Ch. 8 (Unit 2)Confederation to Constitution

Essential QuestionsHow do you form a government?How did the divergent views regarding

the powers of the national government influence the creation of the Constitution

How does the Constitution shape the Federal and state government?

What compromises had to be made to form the Constitution?

How did the views of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists differ?

New State GovernmentsAfter the war, each state set out to create its own

governmentSome states experimented with creating separate

branches of government, giving different powers to different branches. This, they hoped, would prevent the government from becoming too powerful.

Some states had a Bill of Rights. This idea came from the English Bill of Rights of 1689

Every state had republican form of government.In a republic, the people choose representatives to

govern them

The Articles of ConfederationIn 1776, the

Continental Congress began developing a plan for a national government.

Delegates disagreed about how states would be represented and if states or the national government should have more power

Articles of Confederation (2)The Continental Congress

eventually reached a plan, called the Articles of Confederation

The Articles gave the national government very few powers.

The most important powers, like enforcing laws and setting taxes, were left to the states.

In 1781, all states ratified or accepted the Articles

Weaknesses of the ArticlesLacked power to enforce lawsLacked power to levy taxesLacked power to regulate trade among the statesRequired all 13 states to approve changes in the Articles

The Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of

1785 called for people to stake out 6 mile square plots (townships) in Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota

The Northwest OrdinanceThe Northwest Ordinance described how the

Northwest territory would be governedWhen there were 5,000 males in an area, men

who owned at least 50 acres of land could elect an assembly

When there were 60,000 people, they could apply to be a new state

Also set conditions for settlement in the Northwest Territory, for example, slavery was outlawed and freedom of religion was guaranteed. Why is the Northwest

Ordinance important?

Shay’s RebellionProblems arose in the mid 1780s: people had

little money but continued to have to pay high taxes

Many Massachusetts farmers fell deeply into debtAnyone who couldn’t re-pay debts had his land

auctioned offFarmers, led by Daniel Shay, rebelled in

January of 1787The state militia was able to put down the

rebellion

After Noteshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceb1wkSa

mG4After we watch the clip, your task is to begin

writing a letter to the local newspaper (pretend!) arguing in support of or against the Articles of Confederation.Be sure to explain WHY it is a good or bad ideaIntro (what are the Articles?), body (what’s

your argument?), and conclusion (re-state)Start off: Dear Editor,Don’t finish? HW!

Ch. 8 Section 2

Constitutional Convention1st time, held in Annapolis, Maryland Because of poor turnout,

Delegates called another meeting. It was held in Philadelphia

Key Players : James Madison, Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington

Because of the disturbing Shays’s Rebellion, 12 states sent

delegates to Philly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceb1wkSamG4

55 DELEGATES MET IN PHILADELPHIA IN SEPTEMBER 1787 AND DECIDED TO DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION RATHER THAN REVISE THE ARTICLES

Summer 1787 - Independence Hall in Philadelphia 12 states sent delegates (Rhode Island didn’t send delegates) Original purpose was to discuss way to fix the Articles of Confederation The 55 delegates were among the most educated in America - Called the “Founding Fathers”

Different Ideas…DIFFERENT FACTIONS AT THE CONVENTION

•FACTIONS ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE UNITED BY A COMMON BELIEF, LIKE AN INTEREST GROUP

SMALL STATES VERSUS LARGE STATES SLAVE HOLDERS VERSUS ANTISLAVERY ADVOCATES STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT VERSUS WEAK

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION…

•Delegates decided to keep all of their discussions secret (nailed the windows shut)

•Most of our records come from James Madison’s notes

•James Madison - known as the “Father of the Constitution” -Many of its principles are based on his ideas

•Delegates had to develop a strong government without infringing on people’s liberties (taking away)

Virginia Plan• Edmund Randolph -Bicameral Legislature. (2 houses)-State representation wasbased upon population. -Power to tax- Power to regulate trade. -Proposed executive and

judicial branches

New Jersey Plan• William Paterson-Unicameral Legislature. (1 house)-One state - one voteconcept. (Like Articles) -Power to tax-Power to regulate trade. -National executive &judicial branches

Round 1…… How to set up the Government…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceb1wkSamG4

The Great CompromiseDeveloped by Roger Sherman from Connecticut Legislature would have 2 houses People would be represented in the lower house

(House of Representatives) -Based on population (larger states have more representatives) -2 year terms

States would be represented in the upper house -Every state would have the same number of representatives (2 per state) -6 year terms

Three-Fifths Compromise: SlaveryTHE SOUTHERN STATES WERE ALLOWED TO

COUNT SLAVES AS 3/5 OF A PERSON FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSES IN THE HOUSE

SLAVES WERE ALSO COUNTED TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL TAXES OWED BY EACH OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.

THE SLAVE TRADE WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE UNTIL 1808, HOWEVER ALL OF THE NEW STATE CONSTITUTIONS EXCEPT GEORGIA’S BANNED OVERSEAS SLAVE TRADE.