CONSTITUTION CONSTITUTION United States EQ: What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how did those weaknesses lead to the Constitution?

STANDARDS: SS8H3 Analyze the role of Georgia in the American Revolutionary Era. d. Analyze the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and explain how those weaknesses led to the writing of a new federal Constitution.   © Brain Wrinkles

United States CONSTITUTION © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

A Plan America’s first written constitution was not the Constitution that we have in place today. After the Revolutionary War ended, America had no national government. In 1777, colonial representatives worked together to write a new government plan called the Articles of Confederation. © Brain Wrinkles

Drafting the Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

A Plan It took four years for all 13 states to sign it and the Articles of Confederation finally went into effect on March 1, 1781. The Articles set up a republican democracy where citizens elect people to represent them. The Articles created a weak central government that gave states a lot of power over their own affairs. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Confederation Americans were scared of giving too much power to the central government because they had just fought for independence from a powerful government. They viewed the states as independent, and the United States as more of a loose confederation of states working together only when necessary. They did not want to lose their hard-won independence by turning the new government into another tyrant. © Brain Wrinkles

No Power The new U.S. government could declare war and sign treaties, but that was about the extent of its power. There was no strong national government, nor was there a leader in charge. The states had a lot of power, but they could never all agree on anything. © Brain Wrinkles

Weaknesses The new U.S. government could not establish a national army without the permission of all the states. It could not levy taxes to fund the government, making it impossible to pay debts or soldiers. The government could not regulate trade among the states, so states could put tariffs on each other. It provided for no judicial or executive branch, only a one-house legislative branch. © Brain Wrinkles

Weaknesses Congress could make laws, but not force states to comply with them. Each state only received 1 vote, regardless of its population. All 13 states had to approve a law for it to pass. Each state had its own currency. © Brain Wrinkles

The United States did not have a common currency under the Articles of Confederation. © Brain Wrinkles

Not Working It soon became apparent that the Articles had to be revised because the national government was just too weak. The states argued over borders and trade, and Congress had no power to stop them. Foreign governments did not know if they were dealing with 1 country or 13 different ones. The country’s economy worsened. © Brain Wrinkles

George Washington called the Articles of Confederation “a half-starved, limping government”. © Brain Wrinkles

A New Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

Change The founders realized that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to effectively govern the country and had to be revised. In May 1787, delegates from all 13 states met in Philadelphia with the intent to change the Articles. © Brain Wrinkles

Independence Hall, Philadelphia © Brain Wrinkles

Convention The members ended up discarding the Articles and writing a completely new document. This meeting became known as the Constitutional Convention. © Brain Wrinkles

Constitutional Convention 1787 © Brain Wrinkles

Georgia Georgia selected six delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Two delegates did not attend, and two others left early. Abraham Baldwin and William Few signed the U.S. Constitution as members of the Georgia delegation. © Brain Wrinkles

Abraham Baldwin © Brain Wrinkles

Representation During the Constitutional Convention, Baldwin was involved in debates over the issue of states’ representation in Congress. Small states were concerned that they would be outvoted by large states. © Brain Wrinkles

Representation When he realized that small states might withdraw from the convention, Baldwin changed his vote to side with the smaller states. His vote forced a tie and the issue was sent to a committee for further review. © Brain Wrinkles

Compromise Baldwin helped develop the Great Compromise to solve the representation dilemma. This created a bicameral legislature where each state had two members in the Senate, but representation in the House of Representatives was based on the state’s population. The compromise pulled the convention out of a complete standstill. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Constitution After the delegates’ debate was settled, the new constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. The U.S. Constitution is the written plan that establishes the framework for America’s government. © Brain Wrinkles

Page 1 of the Original Copy of the U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

Constitution The U.S. Constitution describes how the country’s government is organized and how power is divided. It describes what the government may or may not do. The U.S. Constitution also establishes America’s government as a democracy and limits the power of the government. © Brain Wrinkles

Democracy As a democracy, the people hold the power of the government because they can vote. Citizens vote to decide issues and choose representatives. The basic rights of America’s citizens are protected by the U.S. Constitution. © Brain Wrinkles

William Few By 1787, most Georgians supported a strong central government. Georgia’s other delegate to the convention, William Few, represented Georgians well by voting in favor of the national government during critical times at the convention. He worked diligently to make sure that the Constitution was ratified. © Brain Wrinkles

William Few © Brain Wrinkles

Georgia On January 2, 1788, Georgia was the 4th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Many Georgians favored a strong national government that could protect them from American Indians and the Spanish in Florida. Georgians in coastal regions also hoped that a strong central government would improve trade regulations. © Brain Wrinkles

United States Government Compare and Contrast Articles of Confederation U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation Graffiti Wall Directions: Create a graffiti wall that protests the Articles of Confederation. Use important facts, key vocabulary, symbols, images, etc., to petition the founding fathers to revise the document. Use different colors so it looks like real graffiti! Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

Extra! Extra! Directions: Imagine you are a journalist covering the Constitutional Convention. Write a news article about the new U.S. Constitution. Be sure to explain how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the new Constitution. Add a catchy headline (top box) and an action shot (snapshot box). Date: $ Article By: © Brain Wrinkles

Articles Articles Constitution Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

I said Congress can make laws, but I have no way to enforce them. Who Am I? I said Congress can make laws, but I have no way to enforce them. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

I am weak; all of the power was given to the states’ governments. Who Am I? I am weak; all of the power was given to the states’ governments. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

I was created at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Who Am I? I was created at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

I say Congress cannot collect taxes. Who Am I? I say Congress cannot collect taxes. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

I am the current plan for the U.S. government. Who Am I? I am the current plan for the U.S. government. © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

I say Congress cannot make laws about trade. Who Am I? I say Congress cannot make laws about trade. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

I say each state only gets one vote, despite the state’s population. Who Am I? I say each state only gets one vote, despite the state’s population. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

I established a democratic government in the United States. Who Am I? I established a democratic government in the United States. © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

I was created after the Great Compromise was issued. Who Am I? I was created after the Great Compromise was issued. © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

I did not set up an executive branch of the government. Who Am I? I did not set up an executive branch of the government. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

I separate government powers into different parts of the government. Who Am I? I separate government powers into different parts of the government. © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

The weakness of the U.S. government’s first plan led to my creation. Who Am I? The weakness of the U.S. government’s first plan led to my creation. © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER U.S. Constitution © Brain Wrinkles

I cannot establish a national army without consent from the states. Who Am I? I cannot establish a national army without consent from the states. © Brain Wrinkles

Articles of Confederation ANSWER Articles of Confederation © Brain Wrinkles

Who Am I? © Brain Wrinkles

ANSWER © Brain Wrinkles

Name: Name: Jot it Down Jot it Down Write down everything that you can remember about the lesson. Write down everything that you can remember about the lesson. © Brain Wrinkles © Brain Wrinkles