1. [ 2.3 ] First Steps

2. Government under the Articles
Unicameral Congress
No Executive or Judicial Branch
Each state had one vote, regardless of population
States retained most powers

3. Weaknesses of the Articles
Congress had no power to levy or collect taxes
Congress had no power to regulate trade
Congress had no power to enforce Articles
Laws needed the approval from 9 of 13 states
Amending articles needed unanimous consent
No executive branch
No judicial branch

4. Need for Stronger Govt.

5. Shay’s Rebellion
Groups of farmers, led by Daniel Shays, stormed the Massachusetts courts hoping to prevent the foreclosure and loss of their farm
When their pleas failed, a rebellion ensued against federal govt.
Signified the need for a stronger central govt.

6. Quiz: The Articles of Confederation
What was the main governing body created under the Articles of Confederation?
A. a presiding officer
B. a judicial branch
C. an executive branch
D. a unicameral Congress

7. Quiz: A Time of Troubles, the 1780s
What is one reason the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation helped contribute to economic chaos following the Revolutionary War?
A. States created their own banks.
B. States printed their own money.
C. States refused to tax their people.
D. States borrowed from the Federal Government.

8. Quiz: A Demand for Stronger Government
What weakness in the Articles of Confederation led to a conflict between Virginia and Maryland?
A. Congress did not have the power to collect taxes from the States.
B. Congress did not have the power to print currency.
C. Congress did not have the power to enforce laws in the States.
D. Congress did not have the power to regulate trade among the States.

9. The Framers Meet
This painting, The Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy, depicts the scene on the day the U.S. Constitution was signed after four long months of debate and compromise.

10. The Framers Meet

11. Philadelphia Convention
55 Delegates
Met to revise the Articles
George Washington presided over meeting
James Madison, because of his ideas, later became known as the Father of the Constitution

12. Key Agreements Need for limited and representative govt.
National govt. divided into 3 branches
Strengthen the national govt.
Biggest disagreement was how to represent the states in the new strong federal government

13. Decisions and Compromises
Virginia Plan
Large states
Strong national govt.
Bicameral Legislature
Lower chamber to be chosen by people
Upper chamber to be chosen by the lower
New Jersey Plan
Small states
State power
Unicameral Legislature
One vote for each state

14. Two Plans of Government

15. Debates and Compromises

16. The Fight for Ratification
Both the Federalists and Anti-Federalists felt strongly about the proposed Constitution. Analyze Charts What do these comments reveal about the sentiments of the time?

17. The Federalist Papers
85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
Defended and provided justification for Constitution

18. Quiz: Two Plans of Government
On which of the following points did the Virginia and New Jersey plans AGREE?
A. The new government should have a legislature made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate.
B. The new government should have a federal executive of more than one person.
C. The new government should have most of its powers vested in a National Judiciary.
D. The new government should have three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

19. Quiz: Debates and Compromises
Why was Congress forbidden to act on the slave trade for at least twenty years?
A. Northerners wanted to ensure that Congress could not ban slavery.
B. Southerners wanted to end slavery sooner than the twenty-year period.
C. The southern States demanded this concession in exchange for their agreement to the commerce power.
D. The northern States demanded this concession in exchange for their agreement to the Connecticut Compromise.

20. Quiz: The Fight for Ratification
The Anti-Federalists focused their arguments against ratification of the Constitution on what main point?
A. They felt more details were needed regarding the executive branch.
B. There was no constitutional provision for a bill of rights.
C. They greatly disagreed with the ratification process.
D. They believed the convention should have only revised the Articles of Confederation.