1. The Confederation
and the Constitution

2. Creating a Confederation
Biggest issue: Who controls western lands?
Some states claim land to the Pacific.
VA and NY compromised by relinquishing their claims to western lands
Articles of Confederation was finished in 1777 and ratified by the last state in 1781.

3. State Claims to Western Lands

4. Articles of Confederation
Structures
Powers
One body (unicameral)
Each state has 1 vote
Nine out of 13 votes to pass a law
13 out of 13 votes to amend (change)
Make war
Make treaties
Send representatives to foreign countries
Borrow money
COULD NOT: tax or regulate commerce – or enforce laws

5. How will the land in the Ohio Valley be divided?
Land Ordinance of 1785
Townships = 6 sq miles - would be surveyed then divided into sections equaling one square mile.
The sections were to be sold in lots of 640 acres at no less than $1 an acre.
The revenue from the sale of one section for each township would be used to develop public education

7. The United States in 1787

8. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
NW territory would be divided into 3-5 separate territories
Methodical process to statehood
Unorganized territories would be overseen by Congress
Once population reached 5,000 it could be organized into a territory. Residents then elect members to state legislature and send delegate to Congress
once population hit 60,000 a constitution would be written and territory could apply for statehood.

9. Problems with the AoC Financial Foreign Domestic
How to pay war debts?
Foreign
British still maintained troops in NW Territory
European countries did not view US as stable
Domestic
Border disputes between states
Shay’s Rebellion

10. Shays’ Rebellion:
Daniel Shays was disgruntled over farmland mortgages and increased taxes – small farmers wanted states to print more money
Motivated citizens to desire a stronger federal government.

11. Annapolis Convention (1786) Attempting to fix AOC problems
12 representatives from 5 states [NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA] met in Annapolis, Maryland
GOAL  address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.
Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.
Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

12. Constitutional Convention
55 delegates from 12 states - mid-summer Philadelphia
Father of the Constitution - James Madison
No Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, or Sam Adams (fearful of power increase in central gov’t). TJ & John Adams in Europe
Why meet?
Wanted to preserve the union
Wanted to protect democracy
Wanted to curb rebellions

13. Issues Representation Slavery Trade Virginia Plan/New Jersey Plan
The Great Compromise
Slavery
Three-Fifths Compromise
Slave importation to end in 1808
Trade
Commercial Compromise

14. Safeguards for Conservatism
Powers
Separation of power into 3 branches
President elected by electoral college
Ratification
Adopted by Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787
9 out of 13 states required for ratification

15. Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Strongholds at the End of the War

16. Federalists
Support mainly from coastal & urban areas and from upper classes - merchants, financiers, shippers, planters though not all upperclass citizens were Federalists
Washington, Hamilton, Madison, and Franklin
They favored strong central gov’t to maintain peace and stability and to strengthen the Union

17. Anti-federalists
Support from mainly backcountry & agricultural areas, debtors, and people philosophically opposed to a strong central gov’t
Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason
Oppose a central gov’t that did not guarantee protection of individual rights

18. Federalist Papers By Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
Man is corruptible, he cannot always be trusted to govern himself
Prevent tyranny of majority and tyranny of minority
No abuse b/c delegated powers in Constitution
Swayed New York to ratify the Constitution

19. Bill of Rights
June 21, 1788, the Constitution was officially adopted after nine states had ratified it.
Many states agreed to ratify only if individual rights were added
Federalists say unnecessary since Congressional members elected
No way say anti-federalists: Basic civil rights need to be listed
Compromise was:
BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO CONSTITUTION