1. Think about it.. Who makes the decisions in our school? How would decisions be made without a central governing body? In other words, what if every homeroom had the right to make their own rules? Benefits? Drawbacks?

2. Constitution What is a Constitution? What is the difference between our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution? CONSTITUTION: – document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government – Spells out the rights of citizens – Limits the power of government The Constitution is the HIGHEST LAW OF THE LAND

3. 1 st steps in setting up the New Government… States wrote their own constitutionsconstitutions Some states included a Bill of Rights – list of freedoms people were guaranteed Varied state to state There was a need for a central or federal government with its own constitution – Why?

4. 1 st attempt at a Federal Constitution: Articles of Confederation Fear of strong central government – why? Articles had no chief executive (President), a weak legislature (law making body), states printed their own currency ($) which caused confusion Main problem – weak central government, states had all the power Think back – what if homerooms had more power than the office? Or if states today had more power than the federal government? What could happen?

5. New States New territories divided into townships – sections sold by Congress to new settlers Once territory had population of at least 60,000 free settlers they could apply for statehood

6. Quick Review! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KGG9afW 7XY

7. What happened? Farmers hit hard by depression that followed the war – could not pay back loans or new taxes Courts were taking farms as payment and angry farmers united under Shays’ leadership Over 1,000 farmers revolt, attacking courthouses and tax collectors ** Many saw this revolt as proof that the Articles did not work

8. Troubles Ahead… SHAY’S REBELLION = Proof that the Articles did not work!

9. “I predict the worst consequences from a half-starved, limping government, always moving upon crutches and tottering at every step” - George Washington

10. Convention to revise Articles meets in Philadelphia 1787 Leads to the creation of a whole new constitution “Constitutional Convention” 55 delegates – nearly half in their 30s