1. Government under the Articles of Confederation 1781
A loose alliance of independent states
A one-house legislature
No executive or judicial branches
Only states can tax
States may coin money
No regulations of trade between states
Most Power held by states.

2. Building the Constitution
Problem
Solution
The newly formed colonies needed a central government.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted as the country’s first constitution
The weak central government created by the Articles led to diplomatic problems with other nations. The states began to act as independent countries to protect their trade rights.
Delegates at the Constitution Convention adopted the Virginia Plan, which proposed the creation of a new federal government
Opponents of the proposed new federal government feared that it would become too powerful.
The Constitution divided power between the federal government and the state governments and establish three branches of power in the Federal gov
Constitutional delegates feared that one branch of the federal government would become too powerful.
The Constitution gave each branch of federal government the ability to limit the power of the other branches.
Delegates realized that the Constitution might need to be changed over time.
A system for making amendments was added, and the Constitution was ratified

3. The Federal System Concurrent Powers Reserved
Powers concurrent to national and state governments; for example the power to tax
Enumerated Powers
Powers enumerated
To national
Government;
for example,
Declaring war
Reserved
Powers
Powers reserved
For state
Governments;
For example
Setting up
Educational
system

4. The Virginia Plan-Edmund Randolf
The federal government would have 3 separate branches-Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Congress would have two houses: the House of Representative and the Senate.
In both houses the representatives from each state would be based on its population.
Voters in each state would elect the members of the House of Representatives who, in turn, would choose the members of the Senate from a list of people nominated by state legislature.
Congress would have all the powers it held under the Articles of Confederation plus the power to make laws for states, to override state laws, and to force states to obey national laws.
Congress would choose members of judicial branch as well as a President.

5. The New Jersey Plan- William Patterson
All States, large or small, would have equal number of representatives in Congress( just as they had under the Articles).
Congress would consist of only one house, to be elected by state legislature rather than directly by people.
Congress would choose several people to serve in executive branch. These people would, in turn, have the power to appoint members of judicial branch.

6. Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch
President Carries Out Law
Checks on the Legislative Branch
Can approve Laws
Can veto Laws
Can call special sessions of Congress
Makes appointments to federal posts
Negotiates foreign trade
Checks on Judicial Branch:
Appoints federal judges
Can pardon federal offenders
Legislative Branch
Congress Makes Laws
Checks on the Judicial Branch:
Creates lower federal Courts
Can Impeach and remove judges
Can propose amendments to overrule
judicial decisions
Approves appointments of Federal Judges
Checks on the Executive Branch
Can Override presidential veto
Confirms executive appointments
Ratifies Treaties
Can declare war
Appropriates money
Can impeach and remove president
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Interprets the Law
Checks on the Executive Branch:
Can declare executive actions
unconstitutional
Checks on the Legislative Branch
Can declare acts of congress
unconstitutional

8. Early Political Parties
Alexander Hamilton John Adams
Federalists
1. Led by merchants, bankers, and lawyers living primarily in New England.
2. Favored a strong central government.
3. Interpreted the Constitution loosely 􀃆 loose constructionists [“implied powers”].
4. Believed in a government by the elite, educated, and wealthy. 􀃆
5. Anglophiles Pro-England.
6.Favored Hamilton’s financial policies: •
upport for the Bank of the U.S.
America must have credit for industrial development, commercial activities, and the operations of government.
Full payment of the national debt.
7. Passed the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) in which individual rights could be limited.
8. Vision for the US 􀃆 trade center, industry, and self-sufficient nation.

9. Thomas Jefferson James Madison
Democratic-Republicans
1. Led by planters, farmers, and wage earners living primarily in the South and West 􀃆 a decentralized, agrarian republic.
2. The “ideal citizen” 􀃆 yeoman farmer.
3. Favored strong state governments over a strong national government.
4. Interpreted the Constitution literally 􀃆 strict constructionists [“enumerated powers”].
5. Rule by the educated masses.
6. Francophiles 􀃆 Pro-French.
7. Bill of Rights was sacred 􀃆 passed the VA and KY Resolves.
8. Opposed Hamilton’s financial policies [especially against the BUS]. 􀃆
9. Vision for the US and agricultural society with little trade and industry.