The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a Penn. statesman The Articles were accepted by Congress in 1781 and is considered the first national constitution

The Articles of Confederation The fear of having too much power in one person’s hands reflects the experiences the colonies had under a monarchy In the Articles the state governments limit the power of the national Congress

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress had no power to raise taxes Congress had no power regulate foreign or state trade Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states Changes (amendments) took unanimous approval Congress did not have the power to enforce laws

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed The Northwest Ordinance was passed Had the power to declare war and peace, print money, make treaties and settle state disputes

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation: Settling Western Lands The Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that land in the west was to be surveyed using a grid system to establish 6 mile blocks The Northwest Ordinance assisted in the orderly expansion of the United States, it outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territories 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt Population of 60,000 could become a state

Settling Western lands The Northwest Ordinance provides an orderly settlement process in the West It promised no slavery education freedom of religion trial by jury

Northwest Territory The Northwest Territory was east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be formed from this area.

Reasons for Shay’s Rebellion Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they have no money because they were not paid during the war Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too. And seek to get money from the farmers debts

Shays’s Rebellion Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and close courts that are hearing cases against farmers

Shays’s Rebellion The Mass militia is called out to stop it Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support their stance and will close courthouses and demand financial help from the Congress Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stonger central government

Samuel Adams Said What?! “Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death”

Views about Shays’s Rebellion Adams will also write a law called the Riot Act, which prohibits 12 people or more from meeting and gives the government the power to shoot rioters! Samuel sure has changed since 1776!

Thomas Jefferson Said What?! "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."

The Constitutional Convention begins 1787 - Philadelphia Delegates from all the states invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation, which were not working Only RI didn’t attend 55 Delegates attended

Leaders of the Convention George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention. James Madison kept notes of the discussions and is often called “The Father of the Constitution.” The men who wrote the Constitution are called the “Founding Fathers.” All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males.

The Founding Fathers

Issues that divided the Nation’s leaders The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most power? Representation in Congress (How many members of Congress would each state get? – small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?

The Virginia Plan Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation Three separate branches of government. – a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch Representation in the legislative branch based on population of state Large states like the plan, small states don’t.

New Jersey Plan Legislature - has one house. Each state gets one vote. Small states like the plan, the large states hate it. There would have to be a compromise.

The Great Compromise Legislature would have two houses (parts): House of Representatives and a Senate House - based on the population of state Senate - two senators per each state

3/5 Compromise The Southern states refused to approve the Constitution unless slavery continued. It was a terrible compromise to make, but the Northern states had no choice if they wanted a Constitution. 3/5 Compromise - Made each slave worth 3/5 of a vote in deciding numbers in House of Representatives Congress can not ban the slave trade until 1808.