1. Issues with the Articles of Confederation:
Weak federal government, power rested with the states
Congress could not tax
Congress could not regulate trade between the states
Congress could not make states obey trade treaties with foreign nations
Each state had only one vote
No Executive branch
No Court system
Needed 9 of 13 votes to pass laws
Needed all 13 state votes to amend

2. Shay’s Rebellion
Falling crop prices hurt MA farmers, many of whom fought in Revolutionary War
Farmers wrote to Legislature for lower taxes and no more foreclosures but were ignored
Daniel Shays led hundreds to courthouses to scare bankruptcy judges but rebellion was crushed when small army was sent to restore order
Disorder got many people thinking if this nation was ungovernable under the Articles
Representatives from five states met in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss trade issues
Congress invited all 13 states to Philadelphia “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.”

3. Delegates to the Convention: 55 delegates from 12 states
They had more political experience that any comparable gathering of leaders of any newly independent nation at any time in history
President: George Washington
Delaware: John Dickinson
Virginia: James Madison, Edmund Randolph
South Carolina:Charles Pinckney
Connecticut: Roger Sherman
New York: Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey: William Paterson
Pennsylvania: Ben Franklin, Gouvenor Morris
Rhode Island did not send a representative
“the home of the otherwise minded
Research a delegate

4. Agreed: National Government with 3 branches
Debates:
Should representatives in legislature be determined by population or should each state have an equal number of votes
If representation is based on population, how should slaves be counted; as property or people?
How should we elect a chief executive?
How can we keep one branch from getting more powerful than another
What powers should the national government have
What powers should stay with states

5. THE GREAT COMPROMISE - REPRESENTATION
New Jersey Plan
Each state gets an equal number of representatives
Small States plan
William Paterson
Proposals
Compromise
Representation in Senate based on NEW JERSEY plan, Representation in House based on VIRGINIA plan
two-house legislature
Roger Sherman
Problem:
How should states be
represented in Congress
Virginia Plan
Base representation on population larger states get more representatives
Edmund Randolph

6. Compromise V Three-Fifths Compromise
How do slaves count for population
1. In House of Representatives Direct Taxes to national government
Northern States
had few slaves
Slaves should not count for
representation in the House
but should count for taxes
Southern States
had a large slave population
Slaves should count for representation
in the House but not for taxes V
Compromise
three out of every five slaves
would be counted in the population of a state for representation in the House and for taxes

7. More Issues over Slavery
A. Slave Trade
North
Congress should regulate trade between states and foreign countries
South
Congress might use power to regulate trade to tax their exports and stop slave trade
Commerce Compromise
Congress could regulate trade between states and with foreign countries.
Congress could tax imports but not exports and could not stop slave trade until 1808
B. Runaway Slaves
Could not get freedom by running to a free state. They would be sent back.
Count the words

8. United States Constitution the highest law in the land
Article 1
Sections
Aricle 2
Sections 1 - 4
Article 3
Sections 1 - 3
Judicial Branch
JUDGES the laws
Executive Branch
ENFORCES the laws
Legislative Branch
makes the LAWS
Two Houses
Senate
Each state
has 2 reps
N.J.
House of
Reps
based on
population VA
Article 4 - Relations among States
Article 5 -Amending the Constitution
Article 6 - National Debts, Supremacy of National Laws, Oaths
Article 7 - Ratification
AMENDMENTS

9. Legislative Branch Makes laws
Senate
House of Representatives
2 elected representative from each state
Must be 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years and live in the state they represent
Serve for six years
V.P is President of Senate
Elects a president-pro-tempore to preside when V.P. is absent
Number of representatives from each state is based on population, which is why the country has a census every 10 years
Must be 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state they represent
Serve for 2 years
Elects a Speaker as the President of the House
Powers: Checks & Balance:
Tax Can override a Presidential veto with 2/3 vote
Borrow Money Can impeach or remove a President
Regulate Trade with foreign nations and states Can refuse to appoint a presidential nominee
Establish weights and measures Can refuse to ratify a presidential treaty
Punish counterfeiting
Declare War
Create an army and navy Can refuse to confirm a judicial nominee
Establish a postal service Can propose a constitutional Amendment
Coin money Can impeach or remove judges

10. Executive Branch Enforces Laws
President: Vice President: Cabinet
35 years old President of Senate Secretary of State
a born citizen Succeeds the President
serve a total of 10 yrs Serve a total of 10 yrs Secretary of Defense
Electoral College Electoral College Secretary of Treasury
Powers: Checks and Balances
Commander – in – Chief of Military Veto Bills
Make Treaties with foreign nations Call Special Session of Congress
Makes annual report on the state of the nation once a year Recommend Laws
Appoints cabinet, ambassadors, and Supreme Court Justices Appoints Supreme Court Justices
Grants reprieves or delays punishment of crimes against the U.S Grants Pardons

11. Judicial Branch Judges Laws
District and Appeals Courts
Supreme Court
9 Justices appointed for life
Powers
Hear cases about Constitution, federal laws, or treaties
Hear cases involving ambassadors, shipping, or disputes
between states
Hear cases of suits brought by citizens against other countries
Hears cases involving Treason
CHECKS & BALANCES
Can declare laws unconstitutional
Can rule that laws of executive acts are
unconstitutional
Presides over impeachment trials