1. EARLY US GOVERNMENT Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
Federalists
Anti-Federalists

2. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
GOVERNMENT
Congress – Each State had one Vote.
Powers of Congress
Make Laws
Declare War & Make Peace
Make Treaties & Alliances
Maintain Army & Navy
Other Less Important
Matters

3. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Congress – Limited Powers (most needed 9 of 13 states to agree)
No Executive Branch – Enforce Laws
No Judicial Branch – Settle State Disputes
No Power to Tax
No Money = No Military
Amendments – Needed Approval of all 13 States

4. Constitutional Convention
VIRGINIA PLAN
3 Separate Branches
(legislative will elect other 2)
Bicameral Legislature
(based on population & $ contributions)
Authority to cancel conflicting state laws
GREAT COMPROMISE
(AKA – Sherman or Connecticut Compromise)
1) Congress – Bicameral
House of Representatives – based on population, directly elected by the people
Senate – 2 Representatives per state – chosen by state legislatures
2) 3/5 Compromise – Every 5 Slaves would count as 3 persons for population & taxing
3) Economics
President enters into treaties
Slave trade not prohibited (20 years)
Congress cannot tax exports
Treaties – 2/3 Senate approval
NEW JERSEY PLAN
Unicameral Legislature (1 vote)
Plural Executive – selected by Congress
Supreme Court – appointed for life by the executive

5. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
FEDERALISTS People who supported the Ratification (Approval) of the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Wrote a collection of essays in support of the new Constitution-wanted a strong federal government.
The purpose of the essays was to show how the new Constitution would solve many of the problems that existed under the Articles of Confederation.
Three men combined to write 85 of the essays.

6. ANTI-FEDERALISTS People who opposed the ratification of the new Constitution.
Criticized the adoption of the Constitution of 1787.
States would lose power under the Constitution.
Federal Government would be too powerful. People still fear a strong central government.
IT LACKED A BILL OF RIGHTS
Anti-Federalists (Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason)