1. American beginnings from 1781-1789
Forming a Nation
American beginnings from

2. The Articles of Confederation
The Firm League of Friendship
Made Continental Congress official national/federal government
No executive officer
No power to collect taxes
Laws could be vetoed by the state

3. Disputes Among States
Landed States – Gained land west of original borders following American Revolution
Example: Virginia
Landless States – Did NOT gain new territories following the War
Example: New Jersey
Landless states wanted all new territory to be ceded (turned over) to Congress

5. The Northwest Territory was the first major test of the new government
Land ceded to Congress by several states
Present day: Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio
How would new territories and states be added to the USA?
The Northwest Territory was the first major test of the new government

7. Thomas Jefferson’s Plan
Divide territory into 10 states
Admit states to union when population reaches that of least populous state
Complete self government until statehood
No one likes this plan

9. Ordinance of 1785 (Survey and Township Model)
Territory divided into townships (six square miles) and then into 36 square mile sections
Each section would be sold by government to settlers
People just start moving to the territories without buying the land first

11. Northwest Ordinance, 1787
Congress appointed a Governor, Secretary and three judges for the territory
5,000 free males – territory elected a legislature
Laws approved by territorial governor
Representative in Congress, but no vote
Population 60,000 – can apply for statehood
No less than 3 states, no more than 5
Slavery OUTLAWED in Northwest territory

12. SUCCESS! Northwest Ordinance is extremely effective
System for creating territories and states remained similar to NW Ordinance throughout 19th century
Did set precedent for growing Sectionalism in the United States by outlawing slavery in NW Territory

13. Slavery and Sectionalism
Sectionalism – different parts of the country developed different cultures and different values
1776 – 20% of population were slaves, 90% of slaves lived in the South
All men are created equal?
How do revolutionary values and slavery co-exist?

15. Slavery and Sectionalism
Slavery begins to be outlawed in New England following the Revolution
Free Black communities begin to grow in urban areas
Institutions – mutual benefit societies, schools, and churches
Peculiar Institution – Slavery increasingly isolated in the South

16. Economic Disruption Wars cost A LOT of money Debt
$400 million printed during Revolution
Quickly devalues
Only guaranteed on future tax revenue
Inflation – Scarcity of goods, higher prices, and increasingly devalued money

17. More Economic Disruption
Congress couldn’t do much about economic disaster
No power to collect taxes
No power to regulate trade between states
Couldn’t force states to stop printing their own money

18. Confederation in Trouble

19. Shay’s Rebellion
Uprisings/protests/riots of farmers in Western Massachusetts led by Captain Daniel Shays
Attempted to halt the foreclosure of farms to pay for heightened taxes
National Government was unable to provide money to fix the problem, and couldn’t call up soldiers to help quell the rebellion

21. Constitutional Convention
Delegates met in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation
Soon is clear that the Articles are going to be thrown out the window
George Washington chosen unanimously to serve as president of the Convention
Washington only reluctantly agreed to come out of retirement to be at the convention

22. Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
Two proposed plans of government form the basis of the Constitution
James Madison
Author of the
Virginia Plan
William Patterson
Author of the
New Jersey Plan

23. Virginia Plan Written by James Madison, presented May 29, 1787
Bicameral Legislature
Both bodies of the legislature would have proportional representation
Three branches of government: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Legislature could veto state laws, the Executive and judicial branch could veto Federal laws

25. New Jersey Plan Written by William Patterson, presented June 15
Unicameral legislature – collect taxes, but needed approval of states
Congress elected federal executive – multiple people who could not be reelected
Federal executive appoints supreme tribunal of judicial branch

27. Plans!
Virginia plan was a complete overhaul of the government, New Jersey plan was a much more powerful version of the Articles of Confederation
Virginia plan favored large states – Proportional Representation
New Jersey plan favored small states – Equal Representation

28. The Great Compromise Proposed by Roger Sherman – July 16
Bicameral Legislature
Equal representation in the upper house
Proportional representation in the lower
house
Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a free
person
Slave trade would by outlawed in 1808

30. Constitution Article I – Legislative Branch
Over half the length of the entire Constitution
Article II – Executive Branch
Focusing on how to elect the president, not what he does
Article III – Judicial Branch
Creates Supreme Court (SCOTUS), authorize Congress to create inferior courts
Article IV – Federalism
Relationship between state and federal government
Article V – Amendment Process
How to change the Constitution
Article VI – Supremacy Clause
The Constitution is the Law of the land
Article VII – Ratification
How to make the Constitution law