1. Chapter 9… The Articles of Confederation & The Constitution
The central fact of the Articles was that they "established a form of government in which Americans were citizens of their own states first and the United States second."

2. Articles of Confederation
War time document
Created in November 1777
Plan for a loose union of the states
“League of Friendship”
Established a very weak central government

3. Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses
Congress had no power to tax
That power belonged to the states
Congress had no power to enforce treaties, regulate interstate commerce, or create trade agreements
No Executive Branch
No Judicial Branch
Amendments required unanimous vote of states
Weak Army
Weakish Navy
Problems Created
Weak currency and growing debt
Inability to pay federal army or just run the gov’t
Foreign nations did not trust USA because the national Congress had no control
Trade suffers with the British
Spanish shut down New Orleans and Mississippi River to the US
Each state is creating it’s own currency
States are slapping tariffs on one another
No leader for the country to represent the country
No way of settling the legality of laws or settling disputes with states
New York and New Jersey nearly went to war with one another
Nearly impossible to make changes
British maintained forts in American territory and incited Native Americans
Vermont Example
North African pirates captured American ships for ransom

5. Shay’s Rebellion, 1786-1787… Economic Crisis
States were beginning to act like independent nations
Recession
Repressive taxes lead to Shays Rebellion
Farmers could not handle high taxes
Open war between farmers and the federal government
Annapolis Convention is called as a result of the Rebellion
Only 5 states send delegates
A future convention is scheduled

6. A Convention is Called James Madison: Father of the Constitution
Madison is concerned, and convinces the state of Virginia to call for a convention
Alexander Hamilton (NY) agrees and calls for a meeting in Philadelphia…
May 1787
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton

7. The Constitutional Convention
Founding Fathers
Every state but Rhode Island sends delegates
55 in all
Most were lawyers
Incredible talent mostly…
8 were signers of Declaration of Independence
George Washington was chosen as the Presiding Officer
Meetings were closed to public

8. Instant Disagreement Currently
Under Articles of Confederation each state had one vote
Big states hated this/Small states loved it
Two plans were proposed at the Convention
1st the Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan was a response…

9. Virginia Plan Give the Articles of Confederation the boot
The Virginia Plan- written by Madison
Bicameral Legislature- Proportional
Upper House- Senate
Based on population
Elected by State Legislatures
Lower House- House of Representatives
Elected directly by the people
Virginia Plan draws outrage from the small states
Small states respond with the New Jersey Plan

10. New Jersey Plan Basically strengthen the Articles of Confederation
Changes
Make the central government stronger
Give powers not originally given
Tax and regulate trade
Create a unicameral legislature
Each state was represented equally
Not proportional

11. The Great Compromise 3 Branches of Government Executive
Legislature- Bicameral
Upper House: Senate
Each state had two representatives
Lower House: House of Representatives
Based on population
Judicial

13. Fear of the Common Man Indirect election of Senators
Indirect election of the President (Electoral College)
Judges appointed for life
The typical Americans were allowed to have a direct voice in 1/2 of the branches of gov’t!

15. Yeah or Nay

16. Further Compromise 3/5 Compromise Question came up
How to count slaves???
Southern states wanted to count slaves as citizens
90% of slaves lived in Maryland, Virginia, North & South Carolina, and Georgia
Slaves made up 30% of southern population
Northern states thought that was absurd since slaves were in no way citizens
Every 5 slaves would equal 3 people
South compromises by committing to end the slave trade by 1808

17. Did the Founding Fathers make a tragic mistake
Should slavery have been outlawed at the convention???
Realistic or Unrealistic
What do you think???