1. Chapter 5: Shaping a New Nation
Fighting the war gave the states a common goal
Reluctant about a strong central government

2. Shaping a New Nation Predict: What challenges might a new nation face?
What might colonists want from a new government?
How much power will the government receive?
Who might be left out of the new government?

3. Choosing a form of Government
Democracy:
Government directly by the people
Republic:
Government where citizens rule through their elected representatives
Why didn’t Americans create a democracy?
Placed power in the hands of uneducated masses
Republican govt: put power in the hands of capable leaders

4. State Constitutions Similarties: Differences:
Limited the powers of government leaders
Guaranteed specific rights for citizens
Liberty over equality
All reflected a fear of Strong Central Government
Differences:
Right to vote

5. Continental Congress
Met to try and draft a constitution for the states as a whole
Very difficult because of disagreement in the role of Congress

6. Representation States were unequal in land, wealth & population
Each state allowed one vote regardless of population

7. Power Most people assumed government could not share power
Congress proposed a new government in the Articles of Confederation
Confederation or alliance
Both State & National government shared power
State govt. was supreme in some cases & National in others
Ratified in 1781 lasted until *** government was a confederation or loose alliance of states
* Contained 12 articles

8. Articles of Confederation
Powers:
Declare war
make peace
sign treaties
borrow $
establish a postal service
deal with Natives

9. Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses:
Created a unilateral (one house) Congress
Each state only received 1 vote
Did not create an executive dept. to enforce acts of Congress
No national court system to decide meaning of laws
Unable to pass taxes
No power over states
No ability to raise an army
No power over interstate commerce

10. Shays’ Rebellion 1786-87 Movement led by Daniel Shay’s in western MA
Shays & other poor farmers couldn’t pay their debt in the required hard currency
Government refused appeals for help  movement turns violent
January Shays & others shut down courthouse
Led people to question the strength of national government
Shays’ – Veteran *** JAN 1787 Shays and 1,2000 farmers – 4 rebels were killed and the others scattered
Caused mayhem throughout nation bc every state had debt ridden farmers --- would rebellion spread?? CLEARLY TIME TO TALK ABOUT STRONGER NATL GOVT

11. Annapolis Convention September 1786
After Shay’s Rebellion - it was time to talk about a stronger national government
Meeting called to discuss Articles, weaknesses & what can be done
Convened as private citizens
Only 5 states showed & 12 individuals
James Madison & Alexander Hamilton included
Nothing is accomplished
Another meeting is called
Discuss articles weaknesses & what can be done

12. Homework Use your notes & pages 132-133
1. Why didn’t American create a democracy?
2. What is a republic?
3. What were the Articles of Confederation?
4. List 8 Weaknesses of the Articles.
5. Who was Daniel Shays?
6. Describe Shays Rebellion.

13. The Constitutional Convention May 25, 1787 Philadelphia

14. Constitutional Convention
Sanction of Congress- invited all 13 States
12 States send delegates (55 in all)
Rhode Island doesn’t show
Sam Adams & Patrick Henry are no shows - they each fear strong central government
PURPOSE: to revise the Articles of Confederation
Delegates want to scrap articles & start from scratch

15. Convention Two important decisions are made
1. Elect George Washington to presiding officer of convention
2. Deliberations were held in secret
No leaks to press, No talking
Don’t want to upset public , no outside influence

16. Convention Issues 1. Large vs. Small States
2. Weak or Strong Central Government
3. Slavery

17. Issue #1: Large vs. Small State
Problem #1 - How should each state be represented in government?

18. Suggested Solutions to Problem #1
The Virginia Plan
James Madison drew up the plan
He suggested that Congress be a bicameral , or two house, legislature
Made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate
Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on the population of the state

19. Virginia Plan Voters would elect members to the House
Representatives in the House would select members of the Senate
Both houses would vote for the president and judges
Congress would have power to override state laws and make laws for the states
Heavily populated stated favored the plan, less populated states rejected it

20. Suggested Solutions to Problem #1
The New Jersey Plan
William Paterson drew up the plan
He suggested that Congress be a single house legislature
All states would be represented by equally in Congress
State legislatures, not the people, would elect members of Congress
Less populated states favored the plan

21. The Solution to Problem #1
The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman of Connecticut drew up the plan
The structure of Congress was determined, Congress would consist of two houses
Senate (upper house)
House of Representatives (lower house)

22. Solution to Problem #1 The House of Representatives The Senate
States would be represented in the House according to their population size
The people would elect their Representatives
The Senate
States would be represented equally in the Senate
State legislatures would choose Senators
Representatives & Senators would each have

23. Problem #2: How to Count slaves in the population of each state
Suggestions:
Southern Suggestion-Count slaves for population, but not for taxation
Northern Suggestion- Count slaves for both representation and population or not at all

24. The Solution to Problem #2
The Three-Fifths Compromise
3/5ths of the slaves would be counted as population
Southern states wanted to resume importing slaves
Congress could not prohibit the slave trade for twenty years or until 1808
James Madison felt it should be addressed in the Constitution
***** AFTER explanation-----What is the moral problem with this? Can Something “not human” be counted as population?

25. Problem #3- Who should have power in the new government?
Sovereignty: The source of a governments power or authority
Solution- The new system of government was a form of federalism- divided power between the national & state government
This division created a balance of power

26. Problem # 3 - Who should have the power in the new government?
Solution #2
Separation of Powers
Create 3 branches of government and give each branch a specific job

27. Branches The ____________ Branch - Congress
Job is to make laws
The ______________ Branch- President
Job: to execute or carry out the laws
Elected by the electoral college
The ____________ Branch- Supreme Court
Job: interpret laws and declare laws & presidential actions unconstitutional
Prevent any branch from becoming too powerful a system of __________________ was established

28. Homework pgs. 137-141 1. Define ratification
2. How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution?
3. What name was taken by those who supported the Constitution?
4. What name was taken by those who opposed the Constitution?
5. What were the arguments of anti-federalists?
6. What were the federalist papers? What was their message?
7. What is a Bill of Rights?

29. Ratification Official approval by the people of the United States
How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution? 9

30. The Constitution
What name was taken by those who supported the Constitution?
Federalists
Define Federalist
People who favored the balance of government between the state and national govt.
What name was taken by those who opposed the constitution?
Anti-federalists

31. Anti-Federalist- Arguments
Feared a strong central govt; argued it would abuse its power
Believed the National Govt would serve interest of privileged minority (wealthy) & ignore the majority (poor)
Believed single govt. could not manage the affairs of the entire country
Believed Constitution lacked Individual rights

32. Federalist Papers What were the Federalist Papers?
Series of 85 essays defending the Constitution
Published under the name “Publius”
Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison
What was their message?
Explained the protections offered by the Division of Powers and the Separation of Powers

33. Bill of Rights What is a bill of rights?
A formal summary of a citizen’s rights and freedoms
Did not appear in the Constitution
The federalists accepted ideas for amendments
They promised that if the states ratified the Constitution a Bill of Rights would be added

34. Conclusion Constitution became the law of the land in 1789
Bill of Rights were passed in Sept & ratified December 1791