The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: powers to Congress1. make war and peace (sending/receiving
ambassadors and making treaties), 2. raise an army and navy (build a navy and
raising an army by asking the states for troops),
3. print money (set up a money system, fix uniform standards of weights and measures), and
4. set up a postal system.
Major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:
• No chief executive to enforce the laws
• No national court system• Could not collect taxes from individuals• No National Currency• No standing army
Failure of the AoC• Shay’s Rebellion (1787) a group
of Massachusetts farmers, lead by Daniel Shay, protested the rising taxes on land. They attacked a federal court house. – The revolt convinced many people
that the U.S. needed a stronger central government to prevent violence and disorder.
Solutions• To fix some of the problems with the AoC a
Constitutional Convention was called. At the convention the delegates threw out the AoC and created a new document called the Constitution.
– Constitution: a written plan of government• A document that outlines the powers and limitations
of government
– Bicameral: a legislature with two houses
The Articles of
Confederation
Vs. The
Constitution
Constitution:
• Provides a written framework for government.
• A plan or instruction manual of powers and restrictions for government
• Limits or restricts certain powers
Articles of Confederation
• The national government had no chief executive to carry out laws made by congress
• The President heads the executive branch of the government
• President enforces the laws.
Constitution
Articles of ConfederationNo national
courtsState courts
had jurisdiction within their state
Both national and state courts exist.
Depending on the case, some cases fall under state jurisdiction and others under federal.
Constitution
Articles of Confederation
Congress did not have the power to tax
Congress is given the power to tax
Constitution
Articles of ConfederationThere was no
national currency
Each state coined its own money
Common national currency
Only the national government has the power to make money
Constitution
Great or Connecticut CompromiseTopic: Representation in Congress
Large States:
• Virginia Plan• Large states
wanted representation by population
Small States:
• New Jersey Plan• Small states
wanted equal representation
The Great Compromise
•Bicameral legislature •equal representation =
–Senate (2 per state)•proportional representation =
–House (population)
(3/5 Compromise) Three/Fifths Compromise: Population
South• Southern states
wanted slaves to count in population counts– They were more
dependent on slavery.
North• Northern states
did not want slaves to count– They were less
dependent on slavery
3/5ths Compromise
• For the purposes of representation, five slaves would be counted as 3 free people
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Opposing Sides Southern States Vs. Northern States
Each Side’s Position South: no taxes on tobacco exports, Congress not to interfere with slave tradeNorth: wanted the Constitution to be signed
Compromise Congress could not tax exports from any state or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.
THINK:
• Which of the compromises would you say is most important to our government today?