New Constitution

After Shay’s Rebellion After Shay’s Rebellion, states gathered in a secret convention to decided what to do with the Articles of Confederation The state not present was Rhode Island

No one could agree because… • States had different needs. For example, some states depended on fishing, while others farmed • States had different sizes. Some states were big – others small • People had different opinions. Some wanted a strong government – others weak • Something needed to change so the Americans decided to start over!

Articles of Confederation Government has one branch: Legislative Branch: Makes laws New Idea Government has 3 branches -Legislative: Makes laws -Executive: Enforces laws Judicial: Interprets laws

How many votes should each state get in the new Congress? Big states supported the Virginia Plan – # of votes depended on population –This means big states would have more power

How many votes should each state get? Small states supported the New Jersey Plan –Each state got one vote –This means small states would have more power

In Class Activity You and your partner are a delegate from a state and you must decide which plan you will support and why. After we will put it up to a vote and in order for it to pass we need 9/12 states to agree

The Great Compromise Divide legislature into two houses –Senate: Each state gets two votes – House of Representatives: # of votes depends on population –This is called a bicameral legislature

Constitution Solutions • The Constitution requires each state to treat citizens of other states the same as it treats its own • The Constitution can be changed if 2/3rds of the members of Congress or 3/4ths of the states agree • The Constitution says that the laws passed by Congress are superior to laws passed by states

Approved • Although the Americans were able to solve many problems created by the Articles, the states still needed to approve a new Constitution. If at first you don’t succeed – try again.