A LOOSE CONFEDERATION
Constitution: a document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government 2 reasons: Spelled out rights of citizens Limited power of government Virginia’s had bill of rights (list of freedoms that the government promises to protect) Similar to colonial governments (executive & legislature)
Why? ◦ Colonies needed to be united by national government to win independence Why so difficult to write? ◦ Americans felt loyalty to individual states, not one nation ◦ Feared strong central government Articles of Confederation=1 st American constitution approved in 1777 States sent delegates to Congress (could declare war, appoint military officers, coin money, responsible for foreign affairs)
Congress could pass laws, but needed approval of 9 states Couldn’t regulate trade b/t states or states & foreign countries No president to execute laws or courts to settle conflicts
Central government had no power to resolve conflicts between states No power to tax ◦ Printed paper currency (money) with no value— Continental dollar ◦ States printed own money—caused confusion Other nations took advantage ◦ Britain left troops in Ohio Valley ◦ Spain closed New Orleans port to American shipping
Lands north of Ohio River & east of the Mississippi River Land Ordinance of 1785: NW Territory would be surveyed & divided into townships Northwest Ordinance: (1787) set up government for NW Territory ◦ Request to admit new states to the nation after 60,000 free settlers ◦ Eventually—Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
Depression: a period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, & unemployment rises (post Revolution) Hit farmers hard: ◦ Farmers borrowed money for high demand for farm products during war ◦ Demand went down after war; prices went down; farms were seized when couldn’t pay taxes ◦ Shays’ Rebellion: 1,000 farmers attacked courthouses to prevent seizing(led by Daniel Shays 1786; driven off by militia
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Shays’ Rebellion emphasized weaknesses of Articles Opened May 25, 1787—55 delegates (from every state except RI) Delegates included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, & James Madison (“Father of the Constitution”) Talks were secret—windows kept closed—to avoid outside pressures
VIRGINIA PLANBOTHNEW JERSEY PLAN Edmund Randolph & James Madison 2 houses in legislature—seats based on population of states ***Large states benefited Called for government w/ 3 branches: legislative (pass the laws) Executive (carry out the laws) Judicial (system of courts—are laws carried out fairly?) William Paterson Legislature with only 1 house: each state would have 1 vote regardless of population Favored by small states
Roger Sherman (Connecticut) worked out plan to satisfy large & small states Two-house legislature: ◦ House of Representatives (lower house): elected by popular vote, based on population ◦ Senate(upper house): chosen by state legislatures, all states would have 2 senators
Would slaves be part of the population? ◦ Three-Fifths Compromise: 3/5 of the slaves in any state would be counted Northerners wanted slavery banned in entire nation; southerners said it would ruin economy ◦ Compromise=Congress couldn’t outlaw slavery for at least 20 years (then could regulate the trade) ◦ Northerners couldn’t stop fugitive slaves from being returned