Confederation and the Constitution

I. Reflection

A. Why would someone choose red?B. Why would someone choose blueC. Would knowing what your peers

were choosing change your vote?

Articles of Confederation

• First Attempt at creating a government• Each state had one vote regardless of

population• Did not want to be as harsh as England

– Voluntary contributions towards:• Military• Taxation• Trade

• Why would this system of government cause problems?

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation• VOLUNTARY!!!!

– Many states coined their own currency– Set up their own economy– Undermined each other in business– Congress had NO power to tax so could not pay

for an army or provide any servives• LESSON LEARNED:

– While it is good for colonies to have independence and make their own decisions – there must be some central or federal government to regulate the colonies (Now called the United States of America)

– The articles of Confederation did not work – this is when we came up with the constitution

Constitutional ConflictsConflicts

1. Strong Central Government v. Strong States

2. Large States v. Small States

3. North v. South (Slavery)

Solutions1. Centralized Federal

Government; Separation of Powers (legislative, judicial, executive)

2. Great Compromise- 2 house Congress (Senate and House)

3. 3/5 Compromise- Can only count 3/5 of the states population of slaves

Ratifying the Constitution• Ratification required 9 out of the 13

colonies• Federalists v. Anti-Federalist

– Federalists want a stronger central government (Hamilton, Madison)

– Anti-Federalist fear government will not protect the rights of the people or the states; demand a bill of rights (Jefferson, Patrick Henry)

• Agree to add Bill of Rights in order to ratify the constitution.