1. Formation
of the
United States
Government

2. American Revolution America was originally a British colony
The U.S. won it’s independence and became it’s own country during the American Revolution
The Declaration of Independence was written and approved during the American Revolution to formally announce separation from Great Britain

3. Declaration of
Independence

4. Written by Thomas Jefferson
Approved on July 4, 1776
Provides persuasive argument for why Americans want independence from the British king

5. Articles of
Confederation

6. First law of the land of the U.S.
Went into effect in 1781
Created a loose confederation of states

7. Why don’t we still have it?
IT WAS TOO WEAK!!!
No executive
Congress could not tax, regulate trade between states or enforce laws
Shays’ Rebellion showed the government was too weak to handle a crisis and led to a call for a constitutional convention to fix the problem.

8. Constitutional Convention

9. The Articles weren’t working, so the founding fathers got together to revise them.

10. WHO? All 13 states except Rhode Island
Leading Americans like Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and James Madison

11. WHAT?
Meeting to fix the AOC; the delegates end up making a new Constitution

12. WHEN?
May 1787

13. WHERE? Pennsylvania State house
Same place Declaration of Independence was signed

14. WHY? National government too weak Problems with trade between states
Shays’ Rebellion

15. Major Conflicts of Convention
Representation  large state vs. small states
Slavery  North vs. South

16. Goal of Convention?
COMPROMISE!!!!