1. Creating The Constitution 1776 - 1790
Governing A New Nation
Chapter 7 Section 1
Pages

2. “Americans sought to create a republic in which the states had more power than the central government.”
- Background Knowledge (P. 204)
What is a “republic”?
THOUGHT:
Americans did not want to give up state powers for a strong central (Federal) government.

3. Government By The States
1776 – 1777
Most states created their own constitutions to establish the boundaries for their government so as not to allow them to gain too much power.
CONSTITUTION
A document that stated the rules under which a government could operate.

4. State Constitution Executive Governor Legislative Congress Judicial
Court System

5. No Cruel/Unusual Punishment
Bill OF
Rights
Virginia was the first state to add a Bill of Rights to their state Constitutions, but many others soon followed.
Freedom of Press
Right To Trial By Jury
Freedom of Religion
No Cruel/Unusual Punishment

6. Articles of Confederation
Powers of Central Government
Could make laws
Could declare war
Could make/borrow money
Could operate a postal system
Could deal with Indians/Foreign Countries outside of 13 states
Limitations of Central Government
States had more power than central government
Could NOT control trade
Could NOT collect taxes
Could NOT enforce laws
Only one Branch (Legislative)
Weak Central Government
State Constitutions

7. Articles of Confederation
All 13 states had to approve (ratify) the Articles of Confederation before it became official.
Maryland refused to approve them until all states gave up their land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains. (See page 207 Map)
Virginia was the last state to give up their land claims in 1781 and only then did Maryland give their approval to the Articles.
While Congress adopted the Articles in 1777, they were not ratified until 1781.
Ratification of the
Articles of Confederation

8. Why was it important for the central (federal) government to receive the land claims from the 13 states?

9. Land Ordinance of 1785 6 Miles 6 Miles
The Land Ordinance of 1785 created a “Grid System” by which new lands would be organized into townships.
ie. Pike Township / German Township
6 Miles
6 Miles

10. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Three Step Process For Becoming A State:
1. Congress appointed a governor,
secretary, and 3 judges to each new
territory.
2. Upon gaining 5,000 free adult male
settlers, it could elect a legislature.
3. It needed 60,000 free adults to be considered for statehood.
Five States would be carved out of the Northwest Territory:
Ohio Michigan
Indiana Wisconsin Illinois
The NW Ordinance of 1787 established the method for new lands to become an official state in the United States.

11. Economy
Foreign Affairs
Daniel Shay’s Rebellion
Growing Problems

12. Creating The Constitution 1776 - 1790
The Constitutional Convention
Chapter 7 Section 2
Pages

13. Constitutional Convention of 1787
WHO: 55 delegates from 12 states
WHAT: Constitutional Convention
WHEN: Summer of 1787
WHERE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WHY: Revise Articles of Confederation/
Create New Constitution
HOW: “The Great Compromise”

14. 55 Total Delegates George Washington Ben Franklin Roger Sherman
James Madison
George Mason
Alexander Hamilton
55 Total Delegates

15. Virginia Plan Strong Central Government PRESIDENT Congress
James Madison
Executive – Carry Out The Laws
PRESIDENT
Strong Central Government
Legislative – Make The Laws
Judicial – Interpret The Laws
Upper House
Lower House
Congress
Based Upon Population

16. New Jersey Plan Strong Central Government PRESIDENT Congress
William Paterson
Executive – Carry Out The Laws
PRESIDENT
Strong Central Government
Legislative – Make The Laws
Judicial – Interpret The Laws
Congress
One House
Each State = Votes
Expanded the powers of congress to raise money and control trade.

17. The Great Compromise July 16, 1787 Strong Central Government PRESIDENT
Executive – Carry Out The Laws
PRESIDENT
Strong Central Government
Roger Sherman
Legislative – Make The Laws
Judicial – Interpret The Laws
House of Representatives
Based Upon Population
Congress
Senate
Each State Gets 2 Senators

18. S L A V E R Y COMPROMISE North Wanted South Wanted
Slaves not to be counted toward the population of the south.
To eliminate the buying and selling of slaves anywhere in the U.S.
Slaves to count as people toward the population of the south.
To have freedom to buy and sell slaves anywhere in the U.S.
COMPROMISE
Slaves would count as 3/5 of a person toward the population count.
Slaves could be imported for 20 more years (until 1808) and then the U.S. could eliminate the importation of slaves.

19. Articles of Confederation U.S. Constitution
The Articles were a pact between separate states.
U.S. Constitution
The Constitution was created to form “a more perfect union” and got its power from the people of the U.S.

20. Creating The Constitution 1776 - 1790
Debating The Constitution
Chapter 7 Section 3
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