Forming a New Nation Constitution

Confederation Articles of Confederation Original Constitution for a collection of States John Dickenson (Penn.) Congress and delegates (up to 7 per state) Single vote per state No President, No Executive branch Power spread amongst several committees

Powers of National Congress Declare war Trade Indian relations No power to raise money, taxes merely ask for contributions 2/3 of states had to approve of the above Unanimous for amending the Articles

Northwest Territory Describes the newly acquired land from the Ohio valley region Land Ordinance of 1785 Grid system of dividing up land One square mile, township, 36 sections at least $1 per. North West Ordinance of 1787 Congress appoint territorial governor 5,000 men elect assembly 60,000 men, elect governor and create constitution Barred slavery All would come in as “free states”

Public Education Movement Northern states rapidly established public schools. By the year 1870 All states had tax-subsidized elementary schools. The US population had one of the highest literacy rates in the world at the time.  Private academies also flourished in the towns across the country, but rural areas had few schools before the 1880s. In 1821, Boston started the first public high school in the United States. By the close of the 19th century, public secondary schools began to outnumber private ones.

Shays’ Rebellion Testing the Articles of Confederation Farmers of Mass. And Penn. Facing large debt Led by Daniel Shays Mass. Raised an army to put down the rebellion Pres. Washington gets involved, the rebellion is suppressed Showed that the Articles could not enforce people to pay taxes.

Weaknesses of Articles exposed Shay’s Rebellion exposed: No central govt. to enforce laws No way to collect taxes Too difficult to manage for acceptance or change. Shay was right! Call for stronger central government Due to the lack of ability to enforce laws, or to collect taxes for governmental income. Support to all states Something to bring states together for the good of all

Drafting the Constitution James Madison forms a committee to create a constitution to present to the Constitutional Congress that includes Alexander Hamilton Hamilton not in favor of Democracy, Madison favored Republicanism During session George Washington is unanimously elected president. Battle over representation begins.

Virginia Plan Favors larger states Representation should be based upon: Donation / wealth Population Bicameral legislature

New Jersey Plan Favors smaller states Calls for representation by: Statehood: same number per state unicameral

Connecticut Plan Also known as the Great Compromise Stated: Bicameral One house will be the House of Representatives, based upon population One house will be the Senate, based upon statehood, 2 per state

3/5 Compromise Southern states fearing Northern dominance want to include their slaves into the population count. Northern states argued that slaves were not citizens. Congress decided to count 3 out of every 5 slaves to appease the Southern States.

Limited government James Madison Alexander Hamilton Believe that the people should have a say in government The citizens should be able to decide the path of government through representation A Republic Alexander Hamilton Believed there should be a “ruling class”. Ordinary citizens do not posses the knowledge needed to run a government or country.

Ratification Federalist Antifederalist Favored a strong central government Sought to plug holes of the articles Washington, Madison, Hamilton Antifederalist Favored stronger state and local governments Lack of bill of rights Protect people from oppressive government Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Samuel Adams

Federalist Papers James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton Series of papers set out to explain in “plain” terms what the constitution is and provides. Explains checks and balances Efforts to get the constitution ratified

Bill of Rights Pushed by Antifederalists like Jefferson Claimed that citizens need to see and know their natural rights Provide documented rights such as: Speech, assembly, religion, bear arms, press, trial by jury, etc.

Making it official Delaware, Penn, NJ, Georgia, Connecticut sign on 1st. Massachusetts comes in next Slowly Maryland, SC, and NH Virginia and New York are near the end, larger states, must haves After the Bill of Rights are amended into the constitution all states ratify the constitution.