Articles of Confederation vs. US Constitution USH-1.4

Articles of Confederation

I. Creation Articles were created by the Continental Congress US needed a government to fight the Revolution States, not Congress, is where the power was State legislatures selected delegates, not the people As little democracy as possible

II. Economics Gov’t wasn’t allowed to collect taxes Had to ASK the states for money Usually said no Couldn’t pay for an army National gov’t responsibility Led to Shays’ Rebellion Massachusetts farmer led group to protest b/c their farms were being foreclosed on No army to stop them (see above)

III. Diplomacy Couldn’t make the British follow the Treaty of Paris Hadn’t left their forts in US Couldn’t restart trade Couldn’t get Spain to let us through New Orleans States tried to write their own treaties w/nations No army meant no one listened

IV. Organization One house legislature No executive No judicial branch One vote per state Big or small didn’t matter No executive Who enforces the rules? No judicial branch Who resolves disputes? Making changes Passing laws required super majority (9 out of 13) Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote

V. Ratification Created by the Continental Congress to run the US during the American Revolution Weak on purpose Just left a tyrant, why make a new one?

VI. Other Negotiated Treaty of Paris & ended the Amer. Rev. Northwest Ordinance Decided how new territory would be carved into states Makes slavery illegal in the Northwest Territory Makes new states the same as old states

US Constitution

I. Creation Delegates met in Philadelphia, PA to fix problems w/Articles “We, the People…” means power is with the people That’s why we vote People vote for representatives Gave some democracy, but not too much Use electoral college for president Judges are appointed

I. Creation Three branches with separation of powers Executive – enforces laws President Legislative – makes laws Congress Bicameral (2 houses) Judicial – judges laws Supreme Court Checks and balances prevent one branch from taking too much power

II. Economics National gov’t could levy taxes and tariffs Pay for an army to “maintain domestic tranquility” No more Shays’ Rebellions Given the power to resolve conflicts b/w states about interstate trade and currency One of the main jobs of the judicial branch

III. Diplomacy Gov’t has exclusive ability to make all treaties Military and trade Written by president Ratified by Senate Southern states didn’t like gov’t controlling trade Feared slave trade would be ended Compromise said gov’t would NOT stop international slave trade for 20 years Last slave was imported in 1808

IV. Organization Bicameral legislature House of Representatives is based on population 435 members 2 year terms Minimum age of 25 All bills having to do with money start here Senate gets two votes per state 100 members 6 year terms 33 up for election every 2 years Minimum age of 30 All bills have to be ratified by BOTH houses

IV. Organization President is the executive branch 2 four year terms No longer than 10 years Minimum age of 35 Bills become law when he signs them Has power of veto Refuses to sign a bill and it does NOT become a law

IV. Organization Supreme Court is judicial branch Life terms Appointed by president Confirmed by Senate Retirement Convicted of crime Death Solves disputes b/w states Determines constitutionality of laws

IV. Organization Amending Created a federal system 2/3 of Congress says yes then… ¾ of states to say yes Created a federal system Power shared b/w nation and state gov’ts Delegated Reserved Concurrent Concurrent Powers

V. Ratification Sent to special state conventions to vote on 9 out of 13 needed to ratify to take effect Federalists like the strong gov’t and tended to be elites Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay write the Federalist Papers Designed to persuade people to vote in favor of new constitution

V. Ratification Anti-Federalists opposed and tended to be poor farmers Thought state gov’t would be better at handling local problems Fought for a list of rights to be added to protect people from the gov’t US Bill of Rights

VI. Other Great (Connecticut) Compromise Big states want all representation based on population Virginia Plan Small states want all representation divided equally New Jersey Plan Compromise is to use both Virginia Plan = House of Reps New Jersey Plan = Senate

VI. Other Who counts as population? Southern states want slaves to count, giving them higher populations Northern states do not want them to count “It is not fair to count them as people only once every 10 years!” 3/5 Compromise says slaves count as three fifths of a person