1. Confederation To Constitution
The United States of America is a free and independent nation.
Now What!?

3. With newly gained independence comes new responsibilities

4. Woo Hoo, we are a free country!
Yes, but now what do we do?

5. Each of the 13 states wanted to retain its sovereignty (they each wanted to be their own independent country)
The states feared an all powerful National/Federal government….they just fought a war to get away from that.
Soooo…..in 1777 the states agreed to create a national government that was weak. This “firm league of friendship” was called the Articles of Confederation.

6. Power reserved for the states
Power reserved for the Feds
Power reserved for the states

7. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Good
Federal government was allowed to regulate the newly acquired lands west to the Mississippi River.

8. Articles of Confederation
What the Federal government What the Federal government could NOT do:
could do:
The Bad
Create an Executive Branch
Raise Taxes
Issue Common Money
Regulate Trade
Establish a Court System
Declare War and Peace
Maintain an Army
Negotiate Treaties
Borrow Money
Establish a Postal Service

9. Shays Rebellion
The Ugly
Daniel Shays

10. Americans soon realized that they had created a government with no real authority, and their new nation was in danger of collapsing before it really began.

11. Constitutional Convention
May 25, 1787

12. Issues To Be Solved
Congress
2. Leadership
3. Slavery

13. Virginia Plan VS. New Jersey Plan
Representation in Congress would be based on population.
VS.
James Madison
New Jersey Plan
All states represented equally

14. The Great Compromise Government would have a Bicameral legislature
House of Representatives would be based on population
Senate would have two representatives from each state

15. Elect a President 4 year term of service
Elected through the Electoral College

17. Federalists Anti-Federalists
Favored Ratification
Wrote the “Federalists Papers”
Wanted strong federal government
VS.
Feared a strong federal government but accepted it as long as the Bill of Rights was included.
Anti-Federalists

18. 3 Branches of Government
Federalism
3 Branches of Government
Executive
(President)
Legislative
(Congress)
Judicial
(Courts)
Separation of Powers = Checks and Balances

19. Lived in U.S. for the last 14 years Live in the State you represent
Position
Age
Citizenship
Residency
President 35
Natural Born
Lived in U.S. for the last 14 years
Senator 30
9 years
Live in the State you represent
Representative 25
7 years
Supreme Court
Justice
None
U.S.