Articles of Confederation

Why Were the Articles of Confederation Adopted? Americans fearful of a powerful central government

Weak National Government Articles of Confederation only established a loose confederacy Confederacy not capable of creating a strong, single identity Confederacy not capable of achieving common goals among majority of states

Characteristics of Articles of Confederation Provided for a Weak National Government Congress Held No Power to Tax Congress Held No Power To Regulate Commerce (trade) No Common Currency One Vote Per State Regardless of Size (pop.) No Executive Branch No Judicial Branch

Congress: No Power to Tax No power to pay off collective debt No power to finance collective goals Army for national defense

Congress: No Power to Regulate Commerce (Trade) No power to achieve economic goals for the betterment of the Union as a whole States acted in their own best interest, rather than in the interest of the Union

No Common Currency Trade is hindered Exchange rates between states unclear, inhabitants hesitant to trade without knowing value of money traded

One Vote Per State Highly populated states had the same vote as states with low populations Example: Pennsylvania vs Rhode Island

No Executive Branch No formal head of state No one person to represent the Confederacy to foreign powers No informal head of state (figurehead) No one person to capture the “identity” or goodwill of the Confederacy Example: President throwing ball out to begin baseball season

No Judicial Branch No unbiased court to hear disputes between the states Example: Dispute between Virginia and Maryland over fishing rights in Chesapeake Bay No court to hear cases on appeal from the states

Why the Dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation? Americans found the new government too weak to solve the nation’s problems. Impact: Shay’s Rebellion

The Nation Grows

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 New States: Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin Land Ordinance of 1785

Constitutional Convention

Fair Representation The Great Compromise (CT Compromise) Bicameral Congress Established Senate with equal representation House of Representative with membership based on population of states Three-Fifths Compromise Placated Southern states Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation purposes

Relationship Between States and National Government Made federal law the supreme law of the land States given much authority to govern themselves

Slavery Original attempt to abolish Ultimately allowed Three-fifths Compromise Slave trade must end, however Northern states already abolishing slavery in state constitutions

Limit Authority of National Government Limited powers of national government to those identified in Constitution Establishment of three-branches of government Legislative, Executive, Judicial Checks & Balances

Ratification of the Constitution See Handout for Arguments of Anti-Federalists and Federalists

Bill of Rights Ten Amendments First Amendment Freedoms Speech Press Assembly Religion

Key Leaders

George Washington Chairman of Convention Added his prestige to convention (Picture retrieved from americansfortruth.com )

James Madison 3 Branches of Government Basis of Constitution “Father of the Constitution” From Virginia Authored the “Virginia Plan” 3 Branches of Government Basis of Constitution Authored the “Bill of Rights” Political philosopher Studied governments Records procedings Best records of events Picture retrieved from m-berry.com)

James Madison Bill of Rights Consulted many documents to write Bill of Rights including: VA Declaration of Rights VA Statute for Religious Freedom

George Mason Virginia Declaration of Rights Basic human rights should not be violated by gov’ts (Picture retrieved from www.constitution.org )

Thomas Jefferson Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Outlawed establishment of church (no gov’t support for one religion) Picture retrieved from jeremysarber.com )