Articles of Confederation Finding an Identity

Birth of a Nation X 13 colonies were now the 13 states. Favored strong state rights with weak federal government. Fear of a possible monarchy Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation in 1781. X

Articles of Confederation Confederation- group of individual states, who band together for a common purpose. Articles of Confederation became the United States’ first constitution. Created a system of cooperation between the 13 states.

Division of Powers One-house-legislature No courts or figurehead Each state had one vote Could control military And deal with foreign countries No courts or figurehead Federal Government could not: Enforce laws Had to have 9 state votes to create laws Amendment of laws took 13 state votes Impose taxes Could only ask states for money

The Success of the Articles Northwest Ordinance Ohio River Valley land gained in the Treaty of Paris 1783. United States could now legally expand westward by the addition of new states, rather than extending old states. Ohio River was the dividing line for slavery Northwest Ordinance was the only success of the Articles of Confederation.

Map of the Northwest Territory 1787

Testing the Articles…… The Revolutionary War left the country/states in serious debt. State governments taxed citizens heavily. Forced farmers out of business Caused resentment Riots erupted in most states Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts Created a sense of urgency throughout the states for a tougher government.

Shay’s Rebellion In 1786, a Massachusetts farmer led a revolt to protest unfair state taxes. Heavy state taxes impoverished many farmers and businesses which led to general public unrest. 1,200 farmers participated in Shay’s Rebellion. The Governor had to call out the state militia to stop the rebellion. Many feared that more violence would follow. In 1787, the Constitutional Convention met to change or amend the Articles.

Major Concern of the “new” American: Avoiding centralized power that might threaten rights and liberties of citizens King George III AOC US Constitution STRONG CENTRAL GOV’T. WEAK CENTRAL GOVT.

Philadelphia Convention May 1787 12 of 13 states attended 55 delegates Average age : 43 ½ college educated ½ lawyers ½ planters, merchants, physicians, college professors

Early Decisions… Determine success George Washington unanimously selected as president of Convention Meet in secret AOC to be replaced

Agreement among Delegates A strong central government with Power to tax Power to regulate commerce Power to raise an army and require military service A strong executive to lead the government An easier amendment process

Disagreement among Delegates Means for determining representation Slavery and Slave Trade Nature of the Executive Branch

Virginia Plan Judiciary of Supreme court and inferior courts Executive chosen by legislature for 7 yr. term Bicameral legislature with representation determined by population Lower house – elected Upper house – chosen by state legislatures

New Jersey Plan Supremacy Clause Written by William Paterson to maintain Articles of Confederation Equal representation of each state Congressional power to tax Congressional power to regulate trade Executive committee appointed by Congress with no veto power Supreme Court Supremacy Clause

The Great Compromise Settled conflict over REPRESENTATION: Lower House – representation by population Number of representatives to be determined by census every 10 years Upper house – representation by state 2 Senators who vote individually POWER TO TAX POWER TO RAISE AN ARMY POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE

Diagram: Compromise Leads to a Plan of Government

Progress Monitoring Transparency: Section 2 PM TRANSPARENCY Progress Monitoring Transparency Answer C A Progress Monitoring Transparency: Section 2

3/5 Compromise Debate over counting slaves as part of state’s population (representation in Congress) and for taxation purposes. 3/5 of total number of slaves count for representation and taxation

Trade Compromises Simple majority vote of Congress to impose import duties (TARIFFS) Export duties forbidden Congress could make no law regarding the slave trade for 20 years

Slave Trade Compromise Southern economy also depended heavily on slave trade. South feared Congress would stop the slave trade. Compromise: Congress could not deal with the issue of slavery until 1808. 1808, no more slaves could be imported into America. Slave auction in Md.

Executive Branch President – serve 4 year term / be reelected Chosen by Electoral College Candidate with most votes = President Candidate in 2nd place = Vice President No Majority = House of Representatives decide among top 5 choices

Selecting the President: Many delegates felt Congressman should pick the President. Others felt, people should vote. The Solution: The Electoral College A group of people selected by the legislature to select the President and the Vice President. Still used today, but the people select the legislatures.

National Supremacy Established Elastic Clause Supremacy Clause STATES THAT IN CONFLICTS BETWEEN NATIONAL AND STATE LAWS, NATIONAL LAW IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND ALLOWS CONGRESS TO PASS LAWS THAT ARE “NECESSARY AND PROPER” TO CARRY OUT POWERS ENUMERATED IN THE CONSTITUTION

Ratification Debate Federalists Supported Need for central government that was stronger than the states Belief that checks and balances would prevent abuses of power Anti Federalists Opposed Feared central government would take away all powers of states Feared central government would use power to abuse rights of people

Quick Study: Principles of the Constitutions