The Articles of Confederation and The Constitution Becoming the U.S. The Articles of Confederation and The Constitution

Articles of Confederation Plan to coordinate the 13 newly sovereign states cooperatively Unicameral Congress with no Executive 9 States to Ratify Laws; 13 to Amend Articles Only Powers: Foreign Affairs; Borrow Money; Post Offices; Organize Military Emphasized State Sovereignty

weaknesses of confederate System Economic Independence/Competition Unique Currencies Tariffs and Creditors Weak National Government

Shays's Rebellion States struggled to pay war debts Citizens struggled because of weak Confederate economy Especially true among farmers Massachusetts gov. seized farms and imprisoned debtors Daniel Shays stormed courts and attempted raid of armory

Constitutional Convention Need for change: Poor Economy and Weak Military 55 "Framers" were sent to Philadelphia on May 1787 to revise the Articles Feared both mob rule and strong central government Conducted in private

The Virginia Plan Strong national union organized into Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches Bicameral Legislature 1st elected by people; 2nd by the 1st Both ultimately reflected population of States Legislature would have power to: Appoint Judiciary Veto State Laws Take over matters separate States couldn't handle

The New Jersey Plan Confederacy with stronger central government: Unicameral Legislature Weak, multi-member Executive Weak Judiciary One vote per State Executive appointed Judges Favored Smaller States

The Connecticut Compromise (The Great Compromise) Bicameral Legislature House of Representatives: Reflects population Senate: 2 from each state; elected by individual States 17th Amendment changed to popular vote Both must approve all laws Executive elects Judges with approval from Congress Electoral College Ratifying took about 2 years

Anti-Federalists Federalists Not enough protection for State Sovereignty Too distant from "individuals" Constitution was extralegal No Bill of Rights Favored State Militias Pro-Constitution Strong central gov. would better secure liberty Protect against minority dissent like Shays' Defend against attacks Facilitate better economy

Federalist Papers James Madison, Alexander Hamilton & John Jay New York Newspaper Publications to rally popular support for ratification

Slavery Efforts were made to eliminate during Continental Congress Rejected to gain support from South Guaranteed open trade till 1808 Concerns about House seats and taxes 3/5 Compromise 3/5 of slave pop. would count towards House seats & taxes

Ratification Delaware 1st to ratify; June 21, 1788 Virginia would not ratify without guarantee of Bill of Rights Fully ratified on April 6th, 1789 George Washington appointed 1st president