Creating a New Constitution Essential Question: What influenced the development of our government institutions?

Learning Objectives I will… We will… CON 1.A Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents CON 1.C Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system Identify problems that arose in the Confederation period Compare and contrast the respective arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists for ratification of the Constitution

Government Under the Articles of Confederation America’s first constitution Created a confederation (league of friendship) among the states Central Government No national court system No president or king Unicameral legislature

The Confederation Period Thirteen Sovereign States Viewed themselves as independent (from England and each other) Created different currencies, making trade difficult States charged rival states tariffs Did not contribute money to national government for debt

the Confederation Period Weak National Government Could not collect money from states No standing army No power to regulate trade 9/13 votes need to pass laws No power to enforce laws No national court system to settle disputes among states No chief executive

The Confederation Period Achievements Signed a peace treaty with Britain recognizing American independence Established a fair and consistent policy for settling and developing land in the West Northwest Ordinance (1787) Established procedure for territories to become states

Need for Stronger National Government Shay’s Rebellion (1786) Uprising of Massachusetts farmers who could not pay debts/lost their land Rebellion spread to other states Washington put down the rebellion with his army

Need for Stronger National Government Revising the Articles Some called for a convention of all states in Philadelphia to make changes to the current government Delegates decided to create an entirely new government

Checkpoint What problems were created by the Articles of Confederation? What was the significance of Shay’s Rebellion?

The Constitutional Convention The Virginia Plan Proposed a strong national government Bi-cameral Legislature Representation determined by states’ population Opposed by smaller states

The Constitutional Convention The New Jersey Plan Nation would remain a confederation Unicameral Legislature with one vote per state Congress given the power to tax and regulate trade

The Constitutional Convention The Connecticut Compromise Also called the Great Compromise Bicameral legislature: House of Representative and Senate Proportional representation in the House (population) Equal representation in the Senate (2 each)

The Constitutional Convention Compromises About the Presidency Electoral College choose the president President’s term set at four years

Disputes over Slavery Legality of Slavery Wanted to abolish slavery Southern states would not ratify Constitution if slavery abolished Delegates refused to deal with the issue

Disputes over Slavery The Three-Fifths Compromise North and south disagreed on how to count slaves for representation and taxation Only 3/5 counted for both tax purposes and representation

Disputes over Slavery Commerce and the Slave Trade Delegates gave Congress power to regulate interstate commerce (trade between states) and commerce with foreign countries Congress could not ban the slave trade before 1808 Congress could not tax exported goods

Checkpoint Which elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were incorporated into the Great Compromise? How did the Three-Fifths Compromise satisfy states in the North and South?

Ratifying the Constitution Requirements 9/13 states had to ratify before new constitution could be adopted Federalists Supported ratification Included many Founders, merchants, and coastal regions Claimed strong national government needed for defense

Ratifying the Constitution Anti-Federalists Opposed the new Constitution Included farmers and laborers Feared a strong central government Demanded a Bill of Rights

Brutus No. 1 Author Audience About Anti-federalist Robert Yates of New York Audience States About Strength of central government

Brutus No. 1 Argument And so… Strong central government would not be able to meet the needs of all citizens because it was too far removed And so… Opinions still differ about the appropriate size, scope, and power of the Federal government Makes compelling arguments about potential dangers

Arguments for Ratification Federalist Papers Essays written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison Defended the new constitution and helped convince people to ratify

Federalist no. 10 Author Audience About James Madison States Strength of the central government

Arguments for Ratification Only a strong government could protect the country from violence of factions (large groups of people) And so… Convinced states to ratify the Constitution Frequently cited in Federal court cases

Federalist no. 10 Federalist No. 51 Madison explains the structure of the proposed government Three branches of government and checks and balances prevent abuse of power

Checkpoint What is the difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists? Why did Anti-Federalists oppose a strong central government? How did Anti-Federalists argue that a strong central government was necessary to protect individual rights?