1. A “Just Right” Government
WANTED:
A “Just Right” Government

2. Wanted: A government that…
Has enough ________ to do its job
Doesn’t give anyone too ______ power
Considers the needs of all _________
Lets people have a ________
Protects individual __________
much
say
states
power
Give students two minutes to use these words to complete the cloze “wanted” note on the notetaking worksheet. When they are finished, ask for the answers by reading each phrase, pausing at the blank, and asking the class for a choral response.
rights

3. In 1777, the Americans wrote their first plan for government in a document called the
Articles of Confederation

4. The First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation? What’s a confederation??
A confederation is a _________ of individuals _______ together for a _________.
group
united
Make sure students understand we’re talking about the first attempt at a new government. Then give students 2-3 minutes to fill in the first cloze paragraph with these words. Check answers by reading the sentences and pausing for choral response.
purpose

5. The First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation
Each state was _________________ and had its own ________________.
Each state would send _______________ to the “Congress of the Confederation.”
The Congress was the only ____________ government. There was no ___________.
In Congress, each state got _______ vote.
independent
government
representatives
central
Make sure students understand we’re talking about the first attempt at a new government. Then give students 2-3 minutes to fill in the first cloze paragraph with these words. Check answers by reading the sentences and pausing for choral response.
President
one

6. The First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation
Hey, this sounds great!
Wait! Not so fast…
States get to keep their ______ and ____________
No _____________ telling the states what to do
Congress had the power to create a _________ to ________all the states
Congress had no way to __________ its _______!
Congress had no power to collect _________ to pay for the military!
The Articles could only be _________ if ______ the states agreed!
power
independence
enforce
laws
government
taxes
military
protect
changed
ALL

7. Think About It
Under the Articles of Confederation, a President would lead the country.
 True
 False
Slides 7 – 13: Click through the slides to quiz students. The class should give a choral response of “true” or “false.” 

8. States would be independent under the Articles of Confederation.
Think About It
States would be independent under the Articles of Confederation. 
 True
 False

9. The Articles of Confederation were easy to change.
Think About It
The Articles of Confederation were easy to change.
 True
 False 

10. The more people a state had, the more votes it got in Congress.
Think About It
The more people a state had, the more votes it got in Congress.
 True
 False 

11. Congress did not have the power to collect taxes.
Think About It
Congress did not have the power to collect taxes. 
 True
 False

12. Congress could pass laws and force states to follow them.
Think About It
Congress could pass laws and force states to follow them.
 True
 False 

13. The Articles of Confederation created the first American government.
Think About It
The Articles of Confederation created the first American government. 
 True
 False

14. Congress is too weak to end the conflicts between our states!
There were some good things and some bad things about the Articles of Confederation. In general, people felt like the government wasn’t working!
Congress is too weak to end the conflicts between our states!

15. But there was no easy solution…
We need a President!
Large states should have more say!
Down with central government!
Small states should have more say!
More help for fishermen!
Who needs a President?
Up with central government!
More help for farmers!

16. States Had Different Needs
Some states depended on ,
fishing
while others mostly grew
crops

17. States Had Different Sizes
Some states had people,
many
while others had
few

18. People Had Different Opinions
Some people
feared
a central government.
Others thought a central government was
necessary
A central government will have too much power! We’ll lose our freedom!
But we’ll never get anything done if no one is in charge!!

19. Everybody thought the central government should have more power.
Think About It
Everybody thought the central government should have more power.
 True
 False
Slides 19 – 23: Click through the slides to quiz students. The class should give a choral response of “true” or “false.” 

20. Some people were afraid states might lose their independence.
Think About It
Some people were afraid states might lose their independence. 
 True
 False

21. Different states had different needs for government to meet.
Think About It
Different states had different needs for government to meet. 
 True
 False

22. The states all got along with each other.
Think About It
The states all got along with each other.
 True
 False 

23. Think About It
The government created by the Articles of Confederation had everything under control among the states.
 True
 False 

24. Something needed to change, but people didn’t want a central government to have too much power!

25. The states decided to put aside some of their differences and come together to try to solve the problem of forming a new government…

26. Articles of Confederation
A New Idea!
Articles of Confederation
New Idea
1 Branch
Legislative—makes laws
3 Branches

27. A New Idea!
Legislative:
Makes laws
How many should each state get in the legislature?
votes
But Wait!
Executive:
Carries out laws
Judicial:
Interprets laws

28. Think About It
Each state gets to send representatives to the legislature. Which states would have the most power if…
The more people a state had, the more representatives it got?
Answer: The more people, the more power!

29. Think About It
Each state gets to send representatives to the legislature. Which states would have the most power if…
Each state got one vote, no matter how small?
Answer: People in the small states would have more power.

30. Battle of the Plans The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan
Legislative branch has ___ “chambers”
Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s ___________
________ states would have more power 2
Legislative branch has ___ “chamber”
Each state gets ___ vote
________ states would have more power 1 1
Smaller
population
Larger
(Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. Surprise!)

31. Think About It
Is it more fair for every state to have the same amount of power no matter how few people live there, or should states with more people have more power?
 All states should have the same power  Larger states should have more power
Poll the class. Call on random students to explain their choices.
WHY?

32. The Constitution of the United States of America
There were a lot of differences to overcome and a lot of compromises to make…but finally…
The Constitution of the United States of America

33. The Constitution Solution
Legislative:
Makes laws
Divide Congress Into Two Houses
Senate
House of Representatives
Each state gets 2 votes.
The more people the state has, the more votes it gets!
Executive:
Carries out laws
Judicial:
Interprets laws
And that’s not all…

34. Not only did the Constitution resolve the problem of the legislature, but it solved some other problems as well…

35. Think About It
Did the Articles of Confederation require states to treat other states the same as their own citizens?
 Yes
 No 

36. The Constitution Solution
The Constitution requires each state to treat ________ of other states the ______ as it treats its own citizens.
citizens
same

37. Think About It
How many states had to agree in order for the Articles of Confederation to be changed? 
 All states
 A majority of states

38. The Constitution Solution
The Constitution can be changed if ________________ of the members of Congress and ________________ of the states agree.
two-thirds (2/3)
three-fourths (3/4)

39. Think About It
Did the Articles of Confederation require states to follow the laws Congress passed?
 Yes
 No 

40. The Constitution Solution
The Constitution says that the laws passed by Congress are _________ to laws passed by the _______.
superior
states

41. The new Americans made compromises and found solutions for their new government. Let’s review the final product of the Constitutional Convention!

42. Under the Constitution
Laws are made by the _______ branch. A B 
Slides 42 – 47: Click through the slides to quiz students. The class should give a choral response of “A” or “B.”
executive
legislative

43. Under the Constitution
Laws passed by Congress are _____ to state laws. A  B
superior
inferior

44. Under the Constitution
Congress has ______. A B 
1 chamber
2 chambers

45. Under the Constitution
Each state gets two votes in the __________. A B 
House of Representatives
Senate

46. Under the Constitution
In the House of Representatives, the number of votes each states gets is based on its ________. A  B
population
taxes

47. Under the Constitution
A change to the Constitution must be approved by ___________. A B 
All states
¾ of states

48. Although they managed to solve the problems created by the Articles, there were still many decisions to be made before everyone accepted the Constitution!