Main Ideas

The American people examined many ideas about government

The Articles of Confederation laid the base for the rst national government of the United States.
The Confederation Congress established the Northwest Territory

English Laws and the Enlightenment

English laws that limited the power of the king were the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights
Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that emphasized the use of reason to examine old ideas and
traditions
John Locke believed a social contract existed between political rulers and the people they ruled

American Models of Government

Early models of self-government were town meetings, the Virginia House of Burgesses, and the May ower
Compact
The Constitution of each state limited government and protected rights of citizens
Thomas Je erson’s ideas on religious freedom were written in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Right to Vote
Many state constitutions provided su rage, or the right to vote, to most white men who paid taxes

Articles of Confederation
Articles created a national government with limited powers
Congress could settle con icts among state, make coins, borrow money, ask states for money and soldiers,
and make treaties with other nations
States have the power to refuse requests
There was not a president or a national court system
2nd Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation on Nov 15 1777 and sent to states for
rati cation
The rst national government of the u.s. was established after the last state rati ed the Articles in March 1781

Northwest Territory
Congress passed Land Ordinance of 1785 to raise money to pay debts
Ordinance provided for surveying and dividing western lands
Land was split into townships
Each township was divided into 36 lots for sale to the public
Congress passed Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Established Northwest Territory and a system for creating new states
Included what are now Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Required the provision of public education and banned slavery

Main Ideas
The u.s. had di culties with other nations
Internal economic problems plagued the new nation
Shay’s Rebellion pointed out weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation
Many Americans called for changes in the national government

Trouble with Britain

Britain refused to turn over its forts in u.s. territory to American control

Trade with Britain

Britain closed o trade with British West Indies and imposed high tari s (tari s are taxes on imports or
exports) on American merchants

Trade with Spain

Spain closed the lower Mississippi to shipping
Impact of Closed Markets
Closing markets in the British West Indies caused American exports to drop
Clean British goods owed into the u.s.
The Confederation Congress had no authority to pass tari s, or order states to pass tari s to help correct
unequal trade with Britain
States worked independently to to increase their own trade instead of improving the situation for the whole
country
American merchants were forced to look for new markets in China, France, and the Netherlands

Trade Among the States

Interstate commerce: trade between two or more states
States followed own trade interests
Trade=di cult

In ation
In ation: when there are increase prices for goods and services combined with the reduced value of money
Problem in many states
Struggle to pay o war debts by printing money
Not backed by gold or silver

Weak Economy
In ation helps debtors
Loss of trade with Britain and in ation cause depression
Depression: period of low economic activity combined with a rise in unemployment

Heavy Debts for Farmers

Massachusetts tax policy hard on farmers
Courts force farmers to sell property or prison

Farmers Rebel
Shays Rebellion: Daniel Shays led Massachusetts farmers in revolt over taxes
Tried to force shutdown of Supreme Court in Mass
No one’s property could be taken to pay o debts if the court was closed

Shay’s Defeat
Shay’s Rebellion was put down by state troops in Jan 1787
Many citizens agreed with rebels
State freed most rebels

Calls for Change

Shay’s Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Confederation government, which could not respond to
Massachusetts’s call for help
People saw that their ideals of liberty were not protected
People called for a stronger central government that could protect the nation in times of crisis
The Virginia Legislature called for a national conference to change the Articles of Confederation
The Annapolis Convention held in Sep 1786 failed to act
The Constitutional Convention was called in May 1787 in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation

Main Ideas
The constitutional Convention met to improve the government of the United States
The issue of representation led to the Great Compromise
Regional Debate over slavery led to the Three-Fifths Compromise
The U.S. Constitution created federalism and a balance of power

Constitutional Convention
Held in Philadelphia in 1787
Leaders include: James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington
Goal was to improve the Articles of Confederation
Delegates decided to create a new U.S. Constitution

Great Compromise
Choice of representation

Virginia Plan
Gave larger states more representation because it was based on population

New Jersey Plan

Gave smaller states equal representation with larger states

Great Compromise
2 House Legislature
An upper house: Senate-provided for two representatives from each state
A lower house: the House of Representatives-provided for representation based on state population

3/5s Compromise
South: Wanted slaves to be counted as part of population
North: Wanted slaves counted only to determine taxes but not for representation
Three-Fifths Compromise: Resolved di erences by counting each slave as three- fths of a person

Federalist Government
Ensured popular sovereignty: idea that political authority resided in the people
Provided for federalism: sharing of power between states and federal government
Required states to obey authority of the federal government
Gave states control over functions not assigned to the federal government

Checks and Balances

Legislative Branch to make the laws
Executive Branch to carry out the laws
Judicial Branch to interpret the laws
System of Checks and Balances keeps branches from becoming too powerful
Congress has power to pass bills into law
President can veto laws passed
Supreme Court can strike down unconstitutional laws

Main Ideas
Federalists and Antifederalists engaged in debate over the new Constitution
The Federalist Papers played an important role in the ght for rati cation of the Constitution
Ten amendments were added to the Constitution to provide a Bill of Rights to protect citizens
Federalists
Supported the Constitution
Desired strong central government
Liked balance of powers in Constitution
Made speeches and pamphlets advocating change in government

Antifederalists
Opposed Constitution
Feared central government would be too powerful
Concerned about lack of guarantee of individual rights
George Mason became anti-federalist over rights issue

Federalist Papers
Series of essays supporting the Constitution
Written anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
Argued new federal government would not overpower states
Widely reprinted in newspapers around the country, in uenced by the Constitution debate

Constitution Rati cation

Each state needed to ratify the Constitution
All states except Rhode Island held rati cation conventions for citizens to discuss and vote on the
Constitution
1787: Delaware was the rst state to ratify
1790: Rhode Island last to ratify
New York and Virginia debate over rati cation but nally rati ed
Political leaders knew these states were important- Virginia had the largest population in nation, New York
was an important center for business and trade

Bill of Rights
Several states rati ed the Constitution only after the promise of a bill protecting individual rights
Congress responded by passing a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution as amendments
December 1791: the Bill of Rights became the rst 10 amendments
Gave clear example of how to amend the Constitution to t the needs of a changing nation
Flexibility of Constitution has allowed it to survive for over 200 years

DONE