The Revolution to the Constitution. The New Government Articles of Confederation (1777) Articles of Confederation (1777) Is the Articles of Confederation.

The Revolution to the The Revolution to the ConstitutionConstitution

The New GovernmentThe New Government Articles of Confederation (1777)Articles of Confederation (1777)

Is the Articles of Confederation a weak or a strong government? Use the quote for clues…

“The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare…”

WEAK! – Why?WEAK! – Why?

– Created a one branch legislature with only Created a one branch legislature with only these powers:these powers: Sign treatiesSign treaties Declare warDeclare war Borrow moneyBorrow money Appoint a commander to the militiaAppoint a commander to the militia

– Each state has one voteEach state has one vote 9/13 vote to pass laws9/13 vote to pass laws Unanimous vote to amend the ArticlesUnanimous vote to amend the Articles

Weaknesses of the ArticlesWeaknesses of the Articles What were some other weaknesses of

the Articles?– One vote for each state, regardless of size.One vote for each state, regardless of size.– Congress cannot collect taxes to raise Congress cannot collect taxes to raise

money.money.– Congress is powerless to regulate foreign Congress is powerless to regulate foreign

and interstate commerce.and interstate commerce.– No separate executive branch to enforce No separate executive branch to enforce

acts of Congress.acts of Congress.– No national court to interpret laws.No national court to interpret laws.

Failures of the ArticlesFailures of the Articles EconomicsEconomics

– States print their own States print their own currency.currency.

Inter-state Issues.Inter-state Issues.– States sign own treaties States sign own treaties

with foreign countries, with foreign countries, build own navies.build own navies.

– States have “cold wars” States have “cold wars” with each-other over with each-other over western lands.western lands.

Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion– 1786, Massachusetts 1786, Massachusetts

raises taxes to pay war raises taxes to pay war debt.debt.

– Massachusetts farmers Massachusetts farmers revolt, storm the capitol revolt, storm the capitol building.building.

– Mass. bankers must hire Mass. bankers must hire private army to put down private army to put down rebellion. rebellion.

The Constitutional The Constitutional ConventionConvention

May-September May-September 1787, Philadelphia1787, Philadelphia– George Washington George Washington

acts as President of acts as President of the Conventionthe Convention

– Convention was Convention was only empowered to only empowered to amend the Articles, amend the Articles, but instead decides but instead decides to start anew.to start anew. Treason?

Two Conflicting Ideas!Two Conflicting Ideas! Virginia PlanVirginia Plan

Congress given power to tax, Congress given power to tax, regulate commerceregulate commerce

Bicameral legislatureBicameral legislature– Representation based on Representation based on

populationpopulation Executive Branch to enforce lawsExecutive Branch to enforce laws Judicial Branch to review lawsJudicial Branch to review laws

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan Congress given power to tax, Congress given power to tax,

regulate commerceregulate commerce Unicameral legislatureUnicameral legislature

– 1 per state1 per state Executive BranchExecutive Branch JudicialJudicial

A New Constitution!A New Constitution! The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise

– Connecticut negotiates…Connecticut negotiates… The New PlanThe New Plan

Congress given power to tax, Congress given power to tax, regulate commerceregulate commerce

Bicameral legislatureBicameral legislature– ““House of Reps” representation House of Reps” representation

based on populationbased on population– ““Senate’s” representation Senate’s” representation

based on 2 per state.based on 2 per state. Executive Branch to enforce Executive Branch to enforce

lawslaws Judicial Branch to review lawsJudicial Branch to review laws

Problem: Is a slave a citizen?Problem: Is a slave a citizen? Three/Fifth CompromiseThree/Fifth Compromise

– Appeases southern statesAppeases southern states

The Battle for RatificationThe Battle for Ratification For the Constitution to become law, 9 For the Constitution to become law, 9

of 13 states had to ratify it.of 13 states had to ratify it.– This set up one of the greatest debates in This set up one of the greatest debates in

our nation’s history.our nation’s history. FederalistFederalist = Favor the strong national = Favor the strong national

government that the new Constitution government that the new Constitution provided.provided.

Anti-FederalistAnti-Federalist = Believe that the new = Believe that the new Constitution posed a threat to state Constitution posed a threat to state governments and the rights of individuals.governments and the rights of individuals.

FederalistsFederalists Who?Who?

– Well educated and propertied class. Most live in Well educated and propertied class. Most live in large cities/towns.large cities/towns.

PositionsPositions– In favor of strong national governmentIn favor of strong national government– Articles of Confederation were weak and Articles of Confederation were weak and

ineffective.ineffective.– Strong national government needed to control Strong national government needed to control

uncooperative states.uncooperative states.– ““Men of experience and talent” should govern Men of experience and talent” should govern

the nation.the nation.– National government would naturally protect the National government would naturally protect the

rights of the peoplerights of the people

Anti-federalistsAnti-federalists Who?Who?

– States’ rights advocates, frontiersmen, poor States’ rights advocates, frontiersmen, poor farmers, ill-educated and illiterate, debtorsfarmers, ill-educated and illiterate, debtors

Positions:Positions:– In favor of a weak national government.In favor of a weak national government.– Articles of Confederation were a good plan.Articles of Confederation were a good plan.– Constitution favored the wealthy.Constitution favored the wealthy.– Strong national government threatened the Strong national government threatened the

rights of the common people.rights of the common people.– Constitution lacked a Bill of RightsConstitution lacked a Bill of Rights