Creating the Constitution Chapter 8 Pgs. 102 - 117

Articles of Confederation Were created to bind the states together, but still give each state their own power. “League of Friendship” Gave Congress many important powers: Make war and peace Raise an army and navy Print money Set up postal system

Northwest Territory Land Ordinance of 1785 – land divided into 6 mile squares called townships. Each township divided into 36 sections of 640 acres each One section of square reserved for public schools All other sections sold to settlers (35 squares)

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 5,000 adult “free” men = could make own laws, elect legislature 60, 000 people = could become a state Slavery banned in Northwest Territory

Shay’s Rebellion America began falling apart Court ordered farmers to sell their land to pay taxes Farmers said no and stopped judges with force Militia stopped the rebellion

Constitutional Convention Met in Philadelphia George Washington was elected president of the convention Delegates “representatives” from each state came Rhode Island protested James Madison – Father of the Constitution None of the delegates were allowed to say anything about the Convention outside of the hall – rule of secrecy

Questions What are the Articles of Confederation? How many “free” men did a territory need to have to be able to create laws? How many people were needed for a territory to become a state? What started Shay’s Rebellion? Who was the Father of the Constitution? Why were delegates not allowed to say anything about the convention?

New Constitution Delegates threw out the Articles of Confederation and started to write a new government plan

Virginia Plan Three branches of government House and the Senate Representatives = # of people in the state They represented people not the states This plan favored large states

New Jersey Plan Three branches of government One House Equal representatives for each state This plan favored the small states

The Great Compromise Three branches of government House of Representatives population of the state Senate = equal representation (2)

Should Slaves Represent People or Property? North – Property South – people Because of this argument many Americans stopped slavery

3/5’s Compromise In order for a slave to count as a person, would have to count them as 3/5 of a man The North wanted the South to be taxed for their goods Result – Slave trade would end in 20 years (1808)

Questions Which states did the Virginia plan favor? Which states did the New Jersey plan favor? What three things were decided on in the Great Compromise? Who thought of slaves as property? People? In order for a slave to count as a person what did states have to do?

Chief Executive How should this position be elected? The delegates decided they need a leader (or 3) to look over the branches of government They voted to have 1 leader and called it – The President

Electoral College Created by the delegates Each state had electors who voted for the president and vice president The number of electors was the number of senators and representatives it sends to Congress Vote every 4 years Candidate with most votes – President Runner up – Vice President

Convention Ends Ratify = approve September 17, 1787 – Constitution was finished All but 17 men signed it (38 of the original 55 signed it)

Constitution Goes to the Nation Federalists – Supporters of Constitution Anti-Federalists – did not support Why? To much taxes President was like the king Judicial Branch would swallow up the courts Did not list the people’s rights Feared changed

Questions How many leaders did the delegates decide to have? What did they decide to call this leader? What decided the number of votes each state had in the electoral college? When was the Constitution finished? How many men signed it? Why did people not support the Constitution?