A Weak Government
10-1
I. The Articles of Confederation
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ratified in 1781
Unified all states loosely
Not a strong central government
Legislative branch only
II. A Government in Trouble
A. Weaknesses of New Government
1.
2.
3.
4.
Could not collect taxes easily
Confusion with money from state to state
Inability to trade with other countries
No executive or judicial branch
B. Nationalists
1. Group wanting newer, stronger government
2. Led by George Washington
III. Shays’ Rebellion
A. Uprising in western Massachusetts
B. Led by Daniel Shays
C. Reasons for uprising
1. Property taxes levied on farmers
2. Farmers have farms seized
3. Some debtors thrown in jail
D. Showed government was weak if they couldn’t
stop small rebellion
IV. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
A. Northwest Territory
1. Land stretching to the MS River in the West
2. Gained during Treaty of Paris of 1783
B. Ordinance
1. Commanded territory to be broken into smaller ones
2. Described steps to become a state
a. 5000 free males to elect a legislature
b. 60000 free males to petition for statehood
3. Prohibited slavery in the northwest territory
4. Promised freedom of speech, religion, and trial by jury
5. Public schools to be established
V. Growing Concerns
A. Nationalists still concerned about weak
government
B. Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 to
revise the Articles of Confederation
Debate in Philadelphia
10-2
I. The Constitutional Convention
A.
B.
C.
D.
May 1787
Held in Philadelphia
Wanted to revise the Articles of the Confederation
James Madison
1. From Virginia
2. Leading Nationalist
3. Took day-to-day notes which
recount experiences of group
E. Alexander Hamilton
1. From New York
2. Well-known lawyer
F. George Washington chosen
as leader of convention
II. Competing Plans
A. Virginia Plan
1.
2.
3.
4.
Presented by Edmund Randolph
Asked for executive branch
Asked for judicial branch
Said states with larger populations
should have more representatives
B. New Jersey Plan
1. Presented by William Paterson
2. Asked that all states have same
number of representatives
3. Compared state size to rich
and poor people
III. A Compromise Plan
A. Great Compromise
1. Suggested by Roger Sherman
of Connecticut
2. Two houses to be developed
a. Senate
i. Two representatives from each state
ii. State power would be equal
b. House of Representatives
i. Number based on population of state
ii. Large states to have more say
B. Three-Fifths Compromise
1. Slaves to be counted as 3/5 a person
2. Counted for taxing purposes as well as
representation in Congress
3. Southern states wanted more
4. Northern states wanted none
C. Slave Trade
1. Slave trade to
continue into the US
2. Ended later in 1808
IV. Our Constitution
A. Preamble
1. Beginning of Constitution
2. Sets Constitution’s major goals
a. To establish justice
b. To ensure peace
c. To defend the nation
d. To protect the people’s well-being and liberty
B. Enumerated Powers
1. Powers stated specifically by the Constitution
2. Only the national government can do these
a. Make laws about trade with foreign countries
b. Print money
C. Reserved Powers
1. Powers reserved for the states
2. States make decisions on these laws
D. Government broken into 3 branches
1. Legislative
a.
b.
Made up of Congress
i.
House of Representatives
ii. Senate
Makes laws
2. Executive
a.
b.
c.
Headed by the President
Puts laws into practice
Makes sure all of the laws are followed
3. Judicial Branch
a.
b.
Headed by Supreme Court
Sees that laws are interpreted according to the Constitution
E. Creates separation of powers
F. Checks and Balances
1. President can veto (refuse to sign) law
2. President appoints Supreme Court Justices and
federal judges
3. Congress can overturn Presidential veto with 2/3 vote
4. Congress can refuse Supreme Court Justice
candidates
5. Judicial Branch can overturn Presidential actions if
un-Constitutional
6. Judicial Branch can overturn laws if un-Constitutional
V. The Work Still Ahead
A. Constitution signed on September 17, 1787
B. 39 of 55 delegates signed
C. 9 states had to ratify in order to make it
supreme law of land
Ratifying the Constitution
10-3
I. The Federalists and Antifederalists
A. Federalists
1. People happy with the
new Constitution
2. Leaders
a. James Madison
b. Alexander Hamilton
c. John Jay
3. The Federalist
a. Collection of essays
b. Explained weaknesses of Antifederalist
argument
B. Antifederalists
1. People who were not happy with the Constitution
2. Leaders
a. George Mason
b. Patrick Henry
c. John Hancock
d. Samuel Adams
3. Concerns
a. Reducing the powers of the states
b. President could become like a king
c. Federal government could pass laws not fitting to
entire US
d. Constitution was missing fundamental rights for
citizens
II. The Bill of Rights
A. Ratification required 9 of 13 states
B. Delaware signs on December 7, 1787
C. Massachusetts
1. Pushes for Bill of Rights
2. Upon commitment of Congress, ratify
Constitution in Feb 1788
D. New Hampshire is ninth in June of 1788
E. Bill of Rights
1. First 10 amendments of Constitution
2. Guarantees freedoms by placing specific limits on
government
a. Freedom of religion, press, speech, assembly, and
petition
b. Own and bear firearms
c. Quartering
d. Search and seizure
e. No depriving of life, liberty, or property without
court of law
f. Right to trial by jury and lawyer in criminal cases
g. Right to trial by jury in civil cases over $20
h. Cruel and unusual punishment
i. Rights not limited in just what is in the Constitution
j. Powers reserved to states