1. The Constitution Articles of Confederation
1786: Articles were losing effectiveness
* unstable and lacking authority
* needed a stronger central government
Federalists
- Federalists supported the idea of a stronger national gov.
* George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, John Jay
- believed states held too much power
Annapolis Convention (Sept. 1786)
- called by James Madison to discuss improving interstate trade
* attended by only 5 states
* failed to solve any problems

2. Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia Convention) Feb. 1787
- called for by Alexander Hamilton
* 12 states attended (no RI)
- George Washington selected as leader
* Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry did not attend
- initial goal was to revise the Articles, but soon goal was to come up
with a plan to replace them
Virginia Plan
- written by James Madison, presented by Edmund Randolph
- called for
1. strong national government with one executive leader
2. a bicameral legislature (2 houses) with representatives based on
population
3. Have all current powers, plus powers to settle disputes between
state governments
4. would have power to veto state laws that contradicted the laws
of Congress

3. New Jersey Plan
- proposed by William Patterson (NJ)
- unicameral (one house) legislature with representation equal
regardless of population
- granted Congress new powers to tax domestic trade goods, tax
imports, regulate commerce
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
- Roger Sherman
- bicameral legislature
* House of Representatives (lower house) based on population
and would serve for 2 years
* Senate (upper house) 2 representatives from each state and
would serve for 4 years
* President would serve for 4 years and the Electoral College
(made up of reps and Senators) would choose the executive
leader

4. This compromise established federalism (sharing of power between states
and central government). Established that Congress could:
* levy and collect taxes
* settle disputes among states
* negotiate with foreign nations
* set standards for citizenship
* have veto power over state laws
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause): written for unforeseen
events and allowed the national government to pass laws that were
‘necessary and proper’ even if it wasn’t specified in the Constitution
State governments could:
* pass/enforce local laws
* establish schools and local governments
* tax/build roads