CREATING THE CONSTITUTIONUnit Two

FROM THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TO THE

WORLD’S GREATEST DOCUMENT

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

The Articles of Confederation (1781) The Colonists’ first crack at forming a

functioning government - Named the new country the United States of America!!

An agreement outlining the powers of a national government

Forget George, I amthe 1st President of the

United States!!!!

That may be true pal,But here is some more truth, no one knows who you are!!

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

Articles of Confederation (cont’) Two problems made it difficult to accept the A

of C Problem #1: Government TOO strong.

Solution: Create a weak national government Government created by the A of C was just a

central legislature There were no executive or judicial branches Legal disputes left up to the states to decide Most of the power with the states leaving the

national government with little power over the states and citizens.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

Articles of Confederation (cont’) Problem #2: Some states have more power

than others. Solution: Give each state one vote

One state = one vote regardless of population In certain instances, like declaring war, required at

least 9 votes of the states.

Despite best intentions - The Articles of Confederation were VERY weak!

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

MAJOR WEAKNESSES WOULD BE THE DOWNFALL OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION!! Weakness #1: No money and power to get it.

Congress had no POWER to tax All it could do is request money from a state We had borrowed much money to fund the

Revolutionary War and needed to start paying it back - without the power to tax, Congress was left without a way to pay off the debts

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

MAJOR WEAKNESSES Weakness #2: No power over state governments

and their citizens. Congress had no power to make laws that the

people of the states HAD to follow. No way to make them obey - laws, treaties, etc..

Weakness #3: Unenforceable trade agreements Weakness #4: Unfair competition among the

states Ex. Taxing on both ends

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

MAJOR WEAKNESSES Weakness #5: All 13 states must agree to

change the Articles Most damaging States rarely agreed on anything Articles could NEVER be fixed

By 1786, government leaders realized that the Articles of Confederation simply did not work!!

In 1787, those leaders would meet in Philadelphia to draft a NEW document

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

FINAL STRAW!! Shay’s Rebellion (Aug. 1786 - Jan. 1787):

Daniel Shay was a Capt. in the Continental Army Shay goes to bank to get loan and tries to use Fed.

Note as collateral Only money good in Massachusetts was GOLD. Federal Gov’t won’t exchange note for gold Rock and a hard place!!

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

FINAL STRAW!! Shay’s Rebellion (cont’):

Shay gets together small army and closes down the courthouse

Called a “rebellion - formal uprising” Shay and his army ultimately chased out

of Mass into Vermont Vermont won’t return him and he

ultimately gets pardoned. Shay’s Rebellion was the event that

highlighted that the Articles were not working.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

DESPITE ALL THE PROBLEMS - WERE ALL THE STATES READY AND WILLING TO RATIFY THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION?

WHAT WAS THE 1ST STEP? Annapolis Convention - Sept. 11 - 16, 1786

Very Unique - normally the drafting of a constitution was reserved for legislature not individual leaders.

What came of this? Invitations issued to 55 delegates to attend

Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the Spring of 1787.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Starts May 25, 1787 in Philadelphia, PA

Agree on rules - one state = one vote They decide to operate in secrecy - why?

No decision is permanent until the whole plan is finalized.

Who is elected President of the Convention? George Washington - the most respected and

honored man in the country at the time. Although not active in the debates - his

presence was a positive statement for the new constitution.

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (cont’) Who else was there?

Thomas Jefferson writes to John Adams and calls the convention an “assembly of demigods.” Why do you think he says this?

James MadisonOf all framers, JM hasthe biggest influence

Ben FranklinInternationally respected for

his wisdom

**Roger ShermanRepresentative fromConnecticut who willmake a big name forhimself at the Convention

Edmund RandolphGovernor of Virginia

Alexander HamiltonStrong supporter of a National Government

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (cont’) Who was NOT there?

Thomas JeffersonU.S. Ambassador to France

John AdamsU.S. Ambassador to

Great Britain

Patrick HenryAgainst a strong

National government