1. The Articles of Confederation
America’s First Government

2. Opening Questions
The Articles of Confederation showed it’s writers’ fears
of a strong national government and left most of the
important powers to the states.
What important powers did the Articles deny the national government?
Why do you suppose the smaller states were satisfied with the government set up by the Articles of Confederation?

3. Founded on Fears Fear of a strong national government:
Solution: create a weak national government
- no executive branch
-no judicial branch
- no power to collect taxes
Fear that large states would dominate smaller states:
Solution: one vote per state
Question: Are equality and fairness always the same thing?

4. Weaknesses & Problems No money & no power to get it
No power over state governments
Unenforceable trade agreements

5. Who had the real power to govern?
Sovereign states governments had the power: To enforce/impede national governmental policy To control state militia To withhold or grant revenues to the national government To veto amendments to the Articles of Confederation To regulate foreign and interstate commerce
Who had the real power to govern?
The Articles of Confederation left most of the power to govern in the hands of the states.
So, the states could:

6. Land Ordinance of 1785
-provided a way to divide land into 6 square miles townships, also provided for townships to pay for public education
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
-established the method by which new territories would be admitted to the U.S.; automatically banned slavery in the new territories.
These two ordinances established processes for settling and governing the western territories.
So…
Did the Articles of Confederation get anything right?
Well…yes!

7. “The Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back”
I think it’s time for a rebellion!
Daniel Shays

8. The Constitutional Convention Our Bundle of Compromises
The Delegates
White men with property
Average age 42 (27 the youngest)
No women
No African Americans
No American Indians

9. Beginnings The Delicate Balance Agreed on 2 things: New Constitution
Secrecy
The Delicate Balance
A government powerful enough to enforce the law/protect the people
A government not too powerful to abuse its power and ultimately the people

10. Rivalries Large states v. Small states
Virginia Plan v. New Jersey Plan
North v. South
National Sovereignty v. State Sovereignty

11. Compromises The Great Compromise The 3/5 Compromise
Bicameral
House of Representatives: proportional/population
Senate: 2 per state
The 3/5 Compromise
Counted slaves as 3/5 a person for purposes of representation
Virginia Plan
representation based on population
New Jersey Plan
Representation based on 1 state
1 vote
Supremacy Clause: federal law is the law of the land.

12. Opposition & Ratification
Federalists
Approve ratification because the wanted a stronger federal government
The Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalists
Against ratification because they feared a stronger federal government

13. Arguments Can’t count on man’s civic virtue Separation of Powers
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Can’t count on man’s civic virtue
Separation of Powers
Give us a Bill of Rights
Adding the Bill of Rights ensures ratification.