Articles of Confederation & Constitutional Convention Schaumburg High School

Articles of Confederation First American Gov’t (1777) (1781) First American Gov’t (1777) (1781) Written by 2 nd Continental Congress – John Dickinson (PA) Written by 2 nd Continental Congress – John Dickinson (PA) Battle between Radicals & Reconciliationists Battle between Radicals & Reconciliationists Problems Problems Unable to collect taxes Unable to collect taxes Unable to regulate trade Unable to regulate trade No Executive to enforce laws No Executive to enforce laws No Judiciary to interpret laws No Judiciary to interpret laws Consensus needed to amend the Articles Consensus needed to amend the Articles

Articles of Confederation The AOC reflected the prevailing political philosophy The AOC reflected the prevailing political philosophy Nationalists emerge pushing for a change! Nationalists emerge pushing for a change! Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton Jon Morris Jon Morris It could not handle America’s challenges It could not handle America’s challenges Shay’s Rebellion Shay’s Rebellion

Federalists Supporters of a new, more highly centralized government Supporters of a new, more highly centralized government Supported national organization/local liberties Supported national organization/local liberties Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton

Antifederalists Supporters of a loose organization of states under the Articles of Confederation Supporters of a loose organization of states under the Articles of Confederation Feared another anarchy Feared another anarchy Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson

Constitutional Convention 5/25/ /17/1787 5/25/ /17/1787 A meeting of nationalists to revise or overthrow the AOC to make national government stronger A meeting of nationalists to revise or overthrow the AOC to make national government stronger 74 men elected 74 men elected 55 men attended 55 men attended 16 attendees did not sign it 16 attendees did not sign it 39 served in Cont Congress 39 served in Cont Congress 21 fought in Amer. Rev. 21 fought in Amer. Rev. 8 signed the Decl of Indep. 8 signed the Decl of Indep.

A Bundle of Compromises Big States versus Small States ( Most important) Big States versus Small States ( Most important) Representation in both houses of Congress? Representation in both houses of Congress? How to elect the president? How to elect the president? Taxation? Proportional or equal? Taxation? Proportional or equal? North versus South North versus South Slavery Slavery Tariffs Tariffs Nationalists versus States Rights Nationalists versus States Rights Rural versus Urban Rural versus Urban

Main Issue: Liberty vs Order How much power do you give the government to maintain order yet not hinder or control liberty? How much power do you give the government to maintain order yet not hinder or control liberty? Amend AOC or overthrow it? Amend AOC or overthrow it? Great Compromise: Proportional rep. in House & equality in Senate Great Compromise: Proportional rep. in House & equality in Senate Main reason small states ratified the Constitution Main reason small states ratified the Constitution Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for taxes & representation Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for taxes & representation North got its Navigation laws passed then North got its Navigation laws passed then

John Dickinson Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Did not sign Dec. of Indep. Did not sign Dec. of Indep. Author of AOC Author of AOC Leading champion of small states Leading champion of small states

Alexander Hamilton New York New York Responsible for calling convention Responsible for calling convention Author of Federalist Papers Author of Federalist Papers Washington aid in Amer. Rev. Washington aid in Amer. Rev. 1 st Sec. of Treasury 1 st Sec. of Treasury Killed by Aaron Burr in a duel Killed by Aaron Burr in a duel

George Washington Virginia Virginia Brought legitimacy to the convention Brought legitimacy to the convention Worried about his reputation by attending “illegal” convention Worried about his reputation by attending “illegal” convention Winner of Amer. Rev. Winner of Amer. Rev. 1 st President of the United States of America 1 st President of the United States of America

Gouverneur Morris Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Most conservative & vocal delegate Most conservative & vocal delegate Leading anti-slavery voice Leading anti-slavery voice Constitution was his words Constitution was his words

Robert Morris Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Superintendent of Finance Superintendent of Finance 3 rd or 4 th most important delegate 3 rd or 4 th most important delegate Spoke rarely but influentially Spoke rarely but influentially Financed the war Financed the war

Benjamin Franklin Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Oldest delegate at 87 Oldest delegate at 87 Added legitimacy Added legitimacy Slept throughout most of the convention Slept throughout most of the convention Suffering from the gout Suffering from the gout

James Madison Virginia Virginia Wrote the Constitution Wrote the Constitution Author of Federalist Papers Author of Federalist Papers Father of Bill of Rights Father of Bill of Rights Checks & Balances Checks & Balances 4 th Pres. Of the USA 4 th Pres. Of the USA

Other Issues The power of the Executive Branch The power of the Executive Branch Citizenships, Immigration, & admission of new states Citizenships, Immigration, & admission of new states Federalists vs Antifederalists Federalists vs Antifederalists State ratifications-All states had conventions to ratify the Constitution State ratifications-All states had conventions to ratify the Constitution 1 st to ratify – Delaware 1 st to ratify – Delaware Last to ratify – NC & RI – Why? Last to ratify – NC & RI – Why?