1. 2.3 Articles of Confederation

2. Essential idea
Explain the weaknesses and achievements of the Articles of the Confederation

3. So we’re Independent…now what?
By 1777 Congress established the Articles of Confederation
More of a league of friendship rather than a strong national govt
By 1781 all 13 colonies had ratified it

4. Government under the Articles
Central govt was unicameral: single chamber of congress
States had representatives in Congress
No executive
No federal courts

5. Congressional Powa’s Make war and peace Enter into treaties
Raise and equip navy
Maintain army by requesting troops from states
Establish post offices
Decide disputes among states

6. The Articles were WEAK!
The Articles created a really weak national govt
No state intended to give up sovereignty to a central govt
Still had fear of what a strong national govt could be capable of….remember king Georgie?!

7. Weaknesses Congress couldn’t:
Levy/collect taxes
No power to regulate trade
No power to force states to obey laws by Articles
Amending Articles required consent of all states
No executive branch
No national court system

8. A Few Achievements…
Established fair policy for developing land west of Appalachians
Made peace treaty with Great Britain in 1783
Recognized US independence
Set up various governmental departments
Set precedent for cabinet depts

9. So what’s the problem…everything!
Boundary line disputes between states
States dealt with foreign nations
Govt owed 40 million in debt from American Revolution
Economic depression left farmers pissed
Shay’s Rebellion
Daniel Shay and group of armed farmers closed courts in order to prevent them from losing farms
Then adv on fed arsenal
Scared peeps and many were ready to agree to a stronger nat’l govt

10. Let’s get together!
Shay’s Rebellion prompted meeting in Philadelphia in 1787
Purpose of meeting was to “revise” the Articles
Goal was to make national govt more effective

11. 2.4 Constitutional Convention
Essential idea:
Describe the making of the Constitution.

12. Convention Begins Washington presided No public or press allowed!
Key agreements going in:
Abandon the Articles
Limited/representative govt
Separation of powers
Strengthen national govt

13. Not as easy as it looks…
How do we put all of these ideas into practice?
Lots of disagreements
Biggest over the type of legislature that would be created
How would states be represented?

14. Virginia Plan vs New Jersey Plan
3 branches: legislative, executive, judicial
Bicameral legislature
Rep. based on population
Problem: larger states would be in control
New Jersey Plan:
Unicameral legislature
Equal representation of all states
Plural executive
Wanted more power to the states
Wanted to amend the articles

15. The Big Question How should the states be represented in Congress?
Representation based on population OR
Should all states have equal representation

16. Lets just get along!
Connecticut Compromise settled the dispute over representation
Called for a legislature with 2 houses
House of Representatives based on population
Senate given 2 representatives from each state

17. The Slavery Question Disagreement over rep. in the House due to slaves
South wanted them counted as free to get more rep.
3/5’s Compromise: 3/5 of enslaved population would be counted for tax/rep. purposes
Delegates knew southern states wouldn’t accept a constitution that outlawed slavery
So…they straight up ignored the issue!

18. The first Political fist fight!
Federalists
Favored Const.
Argued for strong federal govt
Didn’t think a Bill of Rights was necessary cuz the states had ‘em
Promised to address issue after ratification
Antifederalists
Opposed Const.
Argued for a Bill of Rights
Worried the federal govt would abuse power w/o them

19. Let’s Gett’er Done!
9 of the 13 states needed to ratify Const in order for it to be accepted
Small states ratified quickly
Larger states slower
Madison/Jay wrote “the Federalist” in order to push for ratification
Const. ratified by 1791!