Articles of Confederation vs. The Federal Constitution

1. Articles of Confederation vs. The Federal Constitution Brooke Bennardini, Nicholas Cumer, Benjamin Marasco, Hali Montgomery, and Sarah Patterson

2. Articles of Confederation • Set up by Second Continental Congress • Adopted in 1777 • Ratified in 1781 • For common problems • Foreign affairs • “Articles of Confusion” • Congress designed to be weak • No executive branch • Judicial branch to states • Congress had no power to control commerce. • One vote per state • Population not pending • Bills required nine states, amendments unanimous

3. Articles of Confederation • Weak taxation • Could not collect taxes • Could not protect itself • Landmark in government • Held states together • Outlined powers for Constitution

4. Land Laws • Old Northwest • Northwest of Ohio River • East of Mississippi River • South of Great Lakes • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Old Northwest sold to pay of national debt • Townships- 6 sq. miles • 36 sections- 1 sq. mile • 16th section-public school

5. Land Laws • Northwest Ordinance (1787) • Temporary protection, then permanent equality • 2 stages under federal government • 60,000 admitted as state • Forbade slavery in Old Northwest

6. Foreign Relations • Navigation Laws kept in place • Lord Sheffield • Commerce follows old trade routes • Britain held trading posts in U.S • U.S felt restrictions should be placed upon Britain. • Spain opposed new republic • Mississippi river closed • France demanded repayment • Restricted trade with West Indies • Harassed in Mediterranean • Pirates • No British shield

7. Potential Anarchy • Tension between States • Boundaries • Imposing of taxes • Depreciated money value • Colonies had own money

8. Shay’s Rebellion • Western Massachusetts (1786) • Backcountry Farmers • Lost farms-foreclosures, tax delinquencies • War veterans • Led by Captain Daniel Shays • Demanded • States issued paper money • Lightened taxes • Suspend property takeover

9. Shay’s Rebellion • MA authorities actions included • Wealthy contributions • Encounters at Springfield, MA • 3 killed, 1 wounded • Rebellion Collapsed

10. Effects • MA debter-relief laws • Like Shay’s demands • Jefferson’s quote “Democratic Despotism” • Uncontrolled Republicanism • A stronger, central government required • Many urged amendments

11. Constitutional Convention • VA issued convention at Annapolis, MD (1786) • Congress called for revision of the A.O.C. • Based on control of commerce • Poor turnout • Philadelphia Convention • All states chose reps except Rl • 55 delegates in Philadelphia (May 25, 1787) • Demigods- participants of convention • George Washington • Benjamin Franklin • James Madison “Father of Constitution”

12. Constitutional Convention • Upper-class • Determined to • Preserve union • Stall anarchy • Ensure security of life and property • Curb uncontrolled democracy • Fueled by Fear

13. The Constitution • Virginia Plan • Representation based on population • Two house system • New Jersey Plan • Equal representation • One house system • Great Compromise • States have two senators • House of Representatives by population • Tax bills started in the House • Common Law • Specific detail unnecessary

14. The Constitution • President • Inspired by Shay’s Rebellion • Power to • Wage war, but Congress to declare it • Appoint domestic offices • President elected indirectly • Electoral college • Three-Fifths Compromise • slaves counted as 3/5 a person.

15. The Constitution • Members saw eye-to-eye economically • Protection of property • Socially • Rule by “democratic babblers” to be feared • Politically • Checks and balances • Judiciary- Federal judges appointed for life • Executive- president elected by electoral college • Senators by state legislature • House of Reps. directly by vote • Two principles of Republicanism • True government based on consent of governed • People’s virtue guarantor of liberty, justice, order

16. Political Parties • Nine state ratification • Antifederalists- small government • Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee • Poorer classes • Federalists- larger government • George Washington, Benjamin Franklin • Wealthier, more educated, better organized

17. Political Parties • Republicans • Small government • Free trade • Private sector • Not Micromanagement • Local governments • Democrats • Large government • Restricted trade • Micromanagement • Healthcare, food stamps, welfare

18. Ratifying the Constitution • If Constitution failed in MA • It would fail elsewhere • No Bill of Rights • To be set by first Congress • VA, NY, NC, and RI did not ratify initially • Could not exist • Ratified Constitution

19. Challenging the New Government • Whiskey Rebellion (1794) • SWPA pioneers effected by tax • Rebelled • Washington summed state militias • Would states help one another? • 13,000 rose to occasion • Proved power of new government by actions

20. Review Articles of Conferation Federal Constitution • Weak Congress, no executive branch • No power to collect taxes • individual state taxes • Competitive trade • No power to act directly to individuals • Limited Federal courts • Executive branch • Could collect tax • Leveled trading field • Enforce laws by coercion • Federal Courts