1. Creation of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation (1786)
Losing effectiveness, unstable and lacking authority,
needed a stronger central gov
Federalists
* supported the idea of a stronger national government
* included Washington, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, Jay
* believed states held too much power
Anti-Federalists
* supported stronger states’ rights
* smaller states worried about power of larger states
WEAKNESSES
1. couldn’t collect taxes
2. independence maintained by states
3. 1 vote per state
4. 9/13 vote to pass anything
5. not enough $$ collected by Congress
6. small army dependent on militias
7. territorial disputes b/w states
8. all 13 agree to amendment

2. Constitutional convention
Virginia Plan (Madison)
New Jersey Plan (Patterson)
Strong national government with one executive leader
Bicameral legislature (2 houses) with reps based on population
All current powers, plus powers to settle disputes between states
Would have power to veto state laws that contradicted the laws on congress
Unicameral legislature (one house)
2 representatives from each state would serve for 4 years
President would serve for 4 years and the electoral College (made up of reps and Senators) would choose president

3. Great Compromise Proposed by Roger Sherman (Connecticut)
Bicameral legislature
- House of representatives (lower house) based on population and would serve for 2 years
- Senate (upper house) 2 representatives from each state and would serve for 6 years
- President would serve for 4 years and electoral college (made up for reps and senators) would choose the president

4. Federalism
KEY POINTS
Founders did NOT intend to create a direct democracy
Mistrusted public passions and were concerned about securing minority rights
Believed people would seek their own advantage (in and out of politics)
Intended to create a representative government
Factionalism could be harnessed to provide a source of unity and guarantee liberty
This compromise established federalism (sharing of power between states and central government). Established that Congress could:
* Levy and Collect taxes
* Settle disputes among states
* Negotiate with foreign nations
* Set standards for citizenship
* Has veto power over state laws
This is fundamental to the Framers belief in an elite democracy