Articles of Confederation. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation One vote for each state, regardless of size Why an issue?

Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

One vote for each state, regardless of size Why an issue?


Congress had no power to lay and collect taxes. Why an issue?


Congress had no power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. (trade) Why an issue?


No executive (president) to enforce acts of congress Why an issue?


No national court system Why an issue?


Amendment of Articles only with consent of all States. Why an issue?


9 of 13 states required to pass laws Why an issue?


Articles only a “firm league of friendship” What is wrong with this?

Critical Period 1781-1787 (America’s 2nd Revolution Bickering, jealousy, suspicion among States Refusal to work with national gov’t Agreements with foreign gov’ts Own military Taxes and banned some trade between States States printed own money Economic Chaos…violence

Shay’s Rebellion Led an uprising Farmers lost land and

possessions due to taxes and other debts.

Some historians claim this to be the “End of the American Revolution”

George Washington States made

Agreements with other nations

Had own military

“We are one nation today and 13 tomorrow, who will treat with us on such terms?”

Mount Vernon and Annapolis Maryland and Virginia Iron out trade

disagreements Very successful- led to

Annapolis

9/11/1786 5 of 13 states sent

delegates Called for another

meeting led to Constitutional

Convention

Annapolis, MD

Constitutional Convention Framers- Who

were they? 74 Chosen- 55 Attended Men of wealth and prestige with knowledge

and public experience 39 – members of Continental Congress,

Congress of Confederation or both 8 in State Constitutional Conventions 7 state Governors 8 had signed the Declaration of

Independence 31 attended college 2 college presidents, 3 professors 2 Future Presidents, 1 Vice-President

Constitutional Convention “an assembly of Demi-

Gods”

Constitutional Convention Secret Outside Pressures HOT 89 of 116 days Madison… “Father of

Constitution”

Virginia Plan Bicameral: 1 elected , smaller (aristocratic)

chosen by larger chamber/nominees by state legislature

membership based on wealth or numbers (advantage to larger states)

same power as Articles of Confederation + “ to legislate in all cases in which separate states were incompetent

Executive chosen by legislature Supreme Court chosen by legislature

New Jersey Plan - Strong Central government…concerned how power might

be used - Congress the right to tax and regulate commerce - Single house legislature(unicameral) , one state, one vote - “federal executive” – of more than one person- chosen by

congress - could be removed by state governors - “federal judiciary”- single “supreme tribunal”- chosen

by executive - Supremacy Clause – National government and treaties of

the US are superior to the constitutions and laws of the states.

GRIDLOCK OVER SIZE AND MAKEUP OF LEGISLATURE

Connecticut Compromise What we have now!

Senate – Based on equality House- Based on Population

Price for Union

North vs South Compromises3/5 Compromise 2/3 majority required in the Senate for

treaty ratification (protects North from gaining control over South)

Slave question for House makeup and taxation – 3/5 compromise. Why 3/5?

“3/5 of all other persons” …SLAVES Why 3/5?

Balance of power?- Will recur later with addition of new states!

North vs South CompromisesCommerce and Slave Trade

Congress forbidden to tax exports from any state No power to act on Slave trade for 20 years?

Why?

Other Issues How to elect President State Legislatures? Congress? Direct Election? Electoral College Created!

Birth of America’s 1st 2 Political Parties- Battle over a Bill of Rights Federalists Not Needed… Federalists had

advantage

Anti-Federalists Why not have one!

Federalist vs Anti-FederalistsRace towards Ratification

Federalist Papers Propaganda to encourage ratification If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels

were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself

Federalist 51 – James Madison

Ratification Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788 but NY and VA did had

not ratified? Why needed? VA

Most populous Washington, Jefferson, Madison Link between N and S

“ Liberty, the greatest of earthly possessions…. That precious jewel!”

- Patrick Henry Madison promised Bill of Right to be added at next order of business Washington urged ratification 89-79

NY Landowners feared new federal taxation Did not want to abolish profitable tariffs Ratified by 3 votes

Hamilton’s strategy and skill News of VA

Documents

Articles of Confederation. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation One vote for each state, regardless of size Why an issue?