CREATING THE CONSTITUTION Unit Two FROM THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TO THE WORLD’S GREATEST DOCUMENT

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  The Articles of Confederation (1781)  The Colonists’ first crack at forming a functioning government - Named the new country the United States of America!!  An agreement outlining the powers of a national government Forget George, I am the 1st President of the United States!!!! That may be true pal, But here is some more truth, no one knows who you are!!

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  Articles of Confederation (cont’)  Two problems made it difficult to accept the A of C  Problem #1: Government TOO strong.  Solution: Create a weak national government  Government created by the A of C was just a central legislature  There were no executive or judicial branches  Legal disputes left up to the states to decide  Most of the power with the states leaving the national government with little power over the states and citizens.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  Articles of Confederation (cont’)  Problem #2: Some states have more power than others.  Solution: Give each state one vote  One state = one vote regardless of population  In certain instances, like declaring war, required at least 9 votes of the states.  Despite best intentions - The Articles of Confederation were VERY weak!

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  MAJOR WEAKNESSES WOULD BE THE DOWNFALL OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION!!  Weakness #1: No money and power to get it.  Congress had no POWER to tax  All it could do is request money from a state  We had borrowed much money to fund the Revolutionary War and needed to start paying it back - without the power to tax, Congress was left without a way to pay off the debts

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  MAJOR WEAKNESSES  Weakness #2: No power over state governments and their citizens.  Congress had no power to make laws that the people of the states HAD to follow.  No way to make them obey - laws, treaties, etc..  Weakness #3: Unenforceable trade agreements  Weakness #4: Unfair competition among the states  Ex. Taxing on both ends

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  MAJOR WEAKNESSES  Weakness #5: All 13 states must agree to change the Articles  Most damaging  States rarely agreed on anything  Articles could NEVER be fixed  By 1786, government leaders realized that the Articles of Confederation simply did not work!!  In 1787, those leaders would meet in Philadelphia to draft a NEW document

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  FINAL STRAW!!  Shay’s Rebellion (Aug Jan. 1787):  Daniel Shay was a Capt. in the Continental Army  Shay goes to bank to get loan and tries to use Fed. Note as collateral  Only money good in Massachusetts was GOLD.  Federal Gov’t won’t exchange note for gold  Rock and a hard place!!

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  FINAL STRAW!!  Shay’s Rebellion (cont’):  Shay gets together small army and closes down the courthouse  Called a “rebellion - formal uprising”  Shay and his army ultimately chased out of Mass into Vermont  Vermont won’t return him and he ultimately gets pardoned.  Shay’s Rebellion was the event that highlighted that the Articles were not working.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  DESPITE ALL THE PROBLEMS - WERE ALL THE STATES READY AND WILLING TO RATIFY THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION?  WHAT WAS THE 1ST STEP?  Annapolis Convention - Sept , 1786  Very Unique - normally the drafting of a constitution was reserved for legislature not individual leaders.  What came of this?  Invitations issued to 55 delegates to attend Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the Spring of 1787.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION  Starts May 25, 1787 in Philadelphia, PA  Agree on rules - one state = one vote  They decide to operate in secrecy - why?  No decision is permanent until the whole plan is finalized.  Who is elected President of the Convention?  George Washington - the most respected and honored man in the country at the time.  Although not active in the debates - his presence was a positive statement for the new constitution.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (cont’)  Who else was there?  Thomas Jefferson writes to John Adams and calls the convention an “assembly of demigods.” Why do you think he says this? James Madison Of all framers, JM has the biggest influence Ben Franklin Internationally respected for his wisdom **Roger Sherman Representative from Connecticut who will make a big name for himself at the Convention Edmund Randolph Governor of Virginia Alexander Hamilton Strong supporter of a National Government

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION  CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (cont’)  Who was NOT there? Thomas Jefferson U.S. Ambassador to France John Adams U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain Patrick Henry Against a strong National government