1. US History Chapter 2 Section 2
Creating a New Government

2. Main Idea
After the revolution, Americans struggled to form a national government and eventually wrote the constitution

3. Reading Focus
What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
What did the founders discuss when drafting the constitution?
What was involved in ratifying the constitution?

4. Post Revolutionary War original Colonies

5. Articles of Confederation
Now that America had won independence, the real challenges lie ahead:
> States were like small countries
- Imposed tariffs on imports
- Some had their own Navy
- treaties with foreign nations
- own state currency
- own government / constitution
Need a united Nation with a new type of government “Republic” that could deal with wars and make agreements with foreign nations
November Articles of Confederation adopted (first constitution) which was an association of independent states with common goals

6. Article Weaknesses and Rebellion
Very difficult for congress to put policies into place because 9/13 states had to agree and 13/13 had to agree to amend the article
Current government could not pay for war debt because congress did not have power to impose taxes
Even had British still occupying parts of the US
Shays Rebellion- Economic problems plagues every state, especially new England. Paper Money issued during war not backed by gold or silver (led to inflation)
- States still required to people to pay taxes in “hard currency” and would be jailed if unable to pay (this hit farmers hard)
- led to protests and riots
- Massachusetts Daniel Shay stormed the debtors court
- Even though rebellion squashed, made leaders realize the problems with the articles of confederation

7. Settling the Western Frontier
Articles of Confederation did have an impact on settlement patterns of the Western Frontier
1785- Land Ordinance drew for surveying and settling area: Divided into six square mile township grids (checkerboard)
1787- Northwest ordinance encouraged orderly settlement of newly formed states- OH, IN, IL, WI, MI with religious freedom and civil rights
SLAVERY NOT ALLOWED in new territories

8. New States after Northwest Land Ordinance of 1787

9. Iowa
West Virginia

10. Drafting the Constitution
May Delegates from all states called to meet in Philadelphia for Constitutional Convention
James Madison kept a diary recording the constitution events and is referred to as the “Father of the Constitution”
Key Issue at Convention: Finding balance between large and small states as well as respecting northern and southern interests
Two plans proposed but only one idea accepted:
New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan
“Framers”

11. Quick facts pg 45 The great compromise
Enslaved African-Americans counted as 3/5 vote
Native Americans did not count
Quick facts pg 45 The great compromise

13. Ratifying the Constitution
Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17, Now it was time for American people to approve (ratify) it
Supporters of Constitution – Federalists “Battled over
Opposers of Constitution- Antifederalists Ratification”
Federalists Antifederalists
- believed in strong feared strong central
government government
- believed separation of felt federal gov. would
powers limited government abuse states powers and
- cause was popular in cities and individual liberties
among wealthy (mostly farmers)

14. Federalist Papers and Bill of Rights
Most support for constitution came from anonymous writer (Publius) which wrote a series of 85 essays called the “federalists papers” [ James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Hay ]
Essays attempted to persuade delegates to ratify constitution
Before agreeing to ratify constitution, anti-federalists wanted a Bill of Rights to address individual liberties
1788- States agreed to ratify constitution as long as Bill of Rights were included- James Madison (1791) drafted the first ten amendments to the constitution
Constitution Make-up: Articles I – VII
Amendments I - XXVII