1. From Confederation to Federation
St. 3b, Chapter 2, Section 3 & 4

2. American Confederation: Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation,
The Articles of Confederation was the first Constitution of the United States.
Constitution: A plan that provides for the rules of government.
The “articles” of the Articles of Confederation were parts of one single document.
Each article or part explained how the U.S. government worked.

3. American Confederation: Articles of Confederation
Constitution that ruled the colonies following the American Revolution
One vote for each state regardless of size
No regulations for regulating international trade
Changes to the articles required consent of all 13 states
No Executive or Judicial branch
No national court system to interpret laws
There were no provisions for direct taxation
Congress could not levy taxes
As a result, this constitution was extremely weak because there was no central power
The Articles did not provide the federal government enough power for it to lead effectively

4. American Confederation: Confederate Government
A loose Union of independent states.*
Most power belongs to the local or regional governments.
The central government has only limited power.
It is an alliance of independent governments that grant limited powers, usually involving defense or foreign affairs, to a central government.
Example
United States of America ( )

5. American Confederation: Weaknesses of the Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
The value of American money was low; as prices fell, so too did the value of American farms
As a result, many farm owners had to foreclose, meaning they lost their farms.
Many states also owed debt from the Revolution
Massachusetts raised taxes in order to pay off the debt
Articles of Confederation did not stop individual states from imposing taxes.
What was one of the main causes of the Revolution, similar to what is happening here?

6. American Confederation: Weaknesses of the Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
In 1786, Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer & Revolutionary war veteran leads a rebellion of other angry farmers against the foreclosures caused by high taxes.
Shays and his followers tried to seize a federal arsenal; fortunately they failed
Importance: National government did not have the tax money to pay a bigger army to help Massachusetts put down the rebellion
Showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation
In 1787, many founding father’s now call for a new constitutional convention

7. Creating a Constitution
Philadelphia 1787
Delegates from all 13 colonies gather to create a new constitution
James Madison keeps a detailed record of what goes on everyday.
For this reason, he is known as the Father of the Constitution.
The greatest argument at the convention was over representation in the legislature.
Small states were worried bigger states would have more power
Big states were worried smaller states would have an unfair say in government
A compromise was needed to create a new government.

8. Creating a Constitution: Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan
Proposed by James Madison at the Constitutional Convention.
Plan called for a bicameral legislature with membership based on each state’s population.
Representatives from small states were very opposed to this as it would give more power to large states.
Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, all large states, supported this measure.

9. Creating a Constitution: New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan
Proposed by William Peterson at the Constitutional Convention
Plan called for a unicameral legislature in which each state had an equal vote.
Representatives from large states were very opposed to this as it would make smaller states equal to them.

10. Features of the Constitution
The Issue of Slavery
Southern states had more slaves than the north because their region was based in agriculture
Southern states wanted to the slave population in their representation for the House
This would have given the control of the House as the North did not have as many slaves
A compromise was needed once again

11. Features of the Constitution
The Issue of Slavery
The Three-Fifths Compromise
Each slave was counted for voting purposes as three- fifths of a person
For every five slaves, a state was credited for having 3 white people.
Slave Trade Compromise
No restrictions on the importation of slaves for 20 years after ratification of the Constitution, or until 1808.
After the 20 years Congress could regulate the slave trade

12. Creating a Constitution: The Great Compromise
Established a bicameral legislature with two houses, Congress & the Senate.
The House was elected directly by people & each state was granted a certain amount of representatives based on population
The Senate’s members were elected by state legislatures, with each state having only two, no matter what the population
This Compromise creates the U.S. Constitution

13. Creating a Constitution: The U.S. Constitution
Written document that is the law of the U.S.
It can be amended or changed
It is made of 7 articles, or parts

14. Creating a Constitution: Federal Government
Federalism
System of government in which sovereignty (power) is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces)
Divides power between the national and state governments.
The United States has a federal form of government.
The 50 states of the U.S. are not considered “states” by definition because they do not have sovereignty.
The 50 states share sovereignty with the central government.*

15. Creating a Constitution: Federal Government
Federalism
Federal Government
The national government & the states are co-equal partners.
The National government has powers that it alone can exercise
The states have certain rights the National government cannot infringe upon
Both National and state governments share certain concurrent powers.
Concurrent powers: Shared powers of the National & State governments

16. Creating a Constitution: To Ratify or Not to ratify?
Ratifying the Constitution
Throughout the process, there had been concern that a strong Constitution would take all power from the states.
However, The U.S. Constitution, minus ANY amendments, was finalized on September 17, 1787.
Today the 17th of September is recognized as Constitution Day.
Now its supporters would seek to promote the document so that 9 states would ratify it.
Many were still concerned that the document did not have a Bill of Rights to protect the fundamental rights & liberties of the people.