1. Creating a New Constitution
Essential Question: What influenced the development of our government institutions?

2. Learning Objectives I will… We will…
CON 1.A Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents CON 1.C Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system
Identify problems that arose in the Confederation period
Compare and contrast the respective arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists for ratification of the Constitution

3. Government Under the Articles of Confederation
America’s first constitution
Created a confederation (league of friendship) among the states
Central Government
No national court system
No president or king
Unicameral legislature

4. The Confederation Period
Thirteen Sovereign States
Viewed themselves as independent (from England and each other)
Created different currencies, making trade difficult
States charged rival states tariffs
Did not contribute money to national government for debt

5. the Confederation Period
Weak National Government
Could not collect money from states
No standing army
No power to regulate trade
9/13 votes need to pass laws
No power to enforce laws
No national court system to settle disputes among states
No chief executive

6. The Confederation Period
Achievements
Signed a peace treaty with Britain recognizing American independence
Established a fair and consistent policy for settling and developing land in the West
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Established procedure for territories to become states

7. Need for Stronger National Government
Shay’s Rebellion (1786)
Uprising of Massachusetts farmers who could not pay debts/lost their land
Rebellion spread to other states
Washington put down the rebellion with his army

8. Need for Stronger National Government
Revising the Articles
Some called for a convention of all states in Philadelphia to make changes to the current government
Delegates decided to create an entirely new government

9. Checkpoint
What problems were created by the Articles of Confederation?
What was the significance of Shay’s Rebellion?

10. The Constitutional Convention
The Virginia Plan
Proposed a strong national government
Bi-cameral Legislature
Representation determined by states’ population
Opposed by smaller states

11. The Constitutional Convention
The New Jersey Plan
Nation would remain a confederation
Unicameral Legislature with one vote per state
Congress given the power to tax and regulate trade

12. The Constitutional Convention
The Connecticut Compromise
Also called the Great Compromise
Bicameral legislature: House of Representative and Senate
Proportional representation in the House (population)
Equal representation in the Senate (2 each)

13. The Constitutional Convention
Compromises About the Presidency
Electoral College choose the president
President’s term set at four years

14. Disputes over Slavery Legality of Slavery Wanted to abolish slavery
Southern states would not ratify Constitution if slavery abolished
Delegates refused to deal with the issue

15. Disputes over Slavery The Three-Fifths Compromise
North and south disagreed on how to count slaves for representation and taxation
Only 3/5 counted for both tax purposes and representation

16. Disputes over Slavery Commerce and the Slave Trade
Delegates gave Congress power to regulate interstate commerce (trade between states) and commerce with foreign countries
Congress could not ban the slave trade before 1808
Congress could not tax exported goods

17. Checkpoint
Which elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were incorporated into the Great Compromise?
How did the Three-Fifths Compromise satisfy states in the North and South?

18. Ratifying the Constitution
Requirements
9/13 states had to ratify before new constitution could be adopted
Federalists
Supported ratification
Included many Founders, merchants, and coastal regions
Claimed strong national government needed for defense

19. Ratifying the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
Opposed the new Constitution
Included farmers and laborers
Feared a strong central government
Demanded a Bill of Rights

20. Brutus No. 1 Author Audience About
Anti-federalist Robert Yates of New York
Audience
States
About
Strength of central government

21. Brutus No. 1 Argument And so…
Strong central government would not be able to meet the needs of all citizens because it was too far removed
And so…
Opinions still differ about the appropriate size, scope, and power of the Federal government
Makes compelling arguments about potential dangers

22. Arguments for Ratification
Federalist Papers
Essays written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
Defended the new constitution and helped convince people to ratify

23. Federalist no. 10 Author Audience About James Madison States
Strength of the central government

24. Arguments for Ratification
Only a strong government could protect the country from violence of factions (large groups of people)
And so…
Convinced states to ratify the Constitution
Frequently cited in Federal court cases

25. Federalist no. 10 Federalist No. 51
Madison explains the structure of the proposed government
Three branches of government and checks and balances prevent abuse of power

26. Checkpoint
What is the difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Why did Anti-Federalists oppose a strong central government?
How did Anti-Federalists argue that a strong central government was necessary to protect individual rights?