CONFEDERATION TO CONSTITUTION

1776-1791

Problems America Faced

War Debt Who collects taxes? Who creates money?

Deciding on a government Strong Central Government or Give powers

to States

Government

The Americans main goal was to prevent governmental tyranny from reappearing in the new nation. No More King!- States pass Bill of Rights

The people decided that the new nation should be a republic.

A country in which people choose representatives to govern them.

After the colonist declared independence in 1776, each of the states started to create their own government. States feared that one part of the government could

become to powerful. Some states created separate branches of government .

The Confederation Era

During the Revolutionary war, Americans realized that they had to unite to win the war against Britain. Forming a national government was key to national unity.

John Dickson wrote” By uniting we stand, by divided we fall”

In 1777 The Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation. First Form of American Government!

Expansion in the Northwest

Many of the colonist disagreed with who should control the North West Territory. Small States with few Western lands would

not be able to pay off debts; so they refused to ratify the Articles of Confederation. Gradually, all the states gave up their clams to

western lands. This led the small states to ratify the Articles. In 1781 Maryland accepted the articles and the thirteen colonies were created.

Governing the Northwest Territory

With new land the Northwest Territory had to be governed. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 outlined

how the territory would be governed. 5,000 free adults males in an area, men who

owned at least 50 acres could elect an assembly.

60,000 they could apply to be a state Slavery was outlawed Freedom of religion & trial by jury were

guaranteed.

Problems with Britain and Spain After the Revolutionary War, America

was in massive debt with Great Britain and Spain. Since the colonies were slow and not

paying their debt off, Britain and Spain interfered with American Ships

This reveled a major issue with the Articles of Confederation.

The United States did not have the strength to face up to the superior British or Spain.

Shay’s Rebellion

From August 1786 to February 1787 Daniel Shay led an armed uprising. Farmers in Massachusetts felt they were being taxed

unfairly. (Taxes would be used to pay off GB and Spain)

Shay and the other farmers attacked county courts. They succeeded in stopping the courts from selling farmers

possessions and jailing people who couldn’t pay their debts. The Colonist felt they needed a stronger national

government. This could be done by giving more money to the

government.

Features of the Articles of Confederation

Strength’s Weaknesses• States had tons of

independence

• Creation of Congress

• Not a strong military

• Congress had no power to enforce its laws

• Congress has no power to create money

• Each State was independent and had its own government.

• Each State would send representatives to “Congress of Confederation”

• Congress was the only branch of government• In Congress, each state had one vote.

Disagreements over Representation

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

Legislative Branch • Two (branches) houses: representation determined by state population or wealth

• Lower House: elected by the people

• Upper House: elected by the lower

• One house: one vote for each state, regardless of size

• Elected by state legislatures

Executive Branch • Appointed by Legislature

• Appointed by Legislature

Judicial Branch • Appointed by Legislature

• Appointed by Executive

The Great Compromise

Great Compromise Roger Sherman and other delegates from

Connecticut offered a deal known as the Great Compromise.

Equal number of votes in the senate House of representatives were according to state

population

Three-Fifths Compromise Southerners wanted the slaves to be

counted as part of the population for representation but not for taxation.

Three-Fifths of the slave population would be counted for representation and taxation.

Creating the Constitution

At first, many Americans doubted that the national government needed strengthening. But fear of rebellion and lawlessness had changed peoples minds.

The Constitutional Convention opened on May 25, 1787. The first order of business was to nominate a president for the convention George Washington

Constitution is created 1787

Federalist

Federalism- is a system of government in which power is shared between the central or federal government.

The Federalist promoted their view and answered critics in a series of essays known as The Federalist papers

James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay

Antifederalist

The Antifederalist thought the Constitution took too much power away from the states.

Did not guarantee rights for people Others feared the Senate might become a powerful

ruling class. Strong President might become King

Antifederalist received support from rural areas Strong government=greater taxes New York

Famous Antifederalist Patrick Henry George Mason

The Battle for Ratification

Antifederalist wanted written guarantees of individual rights Bill of Rights 1789

Submitted by James Madison

In December 1787, Delaware, NJ, PA voted for ratification. Officially ratified June 21, 1788. 1790 NC and Rhode Island