Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention

1. Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention Mac 2008-09

3. Quiz • List things students should know about the Following: • Northwest Ordinance • Great Compromise • Issue of Slavery in the Constitution- • One part of the Constitution that directly addresses the Anti-federalist position

4. 2nd Continental Congress After Declaration of Independence Colonies began to operate independently Now called States Wrote Constitutions Embraced Republican forms of Government Created National government for all the states Weak Decentralized system Limited Powers History of the Articles

5. What is the single most significant factor of a Confederation? • Weak Central Government • A loose alignment of independent states • Voluntary!!! • See George Washington reading168-69 • Cite three examples of Washington’s criticisms.

6. Confederation Congress (only institution of National authority) Powers under Confederation Conduct War Foreign relations= treaties Appropriate, borrow, issue money Did not have power: Regulate trade Draft troops Levy taxes directly on people Had to ask states for taxes and troops No separate executives Measures passed by Congress had to be approved by 9 of the 13 states. Very Difficult to change or amend the Articles= 13 states had to agree Articles of Confederation 1781-1789

7. Northwest Ordinances • 1790 – 120,000 in Ohio • Eastern states had to relinquish claims to western lands • 1785 Ordinance – created system for surveying and selling western lands • Grid Pattern rectangular townships • 36 –sections, includes public school requirement • 1787 Ordinance • Northwest Territory • 3-5 states • 60K entering the union • Freedom of Religion • Rights to Trial by Jury • Prohibited Slavery • Outlaws slavery North of the Ohio River

8. Northwest Territory • The ordinance organized the territory into a grid pattern for townships.

9. Confederation Problems • Congress was severely limited in its powers. • It could not raise money by collecting taxes; • it had no control over foreign commerce; • it could pass laws but could not force the states to comply with them. • Thus, the government was dependent on the willingness of the various states to carry out its measures, and often the states refused to cooperate. • The articles were virtually impossible to amend, so problems could not be corrected.

10. Many Segments of Society disliked conditions under the Confederation • Manufacturers- each state had tariffs and wanted National tariff • Merchants- wanted National business regulation vs states • Needed strong national banking system instead of each state currency • Land speculators- wanted Indians out • Large property owners wanted protection for property

11. Shay’s Rebellion • Massachusetts 1786-87 • Tax protest turns violent • Poor farmers couldn’t pay taxes • Asked for redress • Took up arms and were suppressed • showed problems with the Mob • Leaders were afraid of Anarchy and more support for revising of Articles of Confederation

12. Annapolis Convention • Precursor to the Philadelphia Convention • Madison calls this • 5 States • Few delegates attend

13. Philadelphia Convention • Many delegates/leaders gather to revise the Articles of Confederation • Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison… • Decide to make the discussions secret • Immediately decide to start over the process of organizing a national or central government

14. Virginia and New Jersey Plans

15. Questions to be Answered • What about Slaves and taxes/representation • and the institution of Slavery?

16. Great Compromise • House of Representatives: • Representation determined by population-more people more reps • Large states get more reps/power • Senate- • Each state gets 2 Senators • Benefits small states

17. Great Compromise and Slavery • Very Divisive issue • Southern States threaten ratification if Slavery is touched. • 20 year moratorium on addressing Slavery Trade See article I Section 9 • 3/5ths Compromise- Slave populations will count for representation-5 slaves=3 people (I 2.3)

18. does NOT Address citizenship Address political parties Does Regulate Commerce Control Currency Pass all laws Necessary and Proper (Elastic Clause) Have power to coerce states Separation of Powers Executive Judicial Legislative Checks and Balances Constitution

19. See Constitution PPT. • “Thus I consent Sir, to this Constitution, because I expect no better, and because I am not sure it is not the best.” B Franklin Not everyone agreed to the Constitution Ratification State conventions were then called and the DEBATE began. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

20. Federalists

21. Patrick Henry, George Mason, Lee, Sam Adams Were against the Constitution Did not want strong Federal Government Feared possibility of dictatorship Wanted to protect individual rights Wanted to protect State’s Rights Problems with Constitution: Want Bill of Rights “No Government can be trusted to protect liberties of its citizens.” “The only way to protect liberties is to enumerate the natural rights of the people” Insisted on a Bill of Rights Anti-Federalist

22. Mercy Otis Warren • Woman • Anti-Federalist • Playwright

23. Ratification Battle • Every state held special ratifying conventions • Virginia and NY were close • NY, VA, and MA ratified based on the approval of a Bill of Rights

24. The Constitution is Ratified • December 7, 1787 Delaware is the first state to ratify the Constitution • Pennsylvania December 12 • New Jersey Dec. 18 • Georgia January 2, 1788 • Connecticut Jan. 9 • Massachusetts Feb. 7 • Maryland April 28 • South Carolina May 23 • New Hampshire, June 21 (9th state to ratify Constitution goes into effect)