1. The Articles of Confederation
1st national constitution;
Needed to unite 13 colonies
2nd Continental Congress approved in 1777
Officially ratified by all 13 states 1781

2. Weaknesses of AOC One vote for each state regardless of size
Congress powerless to lay and collect taxes
Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce
No Executive Branch to enforce the acts of Congress
No Judicial Branch or national court system
Amendments only with the consent of ALL 13 states
A 9/13 majority required to pass laws
Only a “firm league of friendship” among states

3. The Articles of Confederation 1781
Continued to be problematic
WHY?
The National Government was weak
LACK OF CENTRAL POWER
No unified currency (states had different currency)
Taxes were confusing (states began taxing each other)
Land disagreements between states
Trade disputes between states

4. Shays’s Rebellion (1786)
Daniel Shays organized group of farmers to close MA state supreme courts to avoid farm foreclosures due to heavy taxes
Result: Rebellion was put down by militia but awakened need for stronger central government
Turning point proving new constitution was needed

5. Ratification of the Constitution
Constitutional Convention of 1787
Met in Philadelphia
Originally intended to revise AOC
Ended up writing new constitution
Ratification of the Constitution

6. Compromises of the Constitution
Virginia Plan: Legislature determined by population. Most populated states would have most representation.
Supported by large states (aka “Big State Plan”)
New Jersey Plan: Legislature had equal representation for all states. Unicameral
Supported by small states (aka “Small State Plan”)
Connecticut Compromise
Created two houses (bicameral) in the legislature
House of Rep. based on population, Senate based on equal representation
aka the Great Compromise, most like what we have today

7. Next debate was should slaves be counted in the population?
Southern states demanded that slaves be counted so they would have more representatives in the House of Representatives
Northern states wanted slaves counted for taxation purposes but not for representation
3/5 Compromise: 3/5 of slaves would be counted for representation and taxation
Disappeared in constitution in 1865 with 13th amendment

8. GREAT DEBATE DEVELOPS OVER RATIFICATION
The Federalists
VS.
The
Anti-federalists
AKA:
Pro-Constitution
Vs.
Anti-constitution
Leaders:
Feds:
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
John Adams
John Marshall
Anti-Feds:
Thomas Jefferson
James Monroe
Patrick Henry

9. FEDERALISTS Believed a STRONG NATIONAL government was needed to:
control anarchy,
protect new nation from enemies abroad, and
solve nation’s problems
In favor of new constitution (vs AOC)

10. ANTI-FEDERALISTs Opposed ratification process No mention of God
States could not print money
Feared too much power given to central government
Wanted a BILL OF RIGHTS!!

11. How did it Pass? 2/3 of the States had to RATIFY the constitution
NY and Virginia do not ratify until later
Problem because they were large, powerful states
The Federalist Papers
85 essays written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison to convince the larger states to pass the Constitution
Federalists promised to add B.O.R. if ratified
Ratification
The Constitution is ratified in 1789
GW elected first pres. 1789
BILL OF RIGHTS added in 1791