Starter What are the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Starter

What are the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Constitutional Convention

WHO, WHAT, AND WHERE After 10 years, the flaws of the Articles

of Confederation were obvious. Delegates were sent to Philadelphia's

Independence Hall to fix the flaws All but Rhode Island sent delegates Convention began May 25, 1787 with

55 influential men from 12 colonies

Key Decisions George Washington was chosen to

preside over meeting Each state has one vote Delegates would keep work of the

convention a secret, because it would allow them to speak freely.

Decided to dispose of the Articles of Confederation and create a new plan of gov’t that was stronger

Two Plans of Government the Virginia Plan-

James Madison 1. president

2. Courts3. 2 house legislature

Representation based on state’s populationPlan appealed to large

population states like, Mass, Penn, NY, VA

New Jersey Plan-William Paterson

1. president2. Courts3. 1 House legislature representation would be equal vote

Plan appealed to small states like Delaware, NJ, Maryland

Compromises Great Compromise: Roger Sherman-gov’t

would have a 2 house legislature, 1 based on population, 1 based on equal representation

3/5 Compromise: every 5 slaves counted as 3 people in the population

Electoral College: some felt Congress should chose president, others the peoples vote so settled on creating the Electoral College to chose the president based on the people’s vote

Ratification Race The new Constitution must be approved

by 9 of the 13 states Supporters of the Constitution were

called Federalists. Argued that needed a strong gov’t to protect the new nation.

In a series of essays known as The Federalist, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton defend the Constitution.

Approval The Anti-federalists felt that the

Constitution gave the national gov’t too much power that would take away rights of people.

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists agreed that a Bill of Rights would be added to the Constitution to protect rights of people

On June 21, 1788 NH become the 9th state to approve the Constitution making it the new gov’t of America

Topic: Constitutional Convention

Activity: Newspaper Article You are to pretend that you are a newspaper

journalist in May 1787. Your assignment is to cover the Constitutional

Convention. You are to read the assigned topic in the We The People book then summarize it into a newspaper article that gives all the important details and decisions. IF DON’t Have Book use text book or old civic books and divide topics

Since cameras have not been invented yet, you must draw a picture dealing with your topic to go along with your article. Remember to give your article a title. You will present article and drawing in class

We the People Topics: 1. Who attended pp. 68-69 2. Rules pp. p. 70 3. Virginia Plan & New Jersey plan

pp. 71 & 75 4. Compromises pp. 76-78 Legislative Power p. 80 5. Executive power pp.81-82 6. Judicial power pp. 83 7. Anti-Federalists pp. 93-95 8. Federalists pp. 98-101