1. Beginnings of American Government Section 2
Chapter 2
Beginnings of American Government
Section 2

2. The Articles of Confederation:
Established in 1781
Governed the country until the ratification of the U.S. Constitution (1788)
Weak central government
No taxing power
No executive branch
No ability to make states obey the law

3. The Articles of Confederation:
Other weaknesses include:
No power to regulate trade amongst the states
No national currency
No national judicial system in which to settle disputes amongst the states

4. Shays’ Rebellion: Led by Daniel Shays, in Massachusetts, 1786-1787
Almost brought the whole thing down
National government unable to respond
Demonstrated the weakness of the Articles of Confederation

5. Constitutional Convention of 1787:
Held in Philadelphia May 25, 1787
Originally only intended to revise the Articles of Confederation (to make them better)

6. Constitutional Convention of 1787:
Compromises between the big and small states for representation:
The Virginia Plan:
Bicameral legislature
Representation determined by population (or money contributed to the federal government)
The New Jersey Plan:
Unicameral legislature
Equal representation for all states (regardless of population or money given)

7. The Great Compromise: Congress would be bicameral
Equal representation for all states (regardless of population) in the upper house – Senate
Representation based on population in the lower house – House of Representatives
Additionally there was the three-fifths compromise
Dealt with how to count slaves in regards to population
Said that each slave would count as 3/5 of a person

8. Ratification:
The document, now completed needed to be ratified by the states
Ratification: The formal approval, or act of validating, a constitution, a constitutional amendment, or a treaty
At least 9 of 13 states needed to approve in order to ratify
Process took over 2 years
Spawned many debates that still rage today (size and scope of government)

9. Federalist vs. Anti-federalist
Federalists:
Believed in the ratification of the constitution
Wanted a strong central government
Federalist papers supported ratification effort & explained the need for the constitution
Anti-federalists:
Were against ratification of the constitution
Wanted more individual liberty
Anti-federalist papers written in opposition to the constitution