1. Articles and the Convention
Essential Questions
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Georgia Constitution of 1777.
Examine the weaknesses in the design of the Articles of the Confederation and how these weaknesses will lead to a need to revise and adopt a new form of government.
Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Who represented Georgia at the Constitution Convention?
Examine the design of the U. S. government and explain why this type of government was a direct reflection of the newly born country of patriots.
Justify the reasoning behind the idea of separation of powers and the agreement of the Great Compromise to continue to bond a new nation together.
SS8H4 The student will describe the impact of events that led to the ratification of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
a. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the Georgia Constitution of 1777 and the Articles of Confederation and explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to a need to revise the Articles.
b. Describe the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; include the role of Abraham Baldwin and William Few, and reasons why Georgia ratified the new constitution.

2. What were the problems with the Articles of the Confederation?
Gave too much power to the states and not enough power to the central government.
Strengths
Weaknesses
The Central Government could declare war and make peace.
The Central Government could decide the value of and borrow money.
The Central Government dealt with foreign countries and sign treaties
The Central Government could operate ALL post offices.
The national government could not force the states to obey its laws.
It did not have the power to tax.
It did not have the power to enforce laws.
Congress lacked strong and steady leadership. (No President)
There was no national army or navy.
There was no system of national courts.
Each state could issue its own paper money.
Each state could put tariffs on trade between states.

4. The Articles of Confederation Government
The new government contained only one branch- unicameral legislature with no power to enforce laws or settle disputes
It was thus a weak national government with most of the governmental powers retained by the states.
There was not an executive or judicial branch.
Members elected to congress did not vote as individuals, but as states
Congress could not levy taxes but could only request funds from the states to run the government.

5. Case Study of the Weaknesses of the Government: Shay’s Rebellion
1786- America was in financial trouble: businesses failed, people in debt, trade problems, war debt and soldiers salaries not paid
Massachusetts farmers blamed state taxes on their financial problems
Daniel Shays led a revolt against the state government, trying to capture arms at the state militia arsenal
Neither state nor Confederation government had the power to stop the rebellion; Only a private army able to stop the revolt under the command of Benjamin Lincoln and with the leadership of George Washington
How could a country exist if it could not keep law and order?

6. Time for change to occur…
The Constitutional Convention of May 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where delegates from 12 of the 13 states were present.
The state of Rhode Island refused to send a delegate because it was afraid of losing its states' rights.
The delegates worked for 4 months behind closed doors of the State House to draft a new document known later as the "Constitution."

7. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers."
Philly Convention
These delegates were selected by their states. They were educated, patriotic, and experienced men, ranging from the ages of 40 to 81.
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Some men were landowners and some were lawyers or judges.
James Madison – FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION
All delegates held at least one public office.
This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers."

8. Founding Fathers
The writers of our Constitution wanted to make sure that the new nation and its citizens would be free and independent.
They wanted to make sure that the government of the United States would protect the people from a government that was too powerful and from the autocratic rule of kings.
They didn't want the wishes of the people to be denied by any part of government or by the power of any single leader.

9. George Washington
George Washington had won the respect of his countrymen as commander of the Continental Army. Washington's fellow delegates elected him president of the Constitutional Convention because they held him in high esteem.
Later he will be elected at the first president of the United States of America.

10. Rules of the Convention
Before the Constitutional Convention began, a rules committee decided how the process would work.
No matter how many delegates a state sent, each state was given only one vote. If a state sent more than one delegate, all delegates had to come to an agreement about their state's one vote.
Any delegate could voice an opinion.
All proceedings would be kept secret until the Constitutional Convention presented a finished Constitution.

11. Georgia’s Delegates at the Constitutional Convention
William Houstoun
William Pierce

12. Georgia’s Delegates at the Constitutional Convention
Abraham Baldwin
William Few

13. Georgia’s Influence at the Convention
Representation in National Legislature
William Houstoun voted for large state representation (Virginia Plan)
Abraham Baldwin voted for small state position (New Jersey Plan)
Baldwin’s vote forced THE GREAT COMPROMISE & served on committee to work our compromise
Ratified Constitution b/c:
Needed strong n’al gov’t to protect GA from Indians
Slavery – 3/5’s Compromise

14. Virginia Plan
The larger states favored the Virginia Plan. According to the Virginia Plan, each state would have a different number of representatives based on the state's population.

15. New Jersey Plan
The smaller states favored the New Jersey Plan. According to the New Jersey Plan, the number of representatives would be the same for each state.

16. The Great Compromise
1. The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. This would satisfy the states with smaller populations. 2. The House of Representatives would include one representative for each 30,000 individuals in a state.
Small States are still not happy until…

17. Three-Fifths Compromise
Smaller states were still not happy until the 3/5ths compromise was formed.
The 3/5ths compromise allowed slave states to only count each slave as 3/5ths of a person to lower population in slave states.

18. Bill of Rights
Some delegates, however, would not approve the Constitution when it was sent to the states for ratification until it included a bill of rights listing the individual rights of every citizen.
So, the Convention promised a bill of rights would be attached to the final version. Several amendments were immediately considered when the first Congress met in 1789.
Twelve amendments, written by James Madison, were presented to the states for final approval.
Only ten were approved. Those ten make up the Bill of Rights. They are also the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

19. 3 Branches of Government: SEPARATION OF POWER
To avoid the risk of dictatorship or tyranny, the group divided the new government into three parts, or branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.