1. Unit I – The Creation of the Constitution
Chapter 3 Section 1
Chapter 3 Section 2

2. Unit I – The Road to the Constitution (Ch
Unit I – The Road to the Constitution (Ch. 3) – Articles of Confederation
After the war, the USA needed a government and FAST!
If not, we could descend into a civil war
First thing that was done
Each state created their own constitution
Called for a Bicameral Legislature – Gov’t that is divided into 2 parts (or houses)

3. Unit I – The Road to the Constitution (Ch. 3) Articles of Confederation
Creating our first Federal Government – The Articles of Confederation
Set up a Unicameral (one house) legislature
Each state was given 1 vote in congress
Limited powers given to congress
Declare war
Make treaties
Make trade agreements

4. Unit I – The Road to the Constitution (Ch. 3) Articles of Confederation
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
Lack of power
Congress couldn’t collect taxes
Can’t enforce the laws
Rules are too rigid
9 of 13 states need to approve new laws
Articles can’t be amended without all 13 states approving
These problems led to DEBT!

5. Unit I – The Road to the Constitution (Ch. 3) Articles of Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
Reaction to the Massachusetts raising taxes
Farmers were upset
Daniel Shay led 1,200 farmers to rebel
The federal government could not stop the rebellion
No power to do so under the Articles
The American people began to call for a stronger Federal Government

6. Unit I – The Road to the Constitution (Ch. 3) Articles of Confederation
The Northwest Ordinance (1787)
The one good thing The Articles did
Created a way to govern the northwestern territories

7. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention – May-Sept (1787)
55 delegates
Meant to revise The Articles
Realized they needed an entirely new document

8. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
Rules for the Convention – to make thing run smoothly
Each state got one vote
Majority Rule
The convention will be kept secret

9. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
Proposed solutions at the convention
#1 – combine all states to make one large state
#2 – Develop a Federal System – divide power between the federal and state governments

10. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
2 Plans for government
Virginia Plan
Included a president, courts, and a Congress (bicameral).
Representation in Congress would be based on state population
New Jersey Plan
Wanted a Congress that was Unicameral – with equal representation from each state

11. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
The Great Compromise
Combining the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
New Gov’t will have a Bicameral Legislature- Congress will have 2 houses
One House will be based on Population
House of Representative
The other House will have equal representation
Sentate

12. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
Other Compromises
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress will regulate trade
Congress agrees to NOT talk about the slave trade for 20 years
3/5 Compromise
Every 5 slaves would count as 3 people
Helped the south get better representation in Congress

13. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
How should the President be chosen?
Possible Solutions
#1 – Appointed by Congress
#2 – Elected by the people
Compromise
Creation of the Electoral College

14. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
How will Congress be chosen?
Senators – Will be appointed by the STATE legislature
House of Representative – Elected by the people

15. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
Supporters of the Constitution
Called Federalists – Support a stronger central (federal) gov’t
Support Federalism – splitting power between federal and state government
Federalist Papers- An essay written to show people why the Constitution is a good thing
People who Oppose the Constitution
Called Anti-Federalist – Support the power of the states

16. Unit I – Constitutional Convention
Anti-Federalists agreed to Constitution after a bill of rights was promised
C. Delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and decided it would take nine out of the thirteen states to ratify the document