Unit 2 Foundations of American Govt Articles of the Confederation Federalists & Anti Federalists

Background Information… 1776: colonies declared their independence

AOC: mid 1776 – late 1777 Articles of Confederation (AOC) created to bind the new states together Articles were the first form of government created in the newly declared United States The AOC was considered a firm league of friendship Lacked enforcement powers

Strengths of AOC Negotiated Treaty of Paris (1783): ended the Revolutionary War Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Ordinance of 1787

LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785 Under the AOC the govt did not have the power to tax Goal was to raise money through the sale of land in the largely unmapped western territory

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE: 1787 Created a management policy for Westward expansion. (creating Midwestern states) The U.S. grew as a Nation. Set up how territories could become states

Weakness of the AOC Congress (legislative branch) could not: Regulate trade Collect taxes Raise an army One vote for each state, regardless of size 9 of the 13 states had to approve most acts/laws No National Court System No Executive Officer (President) No National Currency ($) National Government only had a unicameral (1 branch) Legislature Articles only a “firm league of friendship”

Individual states seemed to have most of the power under the Articles of Confederation, because there was no: National Army National Currency Executive Officer (President)

Shay’s Rebellion: Small group of armed farmers in Ma They were angered by crushing state debt & taxes needed to pay for the Revolutionary War. Importance: it made people realize that, without the federal govts ability to raise an army, it could not protect its citizens There need to be a better solution

Problems arose between states … Trading States having different currencies($) No national defense

U.S. Constitution: May 14, 1787 Constitutional Convention Philidelphia, PA 12 states 74 delegates

Arguments for a New Government  Who has the power in the govt? Big Central ( Federal) Govt? Power in the states? How do we preserve popular sovereignty?  How are the states going to represented? Becomes known as the big state v little state debate  What about the slaves? Are they counted? How?

Constitutional Compromises

FEDERALISTS: Alexander Hamilton  Loose interpretation of the Constitution - Constitution changes with time  Argued that the new nation needed a strong, effective Central Government to - Handle economy –Establish a monetary (money) system –Promote Justice

ANTI-FEDERALISTS: Thomas Jefferson Strict interpretation of the Constitution Consisted mostly of farmers & small land-owners who believed nation’s economic future was in agriculture –Opposed strong centralized government –Wanted power for states & individuals “Believed best government governs the least”

Representation Plans

divided the legislature into two bodies Senate & House of Representatives Senate: equal representation (2 representatives from each state) House: proportional representation (based on population). Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise):

 Representation ONLY  Five (5) slaves would be counted as three (3) free people  Used to determine a state’s population Three-fifths Compromise:

FEDERALIST PAPERS The Federalist Papers (85 articles) Written to encourage the ratification of the Constitution Outlining the proposed ideas of the system of govt

They did not agree on the type of govt the former colonies should have They argued over the constitution. Bill of Rights: was the compromise (1 st 10 amendments) added to protect individual & states rights Federalists & Anti-Federalist Compromise

Solutions offered by Constitution Representation by State & by State’s Population in bicameral (2 houses) legislature Congress had power to tax Congress had power to regulate trade President National Court System Amendments ratified by ¾ of States Laws passed by a simple majority from both houses Established strong National Government