1. A New Government for a New Nation

2. The Articles of Confederation
When:
First government for the new country
Confederation form of government
Colonies would remain separate and independent
Power held by the states
Weak national government

3. The Articles of Confederation
Only Branch of Government:
Legislative
# of Houses in Congress:
Only one!
Representation Based on:
Equal representation
Each state had one vote
National
Gov't
States

4. Strengths of the Articles
Could pass laws
Could declare and fight wars
Could sign peace treaties
Only success was the Land Ordinances
1785: way of dividing and distributing lands in the Northwest Territory
1787: rules for setting up governments in territories and how those territories could becomes states

5. Weaknesses of the Articles
No executive or judicial branches of gov’t
Could not enforce laws (like taxes)
Could not settle disputes between states
Could not regulate commerce (trade) between the states
No common currency – each state printed their own money
Required 9 of 13 states to pass laws

6. Results of the Articles
States had border disputes
States levied heavy taxes on themselves to pay for war- did not send money to national government
States created own currencies
States levied tariffs on each others goods
States refused to acknowledge any national law they did not like

7. Shays’ Rebellion What: Significance / Result:
Uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting taxes
Army called in to put down uprising
Significance / Result:
Highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles
Many realize Articles need to be revised

8. Constitutional Convention

9. Key Facts When: 1787 Where: Philadelphia, PA Purpose:
To REVISE the Articles of Confederation
“Father of the Constitution”
James Madison

10. The Members 55 delegates White Males
Statesmen, lawyers, planters, bankers, businessmen
Most under age 50

11. Out With the Old… National Gov't State State State
Type of Government Create:
Federal: power is shared by the national government and the states
# of Branches: 3
Legislative: make laws
Executive: enforce laws
Judicial: interpret laws
National
Gov't
State
State
State

12. Issues That Divided the Founders
The power of the federal government.
Would the states or the federal government have the most power?
Representation in Congress
How many members on Congress would each state get?
small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states
Slavery
How would slaves be counted?
Would the slave trade continue?

13. What’s the Fix?

14. Key Compromises: Representation in Congress Slavery Trade The Presidency

15. Representation in Congress
Key Compromises at the Convention

16. Virginia Plan Proposed by: Number of Houses in Congress:
James Madison
Number of Houses in Congress: 2
Representation determined by:
Population of the state
Favored:
Large states live Virginia and New York

17. New Jersey Plan Equal representation Small states like New Jersey
Proposed by:
William Patterson
Number of Houses in Congress: 1
Representation determined by:
Equal representation
Favored:
Small states like New Jersey

18. Connecticut Plan Roger Sherman The Great Compromise Who Proposed:
Also Known as:
The Great Compromise
Number of Houses in Congress: 2

19. Connecticut Plan Senate: House of Representatives:
Representation based on: equal representation
Number per state: 2
Elected by: state legislatures
House of Representatives:
Representation based on: population
Number per state: varied by state
Elected by: the people in a state

20. Key Compromises at the Convention
Do Slaves Count?
Key Compromises at the Convention

21. Do Slaves Count as Population?
North: NO
(didn’t want South to get more votes/seats in new Congress)
South: Yes
Compromise:
Three-Fifths Compromise
Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of one person when counting the population of a state

22. Key Compromises at the Convention
What about Trade?
Key Compromises at the Convention

23. Who Controls Trade? Issue: Resolution:
Can Congress tax exports and imports?
What about the slave trade?
Resolution:
Congress could not tax exports.
Slave trade will end in 1807.

24. What about the Presidency?
Key Compromises at the Convention

26. Who Should Elect the President?
Agreed only on the idea that it should not be “We the People!”
Compromise: Electoral College
Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of people they have in Congress
Electors chosen by the state legislatures
Electors vote for president and vice-president
Whoever gets most votes is the Pres and next-most votes is VP
12th Amendment: choose Pres and VP separately