K STAFFORDMBMS 2013

Road to Ratificationand the US Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Ratified in 1781 by all 13 States

One House Legislature

Each State had 1 Vote

Legislature known as the Confederation Congress

Articles of Confederation

Two Lasting Ordinance from the A of C Ordinance- A law

Ordinance of 1785- Set up a plan for surveying Western Land

Northwest Ordinance- Set up a government for the NW territory and a process for admitting new states to the Union.

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

Lack of Power and Money

Lack of Central Power

Rules to Rigid

Congress had now power to collect taxes

No single leader/group to direct gov’t policy

Congress couldn’t pass laws with out 9 state’s votes

Congress had now power to regulate trade

No national court system

Articles couldn’t be amended without agreement from all 13 states

Congress had no Power to enforce laws

Shays’s Rebellion

After Revolutionary War: US in heavy debt ( Borrowed lots to

finance War) Congress couldn’t collect money High state taxes Trade Slows People Suffer

Shays’s Rebellion

An uprising in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays

Shays farm was about to be taken from him because he hadn’t paid his taxes

Led 1200 farmers to attack a Federal Arsenal After the uprising many questioned the newly

formed country’s ability to govern

Constitutional Convention

Began on May 25 1787 in Independence Hall in Philidelphia

Original task was to fix the Articles of Confederation

Every State EXCEPT Rhode Island sent Delegates

Total of 55 Delegates Attended

Constitutional Convention Fun Facts

All were educatedMix of Doctors, Lawyers, Merchants, College

Presidents, Generals, Planters, and Governors

All had Political Experience8 had signed the Declaration of

Independence7 State Governors 41 Past/Current Members of the

Confederation CongressNo Women, African Americans or Native

Americans

Constitutional Convention Fun Facts

Benjamin Franklin (Penn) was the 0ldest at 81

George Washington and James Madison would go on the be Presidents

19 would become Senators13 would become House of Representative

Members4 would be Federal Judges4 would become Supreme Court Justices

Beginning the Constitutional Convention

George Washington is elected to head the Convention

Each state would have one vote ( Not Population Based)

7 votes were needed to pass any changes( A of C required 13 votes)

Wished to keep meeting secret, Doors and windows shut, few written notes from the convention.

The Virginia Plan

Written by James MadisonHad a President, courts

and a 2 house legislature Representation based on

population of stateMassachusetts,

Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York All Favored the Plan

Smaller states disliked this plan because they thought they’d be overlooked.

The New Jersey Plan

Written by William Paterson Based on A of CKept One House Congress, Each

state 1 voteCongress could set taxes,

regulate tradeA committee would carry out the

lawsFavored by Delaware, Maryland

and New JerseyLarge states thought it unfair for

not factoring in population

The Great Compromise

Committee led by Roger Sherman

Congress would have two houses- Senate and House of Representatives

Each state would have two seats in the Senate

The House of Representative membership would be based off state population

3/5 Compromise

Several issues remained after the Great Compromise, one was slavery

Southern States wanted the enslaved people to count as part of their state representation so they would have more seats in the House of Representatives

North argued they were property not citizens Agreed that every 5 slaves would count as 3

free persons

Other Compromises

Trade Northern States wanted Congress to regulate Foreign

Trade South feared that would hurt exports (Cotton) Compromise- Congress could regulate trade between

states and other countries, no tax on exports, slave trade could not be banned before 1808 (20 years)

Electoral College Some wanted Congress to elect President Others the People Compromise- Electoral College would be made up of

chosen delegates who determine Pres and VP