Conditions that led to the Constitution Shays’ Rebellion Economic Problems Trade Tariffs Currency National Debt Diplomatic Issues

Road to the Constitution Annapolis Convention, 1786 Constitutional Convention 1787 Issues Representation Slavery Ratification Federalists Anti-Federalists Bill of Rights

Designing a New Nation Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) --Decentralized --Strong state government/weak federal government --No taxing power --No judiciary --No regulation of trade --Amended unanimously --Nine states required to approve important measures --No executive U. S. Constitution (1789-) --Where does authority lay? --How are powers “balanced?” --What lessons from American past are incorporated into it? --What are “undemocratic” elements? --How “republican” is it? --What powers are “delegated” to government by states? --What powers remain for the states?