1. Articles of
Confederation
to the
Constitution

2. What We Will Learn Today: Why were the articles of confederation weak?
Why did the articles of confederation fail?
What were the colonists afraid of?
What was their reason for concern?
What did the constitution do to calm these fears?

4. Articles to Constitution 1781-1789 – The Articles of Confederation –
Went into effect after all 13 colonies had ratified.
This document reflected the fear that the colonists had about a strong central government. As a result this document was weak.

5. Articles to Constitution
The idea behind the Articles was that there would be a confederation of independent states in the form of an alliance. The states would give as much power as they chose to the central government and no more.

6. Articles to Constitution
This kept the main portion of the power with the sovereign states. This was more like a treaty among the states than a plan of centralized government.

7. Articles to Constitution Confederation accomplishments –
The power to make treaties
Declare war
Receive ambassadors
Successful end to Revolution
Negotiation in the Treaty of Paris
Land Ordinance of 1785
NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1787
Northwest Ordinance – Provided for the admission of a new state to the U.S.

8. Land Ordinance Divided territory into sections of 36 1 square mile plots. Each township had to set aside land for a public school. *Helping to establish public school system!
Northwest Ordinance 1787-set the pattern by which new states could join and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory

9. Articles to Constitution Articles of Confederation Weaknesses –
No single national currency (states could coin money)
Congress could not tax directly, buy had to ask the states for money
No president to direct operations

10. Articles to Constitution Articles of Confederation Weaknesses –
The congress could not raise an army for protection due to lack of funds
Government unable to command any respect at home or abroad
All 13 states had to agree before the Articles could be changed so change was impossible.

11. Articles to
Constitution
Currency
All 13 to change
Tax
No Army
No President
No Respect

12. Articles to Constitution Daniel Shays Shays Rebellion
Massachusetts 1786 –
Government decided to raise taxes instead of issuing money to pay off debts.
Farmers could not afford mortgages or the taxes and rebelled by walking to the Supreme court.
This was disbanded by the army and four farmers died as a result.
Daniel
Shays

13. Articles to Constitution
A time based on Republican (consent of the governed) principles: Each state adopted a new constitution. These all emphasized the limitations of power. Some of the rights included in these constitutions were reinforcing the right to vote, religion and ended government endorsement of churches.

14. Articles to Constitution
By the late 1780’s it was obvious to most that the Articles were too weak to work. A Constitutional Convention was now called in hopes of saving the Articles.

15. How the Weaknesses were corrected
Articles to
Constitution
How the Weaknesses were corrected
Articles
Constitution
States have most of the power – national government has little
States have some power, by most is given to national government
No executive officer - president
A president heads the executive branch
No national courts – only state courts
Both national and state courts
Congress is responsible to the states
Congress is responsible to the people

16. How the Weaknesses were corrected
Articles to
Constitution
How the Weaknesses were corrected
Articles
Constitution
9/13 had to approve a law before it could go in to effect
Laws may be passed by the majority vote in both houses of Congress
Congress had no power to tax
Congress was given the power to tax
Congress could not regulate trade among the states
Congress had the power to regulate interstate and foreign trade
Each state coins its own money, no national currency
Only national government has the power to coin money

20. Articles to Constitution People that were there George Washington
James Madison
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton

21. Articles to Constitution "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"
Patrick Henry –
Would not go due to his concern and disagreement with a stronger central government that he suspected this convention would be about.
"Give Me Liberty Or
Give Me Death"

22. Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention
The Great Compromise –
Large population states wanted large representation.
Small states wanted equal representation.
Solution – do both, bicameral
Connecticut
Plan

24. Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention
The Three fifths Compromise
South - wanted slaves to be counted for more representation.
North – did not want slaves counted in representation.
Solution – 3/5 of slaves counted for tax and representation.

25. Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention
Commerce Compromise –
North – wanted government regulation of trade
South – Feared slave trade being shut down and did not want their exports taxed.
Solution – No export taxes and slave trade would not be disrupted for 20 years.

26. Articles to Constitution Compromise at the Convention Compromise Issue
Solution
H of R – population
Senate - equal
Connecticut or Great
Representation in Congress
Slaves were counted as 3/5 of one person for rep. and tax
Three - Fifths
Counting slaves within population to determine representation
Granting congress the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade
Congress forbidden to tax exports and no action against slave trade for 20 years
Commerce and Slave Trade

27. The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate
Articles to
Constitution
The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate
Not everyone approved the constitution right away, 9/13 had to approve it or else it would not go through. Some refused to sign out of fear and their feelings of Anti-federalism.

