1. Road to a New Government

2. What had happened was…
The 13 states all realized that the Articles of Confederation was not working as an effective government
Then something happened that finally made them make a change

3. Shay’s Rebellion
Farmers in Massachusetts rebelled after courts foreclosed on their land to pay off debts
Farmers marched to the courthouse to prevent foreclosures on their farms
Gov’t didn’t have the power to
suppress the rebellion
Convinced people of the need
to create a stronger central
government

4. Constitutional Convention
Call a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation
Once they begin amending the Articles realize it is better to start from scratch

5. Constitutional Convention
From May 25 to September 17, 1787, delegates at the Constitutional Convention met to revise the Articles of Confederation. It became clear very quickly that a new constitution would have to be made.

7. Federalism
Powers would be shared between the state and central government

8. Separation of Powers
Create 3 branches of government and each branch would have its own powers

9. Checks and Balances
Some powers would overlap to make sure one branch did not become to powerful

10. Government Set Up 3 Branches of government created
Executive Branch – president – enforce/execute laws
Legislative Branch – Congress- make laws
Judicial Branch – Supreme Court – interpret/judge laws

11. It was not long before serious disagreements arose among the 55 delegates. Some of the worst debates were between the large states and small states. They disagreed on how the states would be represented in the new legislature. Should it be equal representation or based on populations.
Can you help them?

12. Representation Equal representation and equal voting power
New Jersey Plan
(small states)
Virginia Plan
(big states)
Equal representation and equal voting power
Base representation on population and each representative gets a vote

13. House of Representatives
Great Compromise
Senate
House of Representatives
Each state
gets 2 Representatives
Representation based on population

14. Great! How to decide on population?
Having decided the question of representation in Congress, delegates turned their attention to important issues related to slavery. One issue was do you count slaves in the population count?
Can you help them?

15. Counting Slaves? Property vs People
3/5 Compromise – count slaves as 3/5 of a person for representation

16. One Last Thing on Slaves
Should the slave trade be permitted in US?
Would continue for 20 years and then they could revisit the issue
Should we allow slavery?
Stayed away from this topic all together because worried it would all fall apart

17. Ratification
In order for the new government to go into place 9 of 13 states had to ratify (agree) to it
This was not an easy task

18. Ratification Anti-Federalists
Only support Constitution if add a Bill of Rights
Thought the new government was too strong
Many were farmers

19. Ratification Federalists Supported the Constitution
Typically the elite – older men
Write Federalists Papers (Hamilton, Madison, John Jay) – illustrate the need for a strong national government

20. Bill of Rights First 10 amendments to the US Constitution
Protect personal rights/liberties