1. Building a New Government
CH 5 Sections 2
Building a New Government

2. Shays’ Rebellion: protestors led by former Revolutionary War vet and farmer Daniel Shays.
They accused the state government of taxing them too much, and were angry that they had not been paid for their military service. They seized the arsenal and the courts before clashing with the state militia.

3. Shays’ Rebellion caused panic throughout the nation
Shays’ Rebellion caused panic throughout the nation. Many Americans feared their new country was sinking into chaos and violence.
After news spread of Shays’ Rebellion, delegates from all states except Rhode Island came to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

4. Both large and small states had ideas about representation in government. The “Great Compromise” (Roger Sherman) was reached, setting up our current model of congress.

5. James Madison
One of the leaders of the Constitutional Convention. He proposed the VA Plan. He also wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

6. The Three-Fifths Compromise.
It allowed each state to count three-fifths of their slaves as part of the population for the purposes of taxation AND representation.

7. Delegated Powers
National government: control of foreign affairs, providing national defense, and regulating trade between the states.

8. Reserved Powers (given to state): providing for and supervising education, establishing marriage laws, and trade within a state.
Shared Powers: the right to tax, borrow money, pay debts, and establish courts.

9. Separation of powers in Federal Government (federalism)
Delegates gave the legislative branch the power to make laws. The executive branch carries out the laws. The judicial branch interprets the laws.

10. Checks and balances ensured that no one branch became too powerful.
The delegates made sure that each branch had certain powers over the others.

11. The Electoral College
Each state chooses a group of electors equal to the number of senators and representatives it has in Congress. They cast the ballots for the presidential candidates.