1. What were the problems of the Art of Confed?

2. What were the problems of the Art of Confed?
No National Courts/Judicial System
Couldn’t settle disputes between states.
National Government was too weak
Couldn’t collect taxes
Couldn’t regulate trade
No Executive Branch: More than just a king or president
First meeting designed to amend/correct the Articles of Confederation

3. Drafting a New Constitution
The Convention Meets
May 25, 1787: convention gets underway with representatives of 12 of the 13 states
Rhode Island, fearing weaker state powers, sent no delegation.
Delegates worked to draft the framework for a new government.
Meetings were held in strict secrecy without press or public.
Framers of the Constitution
55 delegates, known as Framers of the Constitution
One-third had served in the Continental Army.
8 had signed Declaration of Independence
George Washington, president of convention
James Madison a major influence
Delegates gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ended up with an entirely new plan for government.

4. Rival Plans THE VIRGINIA PLAN
Based on the ideas of James Madison, The Virginia Plan called for a central government divided into three branches—legislative, executive, judicial—each branch with power to check the others.
Called for strong national government with power to make laws, LEVY TAXES, CONTROL INTERSTATE COMMERCE, OVERRIDE STATE LAWS
Called for BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE WITH MEMBERSHIP BASED ON STATE’S POPULATION; lower house members elected directly by the people; upper house members selected by state legislatures

5. Rival Plans THE NEW JERSEY PLAN
Delegates from small states concerned that VIRGINIA PLAN GAVE TOO MUCH POWER TO LARGE STATES
The New Jersey Plan called for a STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT made up of three branches, but was designed to stick closer to the Articles of Confederation.
Called for UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE
EACH STATE WOULD HAVE ONE VOTE, with equal representation regardless of its population.
Despite support from small states, the plan was ultimately rejected at the Convention.

6. Conflict and Compromise
For weeks after the rejection of the New Jersey Plan, the Convention was deadlocked. Tempers flared, and at times it seemed the Convention would fall apart. In the end, a series of compromises saved the Convention.
(THE CONNECTICUT PLAN (AKA: GREAT COMPROMISE).
Elements of both plans
Bicameral legislature: LOWER HOUSE NUMBER BASED ON STATE’S POPULATION, UPPER HOUSE WITH TWO MEMBERS EACH
LOWER HOUSE ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE PEOPLE; UPPER HOUSE SELECTED BY STATE LEGISLATURE.
Also included a Chief Executive, called a president.

7. Conflict and Compromise
For weeks after the rejection of the New Jersey Plan, the Convention was deadlocked. Tempers flared, and at times it seemed the Convention would fall apart. In the end, a series of compromises saved the Convention.
Key points: whether slaves should be counted as part of state’s population; whether importing slaves continued
Counting slaves would greatly increase population and power of southern states
Three-Fifths Compromise: three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted to determine a state’s population.
COMPROMISE ON SLAVE TRADE ALLOWED IT TO CONTINUE PROTECTED FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS
Compromise Over Slavery

8. FINAL FORM BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE
SEPARATION OF POWERS:
LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES
(MAKE, ENFORCE, AND INTERPRET LAWS)
INCLUDES CHECKS AND BALANCES ON ALL BRANCHES
Did not include a Bill of Rights:
Increased power of National Government threatened individual rights

9. Conflict and Compromise (cont’d.)
Presidential Election
Choices: President elected directly by the people;
Or: Chosen others by the state/national legislatures
COMPROMISE: STATE ELECTORS
NUMBER OF STATE ELECTORS EQUAL TO NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS;
ELECTORS CHOSEN BY POPULAR VOTE
If no candidate received majority vote, House of Representatives would choose president

10. Final Constitution Finalizing the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin said document was as close to perfect as possible, to overlook parts they did not like and “act heartily and unanimously” in signing Constitution
CONVENTION ADOPTED CONSTITUTION SEPTEMBER 17, 1787
Main Concern:
WHEN GOVERNMENT POWER INCREASES, RIGHTS OF INDVIDUALS DECREASE
Some refused to sign because it did not include a bill of rights.

11. Section 5 at a Glance Ratification and the Bill of Rights
Ratification of the Constitution involved a heated debate between those who supported the Constitution and those who opposed it.
Antifederalists opposed the Constitution because it lacked a bill of rights.
The Federalist Papers outlined the key ideas of the Federalists, who supported the Constitution.
The struggle for ratification took place in every state.

12. Antifederalists versus Federalists
New national government would
Greatly reduce powers of state legislatures
Completely restructure Congress
Framers outlined process for ratifying Constitution
Voters in each state to elect representatives to state ratifying convention
To become law, Constitution had to be ratified by 9 of 13 states
Two factions
Federalists supported Constitution
Antifederalists opposed Constitution

13. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
COPY THE CHART OUT OF THE BOOK, PAGE 80

14. BILL OF RIGHTS FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS FREEDOMS AND LEGAL RIGHTS
FIRST AMENDMENT- RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS, PEACEBLY (PEACEFULLY) ASSEMBLE, PETITION GOVERNMENT
VOTING RIGHTS
Groups gaining their rights: Race, Gender, Age
Two factions
Federalists supported Constitution
Antifederalists opposed Constitution

16. OTHER IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS
ABOLISHING (OUTLAWING) SLAVERY
VOTING RIGHTS
Groups gaining their rights: Race, Gender, Age
SUSAN B. ANTHONY FOUGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS
CIVIL RIGHTS
MARTIN LUTHER KING FOUGHT TO BUILD ON THE 14TH AMENDMENT

17. Over what issues did Antifederalists and Federalists disagree?
Contrasting
Over what issues did Antifederalists and Federalists disagree?
Answer(s): strength of federal government; restructuring of Congress; power of executive branch; necessity of bill of rights