ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION VS. U.S. CONSTITUTION
Mar 26, 2015
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
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