Post Revolutionary Problems

1) No National Government

• Colonists did not want a national government • Colonists thought a national government would be like having a King. (they didn’t want another King)

1) No National Government

• 13 Separate State Governments • Each state had a constitution, governor, and an army

2) All 13 Colonies in Debt

• A National Gov’t was needed to handle debt • Debt caused by borrowing money during Revolutionary War

Articles of Confederation

• Set up First National Government in America • Made intentionally weak to protect the rights of citizens in America

Problems with Articles of Confederation

Article/Problems

• Gave Congress no power to tax • Gov’t couldn’t raise money

Article/Problems

• Gave Congress no power to regulate commerce (trade) among the states • Border States almost went to war over money owed in trading

Article/Problems

• Provided for no common currency • Money had different values in different states

Article/Problems

• Gave each state one vote regardless of size • Unfair to larger states

Article/Problems

• Provided for no executive or judicial branch • No one to enforce laws

Shays Rebellion

• A Mass. farmer lead a rebellion to protest the rising taxes on poor farmers by Mass state government • Other states

feared

rebellions and wanted a national government to protect them.

The Constitution

VUS.5

Mr. Poley

Problems with Articles of Confederation • Gave Congress no power to tax • Gave Congress no power to regulate commerce among the states • Provided for no common currency • Gave each state one vote regardless of size • Provided for no executive or judicial branch

Constitutional Convention • 12 states met in Philadelphia in 1787 to change the Articles of Confederation • Rhode Island did not attend because they believed smaller states would be overlooked in a stronger national government

Constitutional Convention

• Original plan was to change the Articles of Confederation but decided to throw it out and start a new government

George Washington • Chosen as Chairman of the Convention • Washington brought prestige and legitimacy to convention • He stayed out of political arguments

James Madison • “Father of the Constitution” • Main author • He was a federalist – a person who favored a strong national government

Problems with Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Solutions

Problem 1

• States had too much power

Solution 1

• Supremacy Clause – national law was supreme over state law; national law limited to those stated in Constitution

Problem 2

• People feared a strong national government would have too much power and take away their rights

2 Solutions

• Separation of Powers – government divided into 3 equal branches (legislative, judicial, and executive) • Checks and Balances – each branch of government can check the powers of the other

Key Compromises at Constitutional Convention

Issue 1

• Set up of legislature

Side 1

• NJ Plan – wanted a unicameral (one house) legislature with equal votes per state; favored smaller states

Side 2

• VA Plan – wanted a bicameral (two house) legislature with representation based on a states population; favored larger states

Compromise

• Great Compromise – a bicameral legislature (Congress) with an upper house (Senate) with two votes per state and a lower house (House of Representatives) with representation based on a states’ population

Issue 2

• Determining representation in House of Representatives

Side 1

• Southern view – slaves should be counted when determining number of representatives in Congress

Side 2

• Northern view – slaves are property and should not be counted as citizens

Compromise

•3/5 Compromise – only 3 out of 5 slaves would be counted in census

Issue 3

• Presidential Election

Side 1

• People were not educated enough to choose a President

Side 2

• People should have the right to choose their own leader

Compromise

• Electoral College – group of electors who choose the President based on popular vote in their state

Ratification of Constitution

Constitution • Preamble – introduction to the Constitution; mission statement for America • 7 Articles – outlines set up for government, the jobs of each branch, and the duties and procedures in the government • Amendments – laws that govern the country

Ratification of Constitution • Nine States had to ratify or approve the Constitution before it could become law • Two Sides –Federalists vs Anti-federalists

Ratification Compromise • Federalists agreed to have a national Bill of Rights added to Constitution if Anti-Federalists would ratify the Constitution • James Madison wrote the bill of rights

Ratification Compromise • Bill of Rights was based on the VA Declaration of Rights (George Mason) and the VA Statute for Religious Freedom (Thomas Jefferson)

Federalists • Supported a strong national government and wanted Constitution ratified • Felt people were protected because of checks and balances in the government and the separation of powers

Federalists • Did not believe a national Bill of Rights was necessary • Wrote Federalists Papers to encourage country to ratify Constitution

Anti - federalists • Believed national government was too strong and limited states too much • Wanted a national Bill of Rights added to protect their natural rights

Articles Essay You might use chapter 2 section 2 from the new book, as well as the Constitution page 65Also chapter 5 section 1 of the old Textbook. SEE RUBRIC!

• You are to write an essay detailing at least three weaknesses from the Articles of Confederation. Explain why they are a weakness and then show how the Constitution would fix those problems.

• This is to be a minimum of 5 paragraphs and to be more than one page in length.

• Read and follow these instructions. Failure to do so will result in deductions from your grade.