1. So You’ve Just Won the Revolutionary War…
What comes next

2. Colonies become States
Colonies are very diverse in social and economic ways
When each becomes its own state, hesitant to give up power to a central/national gov’t
Favor “Republic” form of gov’t
What is a Republic? Contrast with “Democracy”

3. THREE Big Questions Representation: Population or States?
One vote per state
Supreme Power: One entity or divided?
Create “Articles of Confederation” giving national Congress some powers, State gov’ts other powers
National declare war/peace, sign treaties, borrow money, set standards of weights and measures, postal service, deal with Native peoples
Creates NO executive to actually carry out acts of Congress
Western Lands: Who do they belong to
Some states have claims west of Appalachians – Maryland doesn’t
MD insists other states give up claims to United States

4. Dealing with those Western Lands
Land Ordinance of 1785 – plan for surveying the land
Northwest Ordinance – Dividing land into territories and spelling out steps to statehood
Congress appoints territorial governor and judges
When territory reached 5,000 voters, they could write a temporary Constitution and elect own government
60,000 free people – write a State Constitution which had to be approved by Congress
TA-DA! Statehood!

5. Problems in Articles No real unity
Difficult to change – all states needed to consent to amend them
Massive war debt + no power to tax = no way to pay it off (R.I. stops amendment to allow tariff to try to make a few bucks)
No way to control domestic or foreign trade
Difficult to conduct any foreign relations

6. Drafting a Constitution
Big vs. Small
Virginia Plan – two houses, members divided by population
Lower house would elect upper house
New Jersey Plan – single house, one vote per state
GREAT COMPROMISE!!!
Two houses, lower house divided by population, Upper one equal
People pick lower house members, state legislatures pick upper house

7. Const. 2
Slavery
Slave states want to count slaves for their population, northern states don’t want it
Settle on 3/5 compromise
Also give Congress the power to limit slave trade after 20 years
Why wait?

8. Division of Power
Federalism – divide powers between Federal and State governments
Separation of Powers
Legislative – Make law
Executive – Execute law
Judicial – Interpret law
System of Checks/Balances gives each branch some power over the other branches

9. Changing the Constitution
Build in methods of changing the Constitution
Both National AND State-led ways to propose Amendment
Relies on States to approve any Constitutional changes
Think Critically!
Evidence that the framers distrust National Gov’t?
Evidence that the framers distrust the people?