28. The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate
Articles to
Constitution
The Federalist & Anti-Federalist Debate
Federalist
Anti Federalist
Favored Ratification
Opposed Ratification
Wanted a weak national government so that it would not threaten the rights of the people or the powers of the states
Wanted a strong national government to provide order and protect rights of the people
Claimed that a bill of rights was unnecessary because the new government’s powers were limited by the Constitution.
Wanted to add a bill of rights to protect the people against abuses of power

29. Articles to Constitution
The federalist papers - written by Alexander Hamilton were a blatant endorsement of the Constitution and the ratification thereof.

30. Articles to Constitution
Popular Sovereignty – the source of all power and authority is the people. (democracy)
Limited Government – the government is limited by law, limits are placed on state and national government and government officials.
Separation of powers – power to govern is divided among the three branches.

31. The Three Banches of Government
Articles to
Constitution
The Three Banches of Government
Legislative – H of R and Senate
Makes Laws:
Overrides presidential vetoes
Approves presidential appointments
Approves treaties
Provides for defense, declares war
Regulates money and trade
Impeaches officials

32. Articles to Constitution Executive – president and Vice president
Enforces laws and treaties
Can veto laws
Appoints high officials
Conducts foreign policy
Commander in chief of military
Recommends bills to congress
Reports the state of the union

33. Articles to Constitution Judicial – Supreme Court and Federal Courts
Explains and interprets laws
Settles legal disputes between states
Settles disputes between states and foreign countries
Hears cases with ambassadors of foreign governments
Settles disputes between individuals and federal government

34. Articles to Constitution Flexibility of the Constitution –
The elastic clause – congress shall make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the tasks listed in the Constitution.
The amendment process – the Constitution must be formally amended. Both congress and the states must agree to such changes.
Judicial interpretation – interpretation of local, state and federal laws as well as executive actions to check for Constitutionality.

35. Articles to
Constitution
Checks and
Balances
President
Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws

36. Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
Check on president
Congress has power to:
Override presidential veto
Reject treaties and presidential appointments
Impeach & remove

37. Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
Check on president
Supreme Court has power to:
Decide actions unconstitutional
Interpret treaties

38. Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
Check on Congress
President has power to:
Veto laws
Make treaties and foreign policy
Appoint federal officials
Propose laws

39. Articles to Constitution Checks and Balances President Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
Check on Congress
Supreme Court has power to:
Decide laws unconstitutional.

40. Articles to Constitution Check on Supreme Court Checks and Balances
President
Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
President has power to:
Grant pardons
Appoint judges

41. Articles to Constitution Check on Supreme Court Checks and Balances
President
Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
Congress has power to:
Propose amendments to overturn court decisions
Create lower courts
Impeach and remove
Reject appointments

42. Articles to Constitution
Delegated powers – certain powers of the national government that are spelled out in the Constitution.
Implied powers – not stated in writing, this is implied by the elastic clause.
Denied powers – powers that are denied to the national government (ie. - export tax)
Concurrent power – powers that belong to both national and state governments. ( ie. Tax)
Reserved powers – not delegated to federal and not denied to the states. (ie. Divorce laws)

43. Articles to Constitution System of Federalism State National Delegated
Concurrent
Reserved
Conduct elections
Maintain army and navy
Establish schools
Enforce laws
Regulate businesses within a state
Declare war
Establish courts
Coin money
Borrow money
Establish local governments
Regulate trade between states and foreign nations
Protect the safety of the people
Regulate marriages
Assume other powers not given to the national government or denied to the states
Build roads
Make all laws necessary in carrying out delegated powers
Collect taxes

44. What We Learned Today:
The
Commerce
Compromise
The Great
Compromise
3/5
Compromise
Checks and
Balances
President
Enforces laws
Congress
Makes laws
Supreme Court
Interprets laws
Patrick Henry
Fear of large
national gov't
Checks
&
Balances
Federalist
Anti-Federalist

45. What We Learned Today:
Currency
All 13 to change
Tax
No Army
No President
No Respect

46. What We Learned Today: Why were the articles of confederation weak?
Why did the articles of confederation fail?
What were the colonists afraid of?
What was their reason for concern?
What did the constitution do to calm these fears?