1. Post Revolutionary War

2. Set-Up Cornell Notes IN Pages 153-154
Title: Confederation to Constitution
Essential Question: How and why was the U.S. Constitution created?

3. The Articles of Confederation
During the American Revolution, the original 13 states ratified (or agreed to) a document called:
The Articles of Confederation.

4. The Articles of Confederation
Powers NOT GIVEN to the Federal Government in the Articles
Powers Given to Federal Government in the Articles
No power to enforce laws
No power to levy taxes
No power to regulate trade
Required all 13 states to approve changes to the Articles
Wage war
Make peace
Sign treaties
Issue money

5. The Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Because the Federal government couldn’t levy taxes, they had no way of getting money to pay soldiers that had fought in the war.
This led to rebellions and violence.

6. Shays’ Rebellion (IN Page 155)
Read the section entitled Shays’ Rebellion from your textbook (pages )
Record the Who, What, When, Where & Why of this event.
Answer this question: Which side would you have supported during Shays’ Rebellion--- the farmers or the officials who called out the militia? Why?

7. The Constitutional Convention of 1787
Incidents such as Shay’s Rebellion and the need to establish interstate trade laws led to a convention in Philadelphia in 1787
Originally, these men came together to REWRITE the Articles of Confederation.
After much debate, they ended up trashing the Articles and writing an entirely new document: OUR UNITED STATES COSTITUTION.

8. Constitutional Convention
Twelve states sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in Only Rhode Island refused to attend.
The 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention became known as our Founding Fathers.

9. Constitutional Compromises
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
3/5 Compromise

10. Federalists and Anti -federalists
Once the Constitution was written, it had to be ratified – or agreed to by the states.
Those people in favor of the Constitution were called FEDERALISTS.
Those people opposed to the Constitution were called ANTI-FEDERALISTS.

11. Federalism Defined
Federalism is a system of government in which power is shared between the central or (federal) government and the state governments.

12. The Federalist Papers
Three well known politicians wrote The Federalist Papers and had them printed in New York newspapers.
The Federalist papers argued in favor of ratifying the Constitution.
John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison wrote the Federalist Papers.

13. The Bill of Rights
James Madison drafted the Bill of Rights and sent these ten amendments to the Constitution to the states for ratification.
In 1791 these rights became law.