The Failure of the Articles of Confederation Mrs. Turner

The Failure of the Articles of Confederation

Mrs. Turner

• After Shay’s Rebellion–Delegates met in Philadelphia to

revise the Articles of Confederation –Actually decided to scrap them and

start again

Issues Debated

*All centered on Representation (Power)-how many representatives would each state have• Large States vs Small State• North vs South• Central Government vs Strong States

Large State Plan

• Virginia Plan Proposed by James Madison• Bi-cameral house• Representation in both houses based

on population

Small State Plan

• New Jersey Plan• Proposed by Roger Sherman• Uni-cameral house• Each state to have one vote

Great Compromise/Connecticut CompromiseUpper House

• -Senate• -Elected by the state

legislatures• -Each state having two

senators

Lower House

• -House of Representatives

• -Elected by the people• -Representatives

determined by population

North vs South

• Slaves should not be counted when deciding congressional delegates

• Slaves should be counted when levying taxes

• Slaves should be counted when deciding congressional delegates

• Slaves should not be counted when levying taxes

3/5ths Compromise

• For purposes of representation and taxation, slave would be counted as 3/5ths of the population

Central Gov. vs Strong States • Authority derives

from the people• New plan of

government with central government being stronger than states

• Authority comes from the states

• Modified Articles of Confederation with the states remaining stronger than central government

A New Government

• Form of Federalism-system where power is divided between national and state government

• Separation of Powers-3 separate branches of government with their own powers & checks and balances

• Electoral College-electors chosen by states to vote for president

Federalists• Supported the Constitution• Favored a strong central government• Loose interpretation of the Constitution• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay• Wanted three branches of government• Created the Federalists Papers

Anti-Federalists

• Suspicious of the Constitution• Feared gave too much power to the central

government• Strict interpretation of the Constitution• Wanted a Bill of Rights– Strong national government can take away human

rights won in the revolution.• Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Monroe

Not Unlike Political Parties Today!Democrats

Big Government (Federalist)

RepublicansSmaller Government (Anti-Federalist)