1. The Constitution (A Brief History)

2. Colonial Policies
King controls the colonies, Parliament has little control
2,000 miles away- too hard to govern
Colonies become used to self-governing
Federal relationship
More taxation

3. Colonial Unity Albany Plan Stamp Act Congress
Ben Franklin’s idea: yearly congress of delegates
Raise defense
Trade
Criminal matters
Stamp Act Congress
Act requires stamps on all paper products
Delegates to New York- draft grievances against King

4. First Continental Congress
Intolerable Acts
Delegates to Philadelphia
Low turnout
Urge boycott and creation of local committees
Call for a second congress the following May

5. The Second Continental Congress
1774- after Lexington and Concord
Representatives
All colonies send representatives
George Washington attends and is elected to lead the army
Becomes our first national government
Served for 5 years until Articles of Confederation
All powers in a unicameral legislature

6. Independence
Committee of 5 drafts Declaration of independence- largely the work of Jefferson
First state Constitutions
Common features:
Popular sovereignty
Limited government
Civil rights
Separation of power and checks and balances

7. What are the Articles of Confederation?
November 15, 1777
Established a firm league of friendship among the States
“for their common defense, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare”
Formal approval or ratification was needed by all 13 States

8. The Articles Of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation established “a firm league of friendship”.
Under this plan, each State kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence…”

9. Governmental Structure
Congress was sole body
Unicameral-delegates chosen yearly by state
Each state had one vote
No executive or judicial branch

10. Powers of Congress Establish a post office Make war and peace
Build a navy
Raise an army
Fix uniform standards of weights and measures
Settle disputes among the states
Make war and peace
Send and receive ambassadors
Make treaties
Borrow money
Set up a money system

11. State Obligations Obey articles and acts of Congress
Provide funs and troops
Treat citizens of other states as equally as their own
Surrender fugitives from justice to one another
Submit their disputes to Congress
Allow open trade and travel between and among States
Retained those powers not explicitly given to the Congress

12. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
States were fiercely independent
Weaknesses:
Instability of Union
No Judicial Branch
No Executive Branch
No Power to Regulate Commerce
No Power to Tax
Couldn’t provide for national defense
Each state had one vote, regardless of size
9 of 13 required for law; Unanimous to amend

13. Critical Period States don’t support the federal government
Make agreements with other nations
Form their own militaries
Taxed each others goods
Printed own money
Shays’ Rebellion
Group of debtors lead a force to close the state courts
Attack federal arsenal

14. The Constitutional Convention
The Framers
12 states send delegates: not Rhode Island
Average age: 42, most in their 30s
Procedure
George Washington elected President of the convention
Worked in secrecy
The decision:
Not just amend but throw out the Articles

15. The Virginia Plan Madison Three branches Bicameral congress
Power of veto
Oath to support the federal government
Considered radical

16. The New Jersey Plan Unicameral Congress
Each state equal representation
Plural executive
Limited powers for tax and trade

17. Compromises Connecticut Three-Fifths A bundle of compromises
Two house congress
Senate equal number of reps
House of Representatives based on population
Three-Fifths
All free persons are equal and slaves are 3/5 of all other persons
A bundle of compromises

18. Ratification September 17th 1787 the Constitution is signed
Nine states ratify however they need a key state such as New York or Virginia
1789- finally ratified and becomes the new national government