1. Articles of Confederation vs. US Constitution
USH-1.4

2. Articles of Confederation

3. I. Creation Articles were created by the Continental Congress
US needed a government to fight the Revolution
States, not Congress, is where the power was
State legislatures selected delegates, not the people
As little democracy as possible

4. II. Economics Gov’t wasn’t allowed to collect taxes
Had to ASK the states for money
Usually said no
Couldn’t pay for an army
National gov’t responsibility
Led to Shays’ Rebellion
Massachusetts farmer led group to protest b/c their farms were being foreclosed on
No army to stop them (see above)

5. III. Diplomacy Couldn’t make the British follow the Treaty of Paris
Hadn’t left their forts in US
Couldn’t restart trade
Couldn’t get Spain to let us through New Orleans
States tried to write their own treaties w/nations
No army meant no one listened

6. IV. Organization One house legislature No executive No judicial branch
One vote per state
Big or small didn’t matter
No executive
Who enforces the rules?
No judicial branch
Who resolves disputes?
Making changes
Passing laws required super majority (9 out of 13)
Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote

7. V. Ratification
Created by the Continental Congress to run the US during the American Revolution
Weak on purpose
Just left a tyrant, why make a new one?

8. VI. Other Negotiated Treaty of Paris & ended the Amer. Rev.
Northwest Ordinance
Decided how new territory would be carved into states
Makes slavery illegal in the Northwest Territory
Makes new states the same as old states

9. US Constitution

10. I. Creation
Delegates met in Philadelphia, PA to fix problems w/Articles
“We, the People…” means power is with the people
That’s why we vote
People vote for representatives
Gave some democracy, but not too much
Use electoral college for president
Judges are appointed

11. I. Creation Three branches with separation of powers
Executive – enforces laws
President
Legislative – makes laws
Congress
Bicameral (2 houses)
Judicial – judges laws
Supreme Court
Checks and balances prevent one branch from taking too much power

12. II. Economics National gov’t could levy taxes and tariffs
Pay for an army to “maintain domestic tranquility”
No more Shays’ Rebellions
Given the power to resolve conflicts b/w states about interstate trade and currency
One of the main jobs of the judicial branch

13. III. Diplomacy Gov’t has exclusive ability to make all treaties
Military and trade
Written by president
Ratified by Senate
Southern states didn’t like gov’t controlling trade
Feared slave trade would be ended
Compromise said gov’t would NOT stop international slave trade for 20 years
Last slave was imported in 1808

14. IV. Organization Bicameral legislature
House of Representatives is based on population
435 members
2 year terms
Minimum age of 25
All bills having to do with money start here
Senate gets two votes per state
100 members
6 year terms
33 up for election every 2 years
Minimum age of 30
All bills have to be ratified by BOTH houses

15. IV. Organization President is the executive branch 2 four year terms
No longer than 10 years
Minimum age of 35
Bills become law when he signs them
Has power of veto
Refuses to sign a bill and it does NOT become a law

16. IV. Organization Supreme Court is judicial branch Life terms
Appointed by president
Confirmed by Senate
Retirement
Convicted of crime
Death
Solves disputes b/w states
Determines constitutionality of laws

17. IV. Organization Amending Created a federal system
2/3 of Congress says yes then…
¾ of states to say yes
Created a federal system
Power shared b/w nation and state gov’ts
Delegated
Reserved
Concurrent
Concurrent Powers

18. V. Ratification Sent to special state conventions to vote on
9 out of 13 needed to ratify to take effect
Federalists like the strong gov’t and tended to be elites
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay write the Federalist Papers
Designed to persuade people to vote in favor of new constitution

19. V. Ratification Anti-Federalists opposed and tended to be poor farmers
Thought state gov’t would be better at handling local problems
Fought for a list of rights to be added to protect people from the gov’t
US Bill of Rights

20. VI. Other Great (Connecticut) Compromise
Big states want all representation based on population
Virginia Plan
Small states want all representation divided equally
New Jersey Plan
Compromise is to use both
Virginia Plan = House of Reps
New Jersey Plan = Senate

21. VI. Other Who counts as population?
Southern states want slaves to count, giving them higher populations
Northern states do not want them to count
“It is not fair to count them as people only once every 10 years!”
3/5 Compromise says slaves count as three fifths of a person