1. Forming a New Nation
Constitution

2. Confederation Articles of Confederation
Original Constitution for a collection of States
John Dickenson (Penn.)
Congress and delegates (up to 7 per state)
Single vote per state
No President, No Executive branch
Power spread amongst several committees

3. Powers of National Congress
Declare war
Trade
Indian relations
No power to raise money, taxes merely ask for contributions
2/3 of states had to approve of the above
Unanimous for amending the Articles

4. Northwest Territory
Describes the newly acquired land from the Ohio valley region
Land Ordinance of 1785
Grid system of dividing up land
One square mile, township, 36 sections at least $1 per.
North West Ordinance of 1787
Congress appoint territorial governor
5,000 men elect assembly
60,000 men, elect governor and create constitution
Barred slavery
All would come in as “free states”

5. Shays’ Rebellion Testing the Articles of Confederation
Farmers of Mass. And Penn. Facing large debt
Led by Daniel Shays
Mass. Raised an army to put down the rebellion
Pres. Washington gets involved, the rebellion is suppressed
Showed that the Articles could not enforce people to pay taxes.

6. Drafting the Constitution
James Madison forms a committee to create a constitution to present to the Constitutional Congress that includes Alexander Hamilton
Hamilton not in favor of Democracy, Madison favored Republicanism
During session George Washington is unanimously elected president.
Battle over representation begins.

7. Virginia Plan Favors larger states
Representation should be based upon:
Donation / wealth
Population
Bicameral legislature

8. New Jersey Plan Favors smaller states Calls for representation by:
Statehood: same number per state
unicameral

9. Connecticut Plan Also known as the Great Compromise Stated: Bicameral
One house will be the House of Representatives, based upon population
One house will be the Senate, based upon statehood, 2 per state

10. 3/5 Compromise
Southern states fearing Northern dominance want to include their slaves into the population count.
Northern states argued that slaves were not citizens.
Congress decided to count 3 out of every 5 slaves to appease the Southern States.

11. Ratification Federalist Antifederalist
Favored a strong central government
Sought to plug holes of the articles
Washington, Madison, Hamilton
Antifederalist
Favored stronger state and local governments
Lack of bill of rights
Protect people from oppressive government
Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Samuel Adams

12. Federalist Papers James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton
Series of papers set out to explain in “plain” terms what the constitution is and provides.
Explains checks and balances
Efforts to get the constitution ratified

13. Bill of Rights Pushed by Antifederalists like Jefferson
Claimed that citizens need to see and know their natural rights
Provide documented rights such as:
Speech, assembly, religion, bear arms, press, trial by jury, etc.

14. Making it official
Delaware, Penn, NJ, Georgia, Connecticut sign on 1st.
Massachusetts comes in next
Slowly Maryland, SC, and NH
Virginia and New York are near the end, larger states, must haves
After the Bill of Rights are amended into the constitution all states ratify the constitution.