1. Creating the Constitution

2. A Confederation of States
1776: Declaration of Independence signed
September 1783: Treaty of Paris ends War
During the war, the 13 states started writing their own constitutions
constitution: a statement of basic principles of a nation, state, etc.
What does this tell us about what sort of government the states expected after the War? In 1774 the Continental Congress met to try to work things out with Britain. It had no control over the States.
Because of these problems, some states wanted a national government that could govern over the states
Why would some people oppose this?
Continental Congress: a convention of delegates from all 13 states;
It had to beg states to send soldiers and supplies for the War

3. A Confederation of States
1777: Continental Congress drafts the Articles of Confederation
Confederation = an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league
Articles of Confederation = the nation’s first constitution
Under the Articles, each state could retain its “sovereignty, freedom, independence”

4. A Confederation of States
Powers given to Congress under the Articles:
Declare war
Negotiate with other countries
Establish a postal system
Settle disputes between states

5. A Confederation of States
Under the Articles, Congress could not:
Impose taxes. Why is this a problem?
No executive branch to carry out laws
No judicial branch to settle legal disputes

6. A Confederation of States
Major accomplishments under the Articles:
Land Ordinance of 1785
How would western land be divided
Set aside one section in each township for a school
Sale of land raised $$$$

7. A Confederation of States
2. Northwest Ordinance (1787)
How will western lands be governed
Set rules for how states would be created
Each new state would have equal status as the original states
Slavery was outlawed
It is considered the most important law passed during the period of confederation.

9. A Confederation in Crisis
Trouble with foreign countries
States were not bound to follow agreements that Congress made with other countries
Congress couldn’t raise enough money to pay it’s war debt
Congress couldn’t force states to pay taxes
Overseas trade shrank
No system for national defense

10. Confederation in Crisis
Quarrels Between the States
States imposed tariffs (import taxes) on goods coming from other states
States were printing their own money
Country slid into an economic depression
States ignored Congress’ decisions
People didn’t have faith in the value of the money
High debt, falling trade, business closures, high unemployment

11. Confederation in Crisis
Shay’s Rebellion (1786)
Famers occupy a courthouse in Massachusetts to protest
Protests spread
Congress can’t raise money to defend Massachusetts
A wake-up call for Congress
The Articles were too weak and had to be fixed
Constitutional Convention called in May, 1787 to fix the Articles
Farmers were hit especially hard by economic troubles
Many Americans were worried that Congress wasn’t strong enough to defend them

12. Why would the States purposely create a weak government under the Articles of Confederation?
Why is the period of the Articles of Confederation called the Critical Period in American History?

13. The Constitutional Convention
May, 1787: Delegates from 12 states (no Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia to fix the weak Articles of Confederation
Soon, the purpose became writing a new Constitution
James Madison: “The Father of the Constitution”
They worked in secret during the summer

14. The Constitutional Convention
Issue #1: Representation in Congress?
Large vs Small States
2 Proposals
Virginia Plan:
Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral)
Each state's representation in the houses would be based on its population

15. Constitutional Convention
New Jersey Plan
Congress would have one house (unicameral)
Each state would have equal representation in Congress
Compromise
Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral)
Senate = equal representation
House of Representatives = representation would be based on population

16. Constitutional Convention
Issue #2: Slavery
Northern vs southern states
Many northern states wanted to abolish (outlaw) slavery
Southern states would not agree to the Constitution if slavery was abolished
Southern states: count slaves for representation in the House; don’t count slaves for tax purposes
Northern states: don’t count slaves for representation but do count then for tax purposes
Compromise:
Every 5 slaves would be counted as 3 whites
= Three-fifths Compromise

17. Constitutional Convention
Issue #3: How to elect the President
Should Congress should elect the President?
Should the people elect the President?
Compromise: create the Electoral College which is made up of electors from each state who would cast votes to elect the president and vice president
September 17, 1787: Constitution signed and Convention adjourns

18. Ratifying the Constitution
9/13 states must ratify
Not everyone supported
Federalists vs Anti Federalists
Federalists: supported Constitution with a strong central government that shared power with states
Anti-Federalists: preferred loose association of states

19. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalist Papers
85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison
Published in newspapers
Goal: convince people to support the Constitution
"most powerful public relations campaign in history“
June 21, 1788: 9th state ratifies

20. Ratifying the Constitution
The Bill of Rights
Anti-Federalists: the Constitution doesn’t protect individuals' rights against the government
They wouldn't sign until those rights were listed in the Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights was added
First 10 amendments to the Constitution