1. The Articles of Confederation and The Constitution
Becoming the U.S.
The Articles of Confederation
and
The Constitution

3. Articles of Confederation
Plan to coordinate the 13 newly sovereign states cooperatively
Unicameral Congress with no Executive
9 States to Ratify Laws; 13 to Amend Articles
Only Powers:
Foreign Affairs; Borrow Money; Post Offices; Organize Military
Emphasized State Sovereignty

4. weaknesses of confederate System
Economic Independence/Competition
Unique Currencies
Tariffs and Creditors
Weak National Government

5. Shays's Rebellion States struggled to pay war debts
Citizens struggled because of weak Confederate economy
Especially true among farmers
Massachusetts gov. seized farms and imprisoned debtors
Daniel Shays stormed courts and attempted raid of armory

6. Constitutional Convention
Need for change: Poor Economy and Weak Military
55 "Framers" were sent to Philadelphia on May 1787 to revise the Articles
Feared both mob rule and
strong central government
Conducted in private

7. The Virginia Plan
Strong national union organized into Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches
Bicameral Legislature
1st elected by people; 2nd by the 1st
Both ultimately reflected population of States
Legislature would have power to:
Appoint Judiciary
Veto State Laws
Take over matters separate States
couldn't handle

8. The New Jersey Plan Confederacy with stronger central government:
Unicameral Legislature
Weak, multi-member Executive
Weak Judiciary
One vote per State
Executive appointed Judges
Favored Smaller States

9. The Connecticut Compromise (The Great Compromise)
Bicameral Legislature
House of Representatives: Reflects population
Senate: 2 from each state; elected by individual States
17th Amendment changed to popular vote
Both must approve all laws
Executive elects Judges with approval from Congress
Electoral College
Ratifying took about 2 years

11. Anti-Federalists Federalists
Not enough protection for State Sovereignty
Too distant from "individuals"
Constitution was extralegal
No Bill of Rights
Favored State Militias
Pro-Constitution
Strong central gov. would better secure liberty
Protect against minority dissent like Shays'
Defend against attacks
Facilitate better economy

12. Federalist Papers James Madison, Alexander Hamilton & John Jay
New York
Newspaper Publications to rally
popular support for ratification

13. Slavery Efforts were made to eliminate during Continental Congress
Rejected to gain support from South
Guaranteed open trade till 1808
Concerns about House seats and taxes
3/5 Compromise
3/5 of slave pop. would count towards House seats & taxes

14. Ratification Delaware 1st to ratify; June 21, 1788
Virginia would not ratify without guarantee of Bill of Rights
Fully ratified on April 6th, 1789
George Washington appointed 1st president