE GREAT COMPROMISE The delegates debated the Virginia Plan point by point. They continued to argue about representation Finally a plan that called for a bicameral legislature with a different form of representation in each house was presented. In the Senate, the states would have equal representation. In the House of Representatives, states would have representation based on their populations. Known as the Great Compromise
OTHER ISSUES Slavery Slaves equal to ⅗ a white person, known as the Three Fifths Compromise Commerce Executive Branch Wanted at least two members. In the end, voted for a single president. The next question was how to elect the president. Set up a special body called the Electoral College. made up of electors from each state who would cast votes to elect the president and vice president.
RATIFICATION The plan of government would need to be approved by 9 out of the 13 states. Federalists and Anti-Federalists The people who supported the Constitution called themselves Federalists, favored strong central government. Those who preferred a loose association of states with a weaker central government were called Anti-Federalists. In The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay provided detailed explanations of key parts of the Constitution. explained how the system of checks and balances would ensure that no one branch of government would have control over the other two.
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” —James Madison, The Federalist No. 51, 1788
BILL OF RIGHTS By January 1788. Five states had ratified. But there was a concern, the lack of a bill of rights. There were complaints that the Constitution did not protect individual rights and freedoms against encroachment by the national government. They argued that it should be altered to include such rights By 1791, enough states had ratified 10 amendments to make them part of the Constitution. These 10 amendments are known collectively as the Bill of Rights. Over the course of the nation's history, 17 more amendments have been added to the Constitution.