1. Creating the Constitution
Chapter 6
Creating the Constitution

2. Essential question
What is the proper role of a national government?

3. 6.2 A Confederation of States
1776: Declaration of Independence signed
September 1783: Treaty of Paris is signed by American and British representatives
During the war, the 13 states started writing their own constitutions
constitution: a statement of basic principles of a nation, state, etc.

4. 6.2 A Confederation of States
What does this tell us about what sort of government the states expected after the War?
In 1774 the Continental Congress met to try to work things out with Britain. It had no control over the States.
Continental Congress: a convention of delegates from all 13 states;
It had to beg states to send soldiers and supplies for the War

5. 6.2 A Confederation of States
Because of these problems, some states wanted a national government that could govern over the states
Why would some people oppose this?

6. 6.2 A Confederation of States
1777: Continental Congress drafts the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation = the nation’s first constitution
Under the Articles, each state could retain its “sovereignty, freedom, independence”

7. 6.2 A Confederation of States
Powers given to Congress under the Articles:
Declare war
Negotiate with other countries
Establish a postal system
Settle disputes between states

8. 6.2 A Confederation of States
Under the Articles, Congress could not:
Impose taxes. Why is this a problem?
No legislative branch to carry out laws
No judicial branch to settle legal disputes

9. 6.2 A Confederation of States
Major accomplishments under the Articles:
Land Ordinance of 1785
Ordinance: a law that sets local regulations
Set up a system for surveying and dividing land in the Northwest territory
area between Appalachian mountains and the Mississippi Rivers
Set aside one section in each township for a school

10. 6.2 A Confederation of States
2. Northwest Ordinance: a law passed by Congress in specifying how western lands would be governed
Set rules for how states would be created
5000 free men in a territory = they could elect a legislature
60,000 free people = could write a constitution and form a government
If Congress approved, the territory could become a state

11. 6.2 A Confederation of States
Under the Northwest Ordinance:
Each new state would have equal status as the original states
Slavery was not allowed
This system became the guide for allowing new states
It is considered the most important law passed during the period of confederation.

13. 6.3 A Confederation in Crisis
Trouble with foreign countries
States were not bound to follow agreements that Congress made with other countries
Congress couldn’t raise enough money to pay it’s war debt
Congress couldn’t force states to pay taxes
Overseas trade shrank
No system for national defense

14. 6.3 Confederation in Crisis
Quarrels Between the States
States imposed tariffs (import taxes) on goods coming from other states
States ignored Congress’ decisions
States were printing their own money
People didn’t have faith in the value of the money
Country slid into an economic depression
High debt, falling trade, business closures, high unemployment

15. 6.3 Confederation in Crisis
Shay’s Rebellion
Farmers were hit especially hard by economic troubles
Summer, 1786: famers occupy a courthouse in Massachusetts to protest
Protests spread - Led by Daniel Shay
The rebellion eventually collapsed but this was a wake-up call for Congress
Congress had not been able to raise money to defend Massachusetts
Many Americans were worried that Congress wasn’t strong enough to defend them

16. 6.3 Confederation in Crisis
Shay's Rebellion was the last straw.The Articles were too weak and had to be fixed.
Constitutional Convention called in May, 1787 to fix the Articles

17. Why would the States purposely create a weak government under the Articles of Confederation?
Why is the period of the Articles of Confederation called the Critical Period in American History?

18. 6.4 The Constitutional Convention
May, 1787: Delegates from12 states (no Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia to fix the weak Articles of Confederation
Soon, the purpose became writing a new Constitution
James Madison took the lead role
Known as the"Father of the Constitution"
They worked in secret during the summer

19. 6.4 The Constitutional Convention
Great Compromise: How would each state be represented in Congress?
Virginia Plan:
Proposed by James Madison
Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral)
Each state's representation in the houses would be based on its population
States with more population (like Virginia) would have more people in Congress

20. 6.4 Constitutional Convention
New Jersey Plan
* Proposed by William Patterson
* Congress would have one house (unicameral)
* Each state would have equal representation in Congress
Compromise
* Proposed by Roger Sherman
* Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral)
In the Senate, states would have equal representation
In the House of Representatives, representation would be based on population

21. 6.4 Constitutional Convention
Three-fifths Compromise
* Northern and southern states disagreed on how to handle slavery and commerce.
* Many northern states wanted to abolish (outlaw) slavery
* Southern states would not agree to the Constitution if slavery was abolished
* Southern states wanted to count slaves when determining representation in the House but not when determining each state's share of the taxes they had to pay to the government

22. 6.4 Constitutional Convention
Three-fifths Compromise
* Northern states wanted slaves to count for taxes but not for representation
* Compromise: for representation in the House and taxes paid, every 5 slaves would be counted as 3 whites

23. 6.4 Constitutional Convention
Electoral College
* Issue: how to elect the President
* Some thought Congress should elect the President
* Others wanted a popular election where the people vote and the person with the most votes wins
* Compromise: create the Electoral College which is made up of electors from each state who would cast votes to elect the president and vice president
* Each state would have as many electors as the number of senators + representatives

24. 6.5 Ratifying the Constitution
9/13 states must ratify
Not everyone supported
Federalists vs Anti Federalists
Federalists: supported Constitution with a strong central government that shared power with states
Anti-Federalists: preferred loose association of states

25. 6.5 Ratifying the Constitution
Federalist Papers
85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton,John Jay and James Madison
Published in newspapers
Goal: convince people to support the Constitution
"most powerful public relations campaign in history"

26. 6.5 Ratifying the Constitution
The Bill of Rights
Some Anti-Federalists were concerned that the Constitution didn't protect individuals' rights against the government
They wouldn't sign until those rights were listed in the Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights was added
First 10 amendments to the Constitution