1. Conditions that led to the Constitution
Shays’ Rebellion
Economic Problems
Trade
Tariffs
Currency
National Debt
Diplomatic Issues

2. Road to the Constitution
Annapolis Convention, 1786
Constitutional Convention
1787
Issues
Representation
Slavery
Ratification
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Bill of Rights

3. Designing a New Nation Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)
--Decentralized
--Strong state government/weak federal government
--No taxing power
--No judiciary
--No regulation of trade
--Amended unanimously
--Nine states required to approve important measures
--No executive
U. S. Constitution (1789-)
--Where does authority lay?
--How are powers “balanced?”
--What lessons from American past are incorporated into it?
--What are “undemocratic” elements?
--How “republican” is it?
--What powers are “delegated” to government by states?
--What powers remain for the states?