1. The Articles of Confederation

2. The Articles: powers to Congress 1.make war and peace (sending/receiving ambassadors and making treaties), 2.raise an army and navy (build a navy and raising an army by asking the states for troops), 3.print money (set up a money system, fix uniform standards of weights and measures), and 4.set up a postal system.

3. Major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: No chief executive to enforce the laws No national court system Could not collect taxes from individuals No National Currency No standing army

4. Failure of the AoC Shay’s Rebellion (1787) a group of Massachusetts farmers, lead by Daniel Shay, protested the rising taxes on land. They attacked a federal court house. – The revolt convinced many people that the U.S. needed a stronger central government to prevent violence and disorder.

5. Solutions To fix some of the problems with the AoC a Constitutional Convention was called. At the convention the delegates threw out the AoC and created a new document called the Constitution. – Constitution: a written plan of government A document that outlines the powers and limitations of government – Bicameral: a legislature with two houses

6. The Articles of Confederation Vs. The Constitution

7. Constitution: Provides a written framework for government. A plan or instruction manual of powers and restrictions for government Limits or restricts certain powers

8. Articles of Confederation The national government had no chief executive to carry out laws made by congress The President heads the executive branch of the government President enforces the laws. Constitution

9. Articles of Confederation No national courts State courts had jurisdiction within their state Both national and state courts exist. Depending on the case, some cases fall under state jurisdiction and others under federal. Constitution

10. Articles of Confederation Congress did not have the power to tax Congress is given the power to tax Constitution

11. Articles of Confederation There was no national currency Each state coined its own money Common national currency Only the national government has the power to make money Constitution

12. Great or Connecticut Compromise Topic: Representation in Congress Large States: Virginia Plan Large states wanted representation by population Small States: New Jersey Plan Small states wanted equal representation

13. The Great Compromise Bicameral legislature equal representation = – Senate (2 per state) proportional representation = – House (population)

14. (3/5 Compromise) Three/Fifths Compromise: Population South Southern states wanted slaves to count in population counts –They were more dependent on slavery. North Northern states did not want slaves to count –They were less dependent on slavery

15. 3/5ths Compromise For the purposes of representation, five slaves would be counted as 3 free people

16. Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Opposing SidesSouthern States Vs. Northern States Each Side’s PositionSouth: no taxes on tobacco exports, Congress not to interfere with slave trade North: wanted the Constitution to be signed CompromiseCongress could not tax exports from any state or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.

17. THINK: Which of the compromises would you say is most important to our government today?