1. The Articles of Confederation

2. The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a Penn. statesman
The Articles were accepted by Congress in and is considered the first national constitution.

3. The Articles of Confederation
The fear of having too much power in one person’s hands reflects the experiences the colonies had under a monarchy.
In the Articles, the state governments limit the power of the national Congress

4. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
States were loosely going in a “league of friendship”
Only one branch of government – legislative branch (make laws)
No executive branch (execute/enforce) or judicial branch (interpret/resolve)
Congress did not have the power to enforce laws
States ignored laws passed by Congress.
Congress had no power to raise taxes
Congress could not create a uniform currency (money).
Congress had no power regulate foreign or interstate trade
Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states
All 13 states had to agree to amend the Articles.

5. Strengths of the Articles of Confederation
The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed.
The Northwest Ordinance was passed.
Congress had the power to declare war and peace, print money, make treaties and settle state disputes.

6. Strengths of the Articles of Confederation: Settling Western Lands
The Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that land in the west was to be surveyed using a grid system to establish 6 mile blocks
The Northwest Ordinance assisted in the orderly expansion of the United States (outlined plan for western territories to apply for statehood)
5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt
Population of 60,000 could become a state

7. Settling Western lands
The Northwest Ordinance provides an orderly settlement process in the West
It promised
no slavery
education
freedom of religion
trial by jury

8. Reasons for Shay’s Rebellion
Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, however they have no money because they were not paid during the war
Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too. They seek to get money from the farmers debts.

9. Shays’s Rebellion
Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass. legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws
The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and close courts that are hearing cases against farmers

10. Shays’s Rebellion The Mass militia is called out to stop it
Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support their stance and will close courthouses and demand financial help from the Congress
Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stonger central government

11. The Constitutional Convention
May 1787
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION VIDEO

12. Historical setting - The year is 1787
The Articles of Confederation have proved ineffective and weak. A new constitution is needed.
Being a new country isn’t easy:
The states disagree about what kind of government they want
The framers disagree about what kind of government they want
People are becoming frustrated and rebelling against the current government

13. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION May, 1787 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Who was there?
55 delegates
Lawyers, physicians, generals, governors, planters, and a college president
Well-educated men
All states represented, except Rhode Island

14. What Influenced the Framers?
English Parliamentary Traditions
Magna Carta (1215)
The English Bill of Rights (1689)
Enlightenment Thinkers
John Locke
Natural rights
Baron de Montesquieu
Separation of powers

15. Debates, Decisions and Compromises
Convention began by choosing George Washington to preside over meetings.
Each state would have one vote on all questions.
The delegates decided to keep all the sessions secret. This made it possible for the delegates to talk freely.

16. Five Key Issues of Convention
Power – Strong central government (unitary), strong state government (confederation) or a system of shared powers (federal) = FEDERAL!!
Representation
How many representatives in Congress (legislature)?
Virginia Plan v New Jersey Plan
One House or Two Houses?
Executive – One President or Two?
Slavery
Make it illegal or keep status quo (same)?
Representation in national legislature and taxation?
Bill of Rights?

17. REPRESENTATION IN NATIONAL LEGISLATURE The Virginia Plan – BIG STATE PLAN
Proposed by Edmund Randolph
Two-house (bicameral) legislature
Members of the lower house elected by the citizens
Members of the upper house elected by members of the lower house
Number of representatives would be proportional to the population of each state = large states have more representatives

18. The New Jersey Plan – SMALL STATE PLAN
One-House legislature (unicameral)
Gave Congress the power to tax and regulate trade
Congress would elect a weak executive branch consisting of more than one person
Each state would equal representation

19. The Great Compromise – (Connecticut Compromise)
Two-House legislature
Lower House (House of Representatives)
Representation based on population
Upper House (Senate)
Each state would have two members

20. What to do about slavery?
Northern states wanted to ban slavery throughout the nation
Southern states considered slavery essential to their economies
It was agreed that Congress would not interfere with the slave trade until 1808

21. The 3/5 Compromise – taxation and representation
Southern states wanted slaves to be counted as population for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives
Northerners wanted slaves to be counted as property and taxed
Compromise—slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a free person for the purpose of taxation AND representation
Legally establish racial discrimination at the federal level!

22. Ratification
9 out of 13 states had to ratify (approve) the Constitution
Federalists-supporters of the Constitution
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay defended the Constitution in The Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalists-opposed ratification
Lacked a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms

23. Adopting the Constitution
June 21, 1788—New Hampshire (the 9th state) ratified the Constitution
June 25, 1788—Virginia ratified the Constitution
June 26, 1788—New York ratified the Constitution
November 1789— Constitution ratified by North Carolina
May 1790—Constitution ratified by Rhode Island

24. Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Essential Question Debate:
Should we ratify the U.S. Constitution?
Created by: Carrie Watson

25. Constitutional Convention What kind of government do we want?
The Articles of Confederation are ineffective and weak.
A new constitution is needed.
Being a new country isn’t easy = disagreements (states, framers, people)

26. LET THE DEBATE BEGIN! U.S. Constitution signed September, 1787
Established a federal system
Power is divided between a  national (federal)  government and various  regional (state) governments.
9/13 states needed for ratification
LET THE DEBATE BEGIN!

27. Ratification of the Constitution: The Two Sides of the Debate
Federalist
Prominent individuals: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams
Federalist Papers - series of essays defending the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
Prominent individuals: Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, John Jay, John Adams.
Published essays arguing against ratifying the Constitution

28. Should we ratify the U.S. Constitution?
ANTI-FEDERALISTS - NO, DON’T RATIFY!
FEDERALISTS -
YES, RATIFY!
Wanted state governments to have more power
Wanted a strong central government
Wanted a bill of rights to protect the people rights
Didn’t need list of rights, federal government had limits on power
Wanted legislative branch to have more power = representative government
Wanted to separate and balance powers among three different branches
Were afraid elites would have too much power, not be representative
Thought well-educated, experienced people best suited to govern
Area of country too big, won’t be able to represent well
Large size is an advantage, prevents small factions from getting too much power

29. Ratification Debate: I Say, You Say
The central government must
have power in order to protect the rights of citizens!
The biggest threat to the people is a government that has too much power!
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist
James Monroe, Anti-Federalist

30. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist
Yes, Put Words in their Mouths You will have five minutes to brainstorm possible statements someone from your group (Federalists or Anti-Federalist) might say.
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist
James Monroe, Anti-Federalist