Articles of Confederation and the constitutional convention

1. Articles of Confederation and the constitutional convention

2. Fear of Tyranny Causes Problems • The Whig Ideology that led to the Revolutionary War was ever present in the formation of the Articles of Confederation • Fear of a national or federal government was imbedded in the colonists due to its seeming inability to represent the people. • In the latter years of the Revolution, the Articles of Confederation were drafted. • Created a Congress to be the largest entity in government, but was essentially powerless. • Purpose was to settle disputes among the new states.

3. Problems of the Articles of Confederation • Weaknesses • No executive branch of government • Each state had one vote • Rhode Island, one of the smallest states had the same voice as Virginia, a state with 10 times as many people • Amendments required unanimous support • Congress had very little actual authority • Had no authority over commerce or trade • Allowed different states to pass tariffs, at times on each other. • Had no central authority for national tax collection • Did establish a tax quota for each state, but due to the Articles, could only ask for contributions to the federal level on a volunteer basis.

4. Virginia Plan • As time moved on, a call for a stronger federal government became clearer • Led by James Madison and his Federalist Papers • Shays’ rebellion also was a major catalyst for this push • Virginia Plan • Virginia, the largest state in the Confederation, pushed its “large-state plan” • Bicameral Congress • Each house would have representation based on population

5. New Jersey Plan • New Jersey, seeing the looming problems of the Virginia Plan, backed the “small-state plan” • Unicameral Congress • Equal Representation for each state • This plan was pushed under the fear that small states would be at a great disadvantage under the Virginia Plan

6. Assignment • Describe the division at the Constitutional Convention and it’s eventual outcome. • Include the following terms: • Federalists and Anti-Federalists • James Madison • Federalist Number 10 • Patrick Henry • The Great Compromise • 3/5’s Compromise