The Constitution Constitutional Convention & Bill of Rights

Articles of Confederation Original government after Revolutionary War Original government after Revolutionary War Power to states, very weak federal gov. Power to states, very weak federal gov. States didn’t always work together (tariffs on each other, different currencies) States didn’t always work together (tariffs on each other, different currencies) No president, hard to make national decisions No president, hard to make national decisions Biggest problem: Congress had no power to tax, country went into debt, federal gov. couldn’t really get anything done Biggest problem: Congress had no power to tax, country went into debt, federal gov. couldn’t really get anything done

Shays’ Rebellion Farmer/war veteran couldn’t afford high taxes, faced possibility of prison Farmer/war veteran couldn’t afford high taxes, faced possibility of prison Led farmers’ rebellion, put down by Massachusetts militia Led farmers’ rebellion, put down by Massachusetts militia 2 issues at stake: 2 issues at stake: Mob rule Mob rule Small farmers vs. merchant class Small farmers vs. merchant class

Convention in Philadelphia Representatives: lawyers, merchants, planters Representatives: lawyers, merchants, planters Met secretly to avoid rebellion Met secretly to avoid rebellion

Key Issues Federal government vs. states’ rights Federal government vs. states’ rights Enumerated powers: rights of fed. gov. listed in Constitution Enumerated powers: rights of fed. gov. listed in Constitution Shared powers: all others go to states or are shared Shared powers: all others go to states or are shared Big states vs. small states (2-house Congress) Big states vs. small states (2-house Congress) House of Representatives: based on population House of Representatives: based on population Senate: 2 per state, no matter how big/small Senate: 2 per state, no matter how big/small

Key Issues, cont. Slavery Slavery 3/5 Compromise 3/5 Compromise End slave trade 1808 End slave trade 1808 Separation of powers, checks and balances Separation of powers, checks and balances Government power vs. people’s rights Government power vs. people’s rights Electoral College Electoral College Bill of Rights Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights Federalists wanted Constitution/strong national government Federalists wanted Constitution/strong national government Anti-Federalists feared power of federal gov. over states’ rights, but mainly wanted to protect citizens’ freedoms Anti-Federalists feared power of federal gov. over states’ rights, but mainly wanted to protect citizens’ freedoms Federalists got Constitution, Anti-Federalists got Bill of Rights Federalists got Constitution, Anti-Federalists got Bill of Rights “Living Document”: allows for continuous amendment of Constitution “Living Document”: allows for continuous amendment of Constitution

The Great Irony Women, Native Americans, and slaves excluded from protections and free society Women, Native Americans, and slaves excluded from protections and free society BUT: As a living document, changes could (and did) come over time BUT: As a living document, changes could (and did) come over time