Brooke Bennardini, Nicholas Cumer, Benjamin Marasco, Hali Montgomery, and Sarah Patterson

Articles of Confederation

vs. The Federal Constitution

Set up by Second Continental Congress Adopted in 1777 Ratified in 1781

For common problems Foreign affairs

“Articles of Confusion”Congress designed to be weak

No executive branch Judicial branch to states

Congress had no power to control commerce.One vote per state

Population not pending Bills required nine states, amendments unanimous

Articles of Confederation

Weak taxationCould not collect taxesCould not protect itself

Landmark in governmentHeld states togetherOutlined powers for Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Old NorthwestNorthwest of Ohio RiverEast of Mississippi RiverSouth of Great Lakes

Land Ordinance of 1785Old Northwest sold to pay of national debt

Townships- 6 sq. miles 36 sections- 1 sq. mile16th section-public school

Land Laws

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Temporary protection, then permanent equality

2 stages under federal government

60,000 admitted as state

Forbade slavery in Old Northwest

Land Laws

Navigation Laws kept in placeLord Sheffield

Commerce follows old trade routes

• Britain held trading posts in U.SU.S felt restrictions should be placed upon Britain. Spain opposed new republic

Mississippi river closedFrance demanded repayment

Restricted trade with West IndiesHarassed in Mediterranean

PiratesNo British shield

Foreign Relations

Tension between States

Boundaries

Imposing of taxes

Depreciated money value

Colonies had own money

Potential Anarchy

Western Massachusetts (1786)Backcountry Farmers

Lost farms-foreclosures, tax delinquenciesWar veteransLed by Captain Daniel Shays

Demanded States issued paper moneyLightened taxes Suspend property takeover

Shay’s Rebellion

MA authorities actions included

Wealthy contributions

Encounters at Springfield, MA

3 killed, 1 wounded

Rebellion Collapsed

Shay’s Rebellion

MA debter-relief lawsLike Shay’s demands Jefferson’s quote “Democratic Despotism”

Uncontrolled Republicanism

A stronger, central government requiredMany urged amendments

Effects

VA issued convention at Annapolis, MD (1786)Congress called for revision of the A.O.C.Based on control of commerce

Poor turnoutPhiladelphia Convention

All states chose reps except Rl55 delegates in Philadelphia (May 25, 1787)

Demigods- participants of conventionGeorge WashingtonBenjamin FranklinJames Madison “Father of Constitution”

Constitutional Convention

Upper-class

Determined toPreserve unionStall anarchyEnsure security of life and propertyCurb uncontrolled democracy

Fueled by Fear

Constitutional Convention

Virginia Plan Representation based on populationTwo house system

New Jersey Plan Equal representationOne house system

Great Compromise States have two senatorsHouse of Representatives by population

Tax bills started in the HouseCommon Law

Specific detail unnecessary

The Constitution

PresidentInspired by Shay’s RebellionPower to

Wage war, but Congress to declare itAppoint domestic offices

President elected indirectlyElectoral college

Three-Fifths Compromiseslaves counted as 3/5 a person.

The Constitution

Members saw eye-to-eye economically Protection of property

SociallyRule by “democratic babblers” to be feared

PoliticallyChecks and balances

Judiciary- Federal judges appointed for lifeExecutive- president elected by electoral collegeSenators by state legislatureHouse of Reps. directly by vote

Two principles of RepublicanismTrue government based on consent of governed People’s virtue guarantor of liberty, justice,

order

The Constitution

Nine state ratificationAntifederalists- small government

Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee

Poorer classes

Federalists- larger governmentGeorge Washington, Benjamin FranklinWealthier, more educated, better organized

Political Parties

RepublicansSmall government

Free tradePrivate sector

Not MicromanagementLocal governments

DemocratsLarge government

Restricted tradeMicromanagement

Healthcare, food stamps, welfare

Political Parties

If Constitution failed in MA It would fail elsewhere

No Bill of RightsTo be set by first Congress

VA, NY, NC, and RI did not ratify initiallyCould not exist

Ratified Constitution

Ratifying the Constitution

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)SWPA pioneers effected by taxRebelled

Washington summed state militiasWould states help one another?

13,000 rose to occasion

Proved power of new government by actions

Challenging the New Government

Articles of ConferationWeak Congress, no

executive branch• No power to collect

taxesindividual state taxesCompetitive trade

• No power to act directly to individuals

Limited Federal courts

Executive branchCould collect tax

Leveled trading field Enforce laws by

coercionFederal Courts

Review

Federal Constitution