ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION VS. U.S. CONSTITUTION

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE - 1787

Land would be divided up and occupied by American citizens

Slavery would be banned in the Northwest Territory

What problems would this cause?

The U.S. began trading with other countries, including Britain (in special circumstances) The federal

government could not control trade within the states, so states would charge each other and other countries whatever they wanted to charge

Each state was acting like an independent country

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could not: Impose taxes Regulate trade Raise an army Have an executive Have national court system

The new government was in a recession – economic slowdown

SHAYS’ REBELLION - 1787

Massachusetts government raised taxes to pay off its debts, which hit the farmers the hardest

Former Continental Army Captain Daniel Shays was now a bankrupt farmer

Shays took 1,200 farmers to seize the state arsenal and march to Boston

He was met by 4,000 state militia The whole rebellion was defeated and only

four farmers were killed

This made the state and federal governments terrified of rebellion

They realized that the Articles of Confederation made the federal government way too weak

In 1787, they would hold a Constitutional Convention

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION – MAY 1787

Every state except Rhode Island came Goal = balance states rights with the need

for a stronger national government

Thomas Jefferson was unable to attend because he was serving as an American minister in France – called the meeting “an assembly of demigods”

THE VIRGINIA PLAN

Toss out Articles of Confederation Two house Congress Wanted the federal government to be in

charge of the states and have the ability to tax

Wanted executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government

Wanted all state representation to be based on population

THE NEW JERSEY PLAN

Modify Articles of Confederation One house Congress Federal government would have power to

raise taxes and regulate trade Wanted all state representation to be equal

THE GREAT COMPROMISE (CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE) – ROGER SHERMAN

Ben Franklin (age 81) would oversee the debates

Decided: 2-house Congress (bicameral) House of Representatives – based on population,

chosen by eligible voters Senate – equal representation, chosen by state

legislatures

3/5 COMPROMISE

The South wanted to count their slaves in population

The North did not want to

Decision – every five slaves would be counted as three free persons

IDEAS OF THE CONSTITUTION – LIMITED GOVERNMENT

Popular sovereignty- rule by the people Federalism – power divided between federal

and state government

Separation of powers Legislative branch – make laws (Congress) Executive branch – enforce laws (President) Judicial branch – interpret/review laws (Supreme

Court)

Checks and balances – keeps each branch from becoming too powerful

Amendment – change to the Constitution Veto – reject Impeach – formally accuse of misconduct

The Constitutional Congress ratified (passed) the United States Constitution Needed 9/13 states to pass it before it could

become effective

FEDERALISTS VS. ANTI-FEDERALISTS

Federalists – supporters of the Constitution Anti-federalists – opposed the Constitution

because of states rights and it didn’t have a Bill of Rights John Hancock Patrick Henry

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS

Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay Defended the Constitution and stressed the

importance of what was needed

The last state ratified the Constitution in 1790 George Washington became the first president of

the United States of America in 1789.