Confederation and the Constitution. In 1776, the Articles of Confederation was formed ► Under the Articles of Confederation: Each state would have one.

Confederation and Confederation and the Constitution the Constitution

In 1776, the Articles of In 1776, the Articles of Confederation was formedConfederation was formed

►Under the Articles of Confederation:Under the Articles of Confederation: Each state would have one voteEach state would have one vote The national government could declare The national government could declare

war, make peace, sign treaties, and make war, make peace, sign treaties, and make moneymoney

The problem with the Articles of The problem with the Articles of Confederation was that states Confederation was that states

acted independentlyacted independently

►The national government had no way The national government had no way of raising money or enforcing the lawsof raising money or enforcing the laws

►The new United States was failing The new United States was failing under the Articles of Confederationunder the Articles of Confederation

The story of Shays’ Rebellion The story of Shays’ Rebellion illustrated the need for a illustrated the need for a

stronger central governmentstronger central government►Daniel Shays was a farmer from Daniel Shays was a farmer from

Massachusetts who led a protest against Massachusetts who led a protest against increased state taxesincreased state taxes

► In fact, Shays led a group of 1,200 farmers In fact, Shays led a group of 1,200 farmers toward the arsenal at Springfield, MAtoward the arsenal at Springfield, MA

►Massachusetts called up their militia to Massachusetts called up their militia to stop the rebellion (four farmers were stop the rebellion (four farmers were killed)killed)

During the Revolutionary War, many During the Revolutionary War, many Americans did not want to develop a Americans did not want to develop a

strong central governmentstrong central government

►The main reason is that England had a The main reason is that England had a strong central government and the US strong central government and the US was fighting to get away from Englandwas fighting to get away from England

Many Americans favored a Many Americans favored a republicrepublic

►RepublicRepublic: a government in which : a government in which citizens rule through elected citizens rule through elected representativesrepresentatives

►Many Americans feared that a Many Americans feared that a democracy would allow too many democracy would allow too many uneducated people to become uneducated people to become involved in politics involved in politics

Shays Rebellion was a big deal Shays Rebellion was a big deal because it showed that the national because it showed that the national government could not solve major government could not solve major

problemsproblems►As news spread about Shays Rebellion, As news spread about Shays Rebellion,

many states agreed to send delegated many states agreed to send delegated to a convention in Philadelphia in 1787to a convention in Philadelphia in 1787

Almost immediately, at the Almost immediately, at the Constitutional Convention, it was agreed Constitutional Convention, it was agreed

to dump the Articles of Confederationto dump the Articles of Confederation

►The delegates had to create a new The delegates had to create a new type of governmenttype of government

James Madison put forth the James Madison put forth the Virginia PlanVirginia Plan

►Virginia Plan: create a two house Virginia Plan: create a two house legislation where a state’s legislation where a state’s representation would be based on its representation would be based on its populationpopulation

►The Virginia Plan would favor the The Virginia Plan would favor the larger stateslarger states

Smaller states did not like the Smaller states did not like the Virginia PlanVirginia Plan

►William Paterson created the New William Paterson created the New Jersey PlanJersey Plan

►New Jersey Plan: create a single house New Jersey Plan: create a single house Congress in which each state had one Congress in which each state had one votevote

As the debate continued, Roger As the debate continued, Roger Sherman put together the Great Sherman put together the Great

CompromiseCompromise

►There will be two houses of Congress:There will be two houses of Congress: Senate: All States would each have one Senate: All States would each have one

votevote House of Representatives: representation House of Representatives: representation

would be based on state population would be based on state population

There was still a huge argument There was still a huge argument over the issue of slaveryover the issue of slavery

►Should slaves count in a state’s Should slaves count in a state’s population?population?

►Southern states wanted slaves to Southern states wanted slaves to count, while Northern states did notcount, while Northern states did not

►Counting the slaves would give the Counting the slaves would give the South a huge political advantageSouth a huge political advantage

3/5 Compromise3/5 Compromise

►3/5 of the slave population will be 3/5 of the slave population will be counted toward the state populationcounted toward the state population

►Of course, those slaves will have no Of course, those slaves will have no political representationpolitical representation

►The North compromised because they The North compromised because they needed South’s economic resourcesneeded South’s economic resources

►Many Northerners thought the slavery Many Northerners thought the slavery issue would “die out” and eventually go issue would “die out” and eventually go awayaway

The delegates at the Convention The delegates at the Convention created a federalist government created a federalist government ► Federalism: power is divided between a Federalism: power is divided between a

national government and several state national government and several state governmentsgovernments

►National government = Federal governmentNational government = Federal government Federal government: control foreign Federal government: control foreign

affairs and regulate trade between statesaffairs and regulate trade between states State governments: control everything State governments: control everything

else (education)else (education) Concurrent powers: powers shared by Concurrent powers: powers shared by

Federal and State governments (taxing, Federal and State governments (taxing, court systems, etc.)court systems, etc.)

