1. DRAFTING THE CONSTITUTION 1786 – Daniel Shays a Revolutionary War veteran faced debtors’ prison. Shays’s Rebellion- Shays led an army of 1,200 poor farmers to Springfield Mass to get arms (guns) – State militia kills four rebels and scatters the rest The farmers’ protest caused panic and dismay through the nation.

2. Would rebellion spread? So many farmers were rebelling – something was seriously WRONG!! “What a triumph for our enemies…to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves.” – George Washington TIME FOR A STRONGER NATION!!!

3. Constitutional Convention May 1787 – all but Rhode Island sent delegates to the convention. Rhode Island was happy with the Articles of Confederation. Can you guess why? 55 delegates gathered at Philadelphia State house – (sweltering heat/windows shut) George Washington elected as presiding officer in an unanimous vote

4. Constitutional Convention

5. Conflict leads to COMPROMISE Federalism – divided powers between national and state governments Federal Gov’t – control foreign affairs and national defense (army) State Gov’t – Education, marriage, trade within the state

6. 3 BRANCHES Legislative Branch – makes laws – Congress – House of Representatives and Senate Executive Branch- carry out laws – President Judicial Branch – interpret laws – Supreme Court

7. Convention continued… Set up checks & balances to prevent one branch from gaining too much power (143) Set up electoral college for voting in a president - framers distrusted the common people to vote wisely -electors (= to number of senators/rep a state had in Congress) they would cast ballots for the candidates

8. Checks & Balances

9. Electoral College Map

10. September 17, 1787 Delegates provided a means of changing the Const. through the amendment process – flexible enough to last Convention sent the Constitution to states for ratification where 9 states had to approve “I do not expect the Constitution to last for more than 20 years” - GW