1. The Articles of Confederation to the Constitution

2. Essential Question:
Why was a new Constitution written and what compromises were necessary?

3. Articles of Confederation 1781-1788
First written U.S. Constitution
Drafted by Congress in 1777
Under the A of C the states retained their individual “sovereignty, freedom, and independence”
They (American colonists) had fought hard to defeat one tyrant, they didn’t want another one

4. Weaknesses of the A of C Could not regulate tax
Too many imported goods
Not enough business for American craftsmen
Could not regulate currency
Could not tax
Couldn’t pay debts
To finance the Revolutionary War the colonists borrowed money by paying soldiers in notes to be redeemed in the future
Unable to pay
States adopted their own economic policies

5. Constitutional Convention, May 1787
Delegates gather to amend/fix the A of C
Decide to replace the A of C
Have to find a balance between the freedom of the people and the necessary power of the government

6. What did the Founding Fathers agree on?
The gov’t would represent the people
Congress needed to be able to raise money (tax) on its own
Did not want anything close to a monarchy

7. What did they disagree on?
The proper balance of power between the federal and state governments
Large vs. small states
What to do about slavery
And the list goes on...

8. The Virginia plan vs The New Jersey plan
Introduced by James Madison
Proposed the creation of a 2- House legislature with a state’s pop. determining its representation in each
Fails
New Jersey Plan
Called for a single-house Congress in which each state casts one vote
Fails

9. Compromise Senate Each state has 2 members Elected for 6 year terms
Elected by state representatives
House of Representatives
Representation is based on population
Elected for 2 year terms
Elected by the people
Barbara Boxer
Dianne Feinstein
Devin Nunes

10. 3/5ths Compromise Delegates were careful in how they addressed slavery
Pushed through the 3/5ths Compromise that indicated 60% of the slave population would be counted in determining each state’s representation
House of Reps and its electoral votes for president

11. Characteristics of the Constitution
Adaptable
Amendment Process
⅔ vote in both houses
Federalism
Division of Powers
Executive (president), Legislative (Congress), Judicial (Supreme Court)
Relationship between the national and the state gov’ts
Strengthened national authority
Checks and Balances
Prevents any branch of the gov’t from dominating the other two

12. Annotations and Summary
-After completing the fill-in notes, add annotations to the left margin, including questions, clarifications, terms, examples, etc.
-Then, summarize the notes by answering the essential question (Why was a new Constitution written and what compromises were necessary?) in the space provided.
-Annotations and summary must be completed in order to get full credit for your notes.

13. Vocabulary
Limited Gov’t: restricted with reference to governing powers by limitations prescribed in laws and in a constitution
Representative Gov’t: system of governance by chosen representatives, usually elected from among a large group
Federalism: a political system in which a national government and state governments share power
Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances: provisions that prevent any branch of the government from dominating over the other two
Consent of the governed: the authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people, as expressed by votes in an election
Inalienable Rights: a right according to natural law, a right that cannot be taken away