CREATING NEW GOVERNMENT

WEAKNESSESProvided for a weak national

governmentGave Congress no power to tax or

regulate trade among the statesNo common currency for the

countryEach state had one vote regardless

of sizeNo executive or judicial branch

WEAKNESSESThere was a unicameral congress in

which each state had 1 voteNo national court systemNo executive branchFinancial, diplomatic, and military

affairs were managed by congressional committees

The congress could request funds from states but could not tax the people directly or regulate interstate and foreign commerce

MAKING CONNECTIONSWhy did the founders decide to

create their government like this? What parallels to the British can you draw? How did America’s pre-Revolutionary relationship with Britain influence the structure of the first national government?

POLITICAL PROBLEMS Each state functioned independently by

pursing its own interests rather than those of the nation as a whole

Each state, regardless of its population, had only one vote in Congress The political power of GA with 23,375

people=political power of MA with 235,308 Articles could not be amended without the

consent of every state A single state could stall the amendment

process, so changes were very difficult

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS Huge debt that Congress had created during

the American Revolution War had cost $190 million

Continental Congress had borrowed from foreign countries and had printed its own paper money After the war, the American currency was

worthless Lacking the power to tax, Congress

requested the states’ approval to tax imported goods RI rejected the tax so it was not adopted

FOREIGN-RELATIONS PROBLEMS US couldn’t repay its debts to British

merchants Loyalists not repaid for the property they lost

during the war England refused to evacuate the Great Lakes Spain posed a threat to westward expansion

beyond the Mississippi River

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1787Set a successful pattern for surveying,

selling, and administering western landsProvided the way for territories to become

states with the same powers and privileges as the original 13 states

Northwest Ordinance for the 1st time banned slavery from a territory

BOTTOM LINEAmericans’ fear of giving the

national government too much power had resulted in a government that lacked sufficient power to deal with the nation’s problems

SHAYS’S REBELLION Shay was a veteran of the Revolutionary War

Fought in Saratoga Lived in MA Because of heavy debt, he was almost going to a

debtor’s prison Wanted to close the courts so he would not lose his farm

to creditors Farmers like Shay led a 1,200 man army through the snow to

the storage of weapons in Springfield, MA State officials called the militia and 4 of the rebels were

killed Caused panic, and the need for a change in the National

Government Some Americans feared that the govt. was unable to

protect even domestic law and order Producers wanted a stronger govt. to regulate

interstate and foreign commerce

SHAYS’S REBELLION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ImIEcsTEVo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q77iwGlyXF4

PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION Spring and summer of 1787 55 delegates from every state besides RI

The majority were wealthy, had legal training, and shared a nationalist rather than a local perspective

Sessions were closed to the press and the public

Decided to abandon the Articles and write a new constitutionJames Madison kept copious notes- called the

“Father of the Constitution”

VIRGINIA PLAN “Virginia Plan”

A national govt. Broad powers to tax, legislate, and use military force against

the states 2 house congress

Representation in both chambers based on population

Small states worried that they would always be outvoted

Objected to the VA Plan Created the “New Jersey Plan” “New Jersey Plan”

Unicameral congress Each state, regardless of population, had an equal

voice

GREAT COMPROMISE & CONSTITUTION

The convention finally agreed to a compromise 2-chamber legislature

Representation in the House based on population Representation in the Senate based on the principle of

equality for each state The Constitution was finished in September 1787

The Constitution carefully balanced state and federal power, the interests of one social group against another, and the authority of one branch of the national govt. vs. another

Federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances Federal govt. powers:

Levy and collect taxes Conduct diplomacy Protect domestic order Authority to coin $$$$ Regulate interstate and foreign commerce

RATIFICATION The delegates provided for ratification of the

Constitution by special state conventions composed of delegated elected by the people

Needed 9 conventions to approve the new Constitution

During 1787 and 1788, the country divided into Federalists and Antifederalists

Federalists supported the Constitution Antifederalists did NOT support it

feared that the Constitution concentrated too much centralized power in the hands of a national elite

that individuals’ freedoms would be trampled because the document contained no bill of rights

FEDERALISTS

Favored a Strong Central Government Favored limiting states’ power. Argued that the

Senate with 2 reps per state represented each state enough.

Did not think we needed a Bill of Rights Did not like the Articles of Confederation Thought a large nation/republic was best for the

country Supporters were large farmers, merchants, artisans

FEDERALISTS

George Washington James Madison

Wrote a series of papers called the Federalists papers to convince people to ratify the Constitution

ANTIFEDERALISTS

Opposed/disagreed with a strong central government Supported strong power and influence of the states Thought a Bill of Rights was necessary Wanted to just change the Articles, not abandon them Thought only a small nation/republic could protect

people’s rights Supporters were small famers, usually from rural areas Do no support the Constitution They thought it was dangerous for people’s natural

rights and took too much power from the states. Ex. Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson

FEDERALIST PAPERS

Read the Federalist #10 and #54 and answer the accompanying questions