Chapter 2: Section 4, 5

1. Chapter 2: Section 4, 5 Review Section 3

2. Objectives: • What were the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? • How did limits on its power weaken the national government under the Articles? • How did Shay’s Rebellion highlight the need for a stronger national government? • Who were the delegates to the Constitutional Convention? • What major competing plans of government did the convention delegates debate? • What were some of the compromises reached by the delegates.

3. Objectives: • What were the main arguments in the debate over ratification of the Constitution. • What role did a bill of rights play in the debate? • What key states were among the last to ratify the Constitution. • **Know ALL the questions and answers to section reviews!!! Use your guided notes and vocabulary to study!

4. Reviewing Concepts: • How did the need for common defense and anger over British policies affect colonial cooperation? • Explain which key documents limited the power of the English monarchs and how they did so. • Compare the arguments of Federalists and Antifederalsits. • How were colonial and state governments influenced by the ideals of limited and representative government?

5. Articles of Confederation- Review • The Second Continental Congress had held the 13 states together during the war. • The Congress had negotiated treaties with foreign powers, created a national currency, borrowed money, and established a postal service. • There was, however, no constitution or other legal documents giving Congress the authority to take these actions. • To remedy this, in 1777 the Second Continental Congress created a document to form a single national government.

6. Articles of Confederation • This document, loosely tied together the 13 independent states and gave a new national Congress the authority to act that the Second Continental Congress had lacked. • Before it could go into effect, the document had to be ratified by all 13 states. Maryland was the last state to ratify in 1781.

7. Limits on the Power of the National Government Under the Articles of Confederation. • No president or executive branch • No national court system • No officials to enforce laws • No power to tax • No power to regulate trade • No power to establish national armed forces • Major laws required approval of 9 out of the 13 states.

8. Pressure for Stronger Government • The relative independence of the various states posed many problems for the young nation. • An armed rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786 was proof that a stronger national government was needed to maintain order and to promote and protect the public good of citizens in all states. *Shay’s Rebellion

9. The Constitutional Convention • NEW MATERIAL • On May 25th, 1781, delegates met in Philadelphia to consider establishing a stronger national government for the 13 states. The convention proceeded through the hottest summer in 30 years. Delegates worked in secrecy, hoping to ensure free and open debate with out interference from outsiders. The delegates worked for 4 months to create a new government.

10. The Delegates • The delegates to the Constitutional Convention included many of the country’s most distinguished leaders and political thinkers. Of the 55 delegates, 8 had signed the Declaration of Independence, 7 had been in the First Continental Congress, and 7 had been state governors. Most were wealthy, well educated, and become officials in the national government. • Some of the most well known were: • George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.

11. Rival Plans • Almost as soon as the Convention began, debate moved beyond the original goal of strengthening the Articles to one of creating a new government. • Debate centered around two competing plans for the government. • Virginia Plan- *look to hand-out • New Jersey Plan- look to hand-out

12. The Great Compromise • The agreement between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan was at first called the Connecticut Plan. • Eventually known as the Great Compromise- it was adopted on July 16th, 1787. • The plan called for a: • Bicameral Legislature • House of Representation- population • Senate0- equal representation • Slavery- 3/5 of a person

13. The Great Compromise • Congress could not ban the importation of slaves before 1808. • The delegates decided on a system in which the President would be chosen by state electors. Eventually known as the Electoral College.

14. Finalizing the Constitution • The Convention delegates finished their work on the Constitution in August 1781. On September 17, most of the delegates singed the document. Those who did not sign, had either gone home or did not agree with the new national government.

15. Ratifying the Constitution • The battle to create a new government did not end with the signing of the Constitution. First nine states had to ratify the document in special constitutional conventions, and the outcome of the ratification process was by no means certain. • Supporters of the new constitution were called Federalists because they supported a stronger, federal form of government. Opponents of the Constitution were called Antifederalists. They were particularly strong in New York and Virginia.

16. Ratification • Antifederalists wanted a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms of American citizens. • The only way that the Antifederalists would agree to ratify the Constitution, was if the new Congress promised to adopt a bill of rights. • On Dec. 7th, 1787 those attending the Delaware convention voted unanimously to ratify the Constitution. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. • North Carolina ratified the Constitution in November 1789, Rhode Island held out until May 1790, New York on March 4th, 1789. • George Washington became the nations first president on April 30th, 1789.

17. The End • STUDY STUDYSTUDY for the TEST!!!!!! • Look over guided notes, section reviews, vocabulary, and handouts!!!