The delegates also created a The delegates also created a separationseparation of powersof powers within the within the

Federal governmentFederal government►Three branches of government were Three branches of government were

created:created: Executive Branch: President of the Executive Branch: President of the

United StatesUnited States Legislative Branch: Makes the lawsLegislative Branch: Makes the laws Judicial Branch: Makes sure the laws Judicial Branch: Makes sure the laws

are “Constitutional” are “Constitutional”

The three branches allowed for The three branches allowed for a checks and balances system:a checks and balances system:►Checks and balances: system gives Checks and balances: system gives

each branch the power to check, or each branch the power to check, or stop the other branchesstop the other branches

►Therefore, all of the branches of Therefore, all of the branches of government are equalgovernment are equal

Because of checks and Because of checks and balances…balances…

The President can The President can veto any law passed veto any law passed by Congressby Congress

► Congress can over-Congress can over-ride a bill with 66% ride a bill with 66% of the voteof the vote

► The Judicial Branch The Judicial Branch reviews all lawsreviews all laws

► If a law is If a law is determined as determined as “Unconstitutional,” “Unconstitutional,” it means that a law it means that a law has violated has violated someone’s someone’s Constitutional rights Constitutional rights

How Congress works…How Congress works…

►House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives Based on a state’s populationBased on a state’s population Its members serve two year terms, Its members serve two year terms,

therefore it is directly responsible to the therefore it is directly responsible to the people because voters can change people because voters can change members quicklymembers quickly

How Congress works…How Congress works…

►Senate:Senate: All states are equal (today each state has All states are equal (today each state has

two Senators)two Senators) A Senator serves a six year termA Senator serves a six year term The voters do not have as much of an The voters do not have as much of an

impact on the Senateimpact on the Senate

President (Executive branch)President (Executive branch)

►Serves a 4 year termServes a 4 year term►Can be elected to a maximum for 2 Can be elected to a maximum for 2

consecutive terms consecutive terms

The President is elected through The President is elected through the the electoral collegeelectoral college

►Each state has a certain amount of Each state has a certain amount of votes, based on populationvotes, based on population

►Whoever wins the state controls the Whoever wins the state controls the electors from that stateelectors from that state

►Today, a President needs 270 electoral Today, a President needs 270 electoral votes to winvotes to win

The Constitutional Convention The Constitutional Convention ended on September 17, 1787ended on September 17, 1787

►For the Constitution to be ratified, 9 of For the Constitution to be ratified, 9 of 13 states had to agree13 states had to agree

► In reality, all 13 states had to agree for In reality, all 13 states had to agree for the Constitution to really workthe Constitution to really work

Federalists: supporters of the Federalists: supporters of the Constitution Constitution

►Federalists were satisfied with the Federalists were satisfied with the balance of power between the Federal balance of power between the Federal and state governmentsand state governments

► In a sense, Federalists trusted In a sense, Federalists trusted governmentgovernment

►Famous Federalists: George Famous Federalists: George Washington, James Madison, and Washington, James Madison, and Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton

Anti-federalists: those opposed Anti-federalists: those opposed to the Constitutionto the Constitution

►Anti-federalists did not want a strong Anti-federalists did not want a strong central governmentcentral government

►Anti-federalists did not trust that Anti-federalists did not trust that government would not abuse its powergovernment would not abuse its power

►Famous Anti-federalists: Patrick Famous Anti-federalists: Patrick Henry, George Mason, Richard Henry Henry, George Mason, Richard Henry LeeLee

Anti-federalists wanted their Anti-federalists wanted their rights guaranteedrights guaranteed

►To make this work, the Bill of Rights To make this work, the Bill of Rights were proposedwere proposed

►The Bill of Rights = first 10 The Bill of Rights = first 10 Amendments to the ConstitutionAmendments to the Constitution

►The Bill of Rights spelled out all rights The Bill of Rights spelled out all rights that Americans would have under the that Americans would have under the lawlaw

►Over time, 27 Amendments were added Over time, 27 Amendments were added to the Constitutionto the Constitution