Our First Constitution—the Articles of Confederation (1777-1787)

So, what were the Articles, what kind of government did they

establish, and what was so wrong with them that they had to be

replaced?

Okay, what’s a confederation again?

• A group of states loosely tied together

• Weak central govt

• Strong state governments

Articles of Confederation (1777-1787)

• 13 states operated like semi-independent countries

• Agreed to cooperate on some things

The Articles of Confederation (1777-1787)

Only one weak branch of government—

No chief executive

No national judicial branch

How many branches of government were there in this first government of the U.S.?

a nearly powerless congress

Why did the Articles Fail?

• States quarreling

•Vulnerability

Why Did the Articles Fail?

• Shay’s Rebellion

Constitutional Convention

When:

May-Sept. 1787

Where:

Philadelphia, PA

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

Key Figures

President of the Convention:

George Washington

“Father of the Constitution”:

James Madison

Which of these Founding Fathers Attended the Convention?

Not There: • Thomas Jefferson • John Adams • Patrick Henry

Definitely There: • Benjamin Franklin • Alexander Hamilton

John Adams, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson

Article I of the Constitution

• Creates a Legislative Branch (Congress) to make laws

• Congress has two parts:

--House of Representatives (based on

population)

--U.S. Senate (2 per state)

• Powers of Congress

--to regulate commerce

--declare war

--taxation

--approves/disapproves president’s treaties

Article II of the Constitution

• Sets up an Executive Branch (President)

• Qualifications

• Election process—Electoral College

• Powers of the President

--commander-in-chief

--can sign/veto laws

--makes treaties with other nations

Article III of the Constitution

• Sets up a national Judicial Branch

• Creates Supreme Court, Other federal courts

• Term of office

• Can rule that acts of Congress and/or the president are unconstitutional

“Checks & balances”

Check for Understanding: Answer on your note paper

• What was the U.S. government like under the Articles of Confederation?

• How did Shay’s Rebellion make people realize that the Articles of Confederation were ineffective?

Summary

• At first, the Founding Fathers purposely created a weak government—the Articles of Confederation-- to protect hard-won freedoms

• It soon became clear for many reasons that a much stronger government was needed

• The Constitution was—and is—the plan of government that the Founding Fathers created