The Birth of the Constitution

The Articles of Confederation

• The first plan of government for the United States

• Established during the Revolutionary War

• Incredibly weak in creating a stable government

• Replaced by the United States Constitution

The Articles of Confederation vs. The ConstitutionThe Articles of Confederation

The Constitution

Federalism“A Firm Leagueof Friendship”

Representation of States Equal

Taxation States Only

Powers of Congress• Foreign Relations• Army & Navy• Declare War• Ambassadors• Treaties

AmendmentsNeeded Unanimous

Approval

Problems With the Articles of Confederation

Shays’ Rebellion

After the Revolutionary War, the state of Massachusetts would not issue more currency, foreclosed on farmers who

couldn’t pay debts, & ruled from Boston

Farmers, led by Daniel Shays, planned to overthrow the government; Massachusetts

appealed for help from national government, which did not have resources

Rebellion failed but proved need for new, stronger, national gov’t

Problems With The Articles of

Confederation

Economic Conditions

Congress could not regulate trade between the states, had no uniform system of

currency, and did not have the power to tax

The results led to conflicts between the states that could not be solved and the

inability to raise revenue for much needed services

The Constitutional Convention

• Met in Philadelphia in the Summer of 1787

• The stated purpose was to “amend the Articles”

• In reality, a series of compromises would completely reform the government of the United States

The Problems with Creating the ConstitutionStatistics From the 1790 Census

State PopulationPercentage of

Total Regional Population Number of SlavesPercentage of

Population

New Hampshire 141,885 4% 158 0%Massachusetts 378,787 10% 0 0%Connecticut 237,946 7% 2,759 1%Rhode Island 68,825 2% 152 0%NEW ENGLAND 23% 827,443

New Jersey 184,139 5% 11,423 6%New York 340,120 9% 21,324 6%Pennsylvania 434,373 12% 3,737 1%MIDDLE STATES 958,632

NORTH OF MASON/DIXON 49% 1,786,075 39,853 6%

Delaware 59,096 2% 8,887 15%Maryland 319,728 9% 103,036 32%Virginia 747,610 20% 293,427 39%North Carolina 393,751 11% 100,572 26%South Carolina 249,073 7% 107,094 43%Georgia 82,548 2% 29,264 35%THE SOUTH 51% 1,851,806 642,280 94%

TOTAL POPULATION 3,637,881 SLAVE POPULATION 681,833 15%

The Compromises to Create the Constitution

THE VIRGINIA PLAN THE NEW JERSEY PLAN

Major influence was James Madison

Major influence was William Paterson

Represented interests of larger states

Represented interests of smaller states

Would have created a bicameral legislative branch

Would have created a unicameral legislative branch

All representation would be based on a state’s population

All representation would be equal – one vote per state

The Compromises to Create the Constitution

THE VIRGINIA PLAN THE NEW JERSEY PLAN

THE “GREAT COMPROMISE”

The House of Representatives The Senate

• The Lower House

• Representation based on a state’s population

• Directly elected by voters

• Starts all revenue bills

• The Upper House

• Representation is equal – two votes per state

• Appointed by state legislatures initially – indirect representation

A Bicameral Legislature

The Compromises to Create the Constitution

THE THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE

Interests of Southern States Interests of Northern States

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For the purpose of representation in Congress, slaves would count as 3/5 of a person (for taxation also)

Congress would agree that it would not regulate the

international slave trade for at least 20 years.

The Compromises to Create the Constitution

The Electoral College was the system designed to choose the President of the United States.

Each state would send electors to cast votes for the President.

Number of Senators + Number of Representatives = A State’s Number of Electoral Votes

System showed a lack of trust in allowing the people to choose the Executive Branch

Amending the Constitution

It would be a process that would be difficult to add amendments.

Since Constitution’s creation, there have only been 27 amendments to the Constitution.

2/3 of both houses of Congress + 3/4 approval of the states = A new Constitutional amendment

Process takes into account interests of the states and the national government.

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The Articles of Confederation vs. The ConstitutionThe Articles of Confederation

The Constitution

Federalism“A Firm Leagueof Friendship”

“A More Perfect Union”Nation & States Share Power

Representation of States EqualProportional (House)

Equal (Senate)

Taxation States Only State & Federal Level

Powers of Congress• Foreign Relations• Army & Navy• Declare War• Ambassadors• Treaties

In Addition to Articles:• Taxation• Interstate Commerce• Currency• Stop Rebellions

AmendmentsNeeded Unanimous

Approval2/3 Both Houses of

Congress + 3/4 States

Ratifying the Constitution

Legally, 9 states had to ratify the Constitution; Realistically, all 13 needed to ratify the Constitution

Federalists – those who supported the ratification of the Constitution; Anti-Federalists – those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution

Ratifying the Constitution

FEDERALISTS ANTIFEDERALISTS

• Favored ratification of the Constitution

• Favored a powerful national government

• Would create a stronger economy & law and order

• Used Federalist Papers to make arguments

• Opposed ratification of the Constitution

• Felt powerful national government would threaten states rights

• Worried about unlimited terms

• Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect liberties

Federalists promised an addition of a Bill of Rights to guarantee

liberties to individuals and states

Ratification succeeded and new government formed in 1789

James Madison drafted the Bill of Rights – first ten amendments to

Constitution

The Federalist Papers

James Madison

Alexander Hamilton

John Jay

A collection of 85 essays that were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay

Argued for the ratification of the Constitution by discussing the reasons why the Constitution would work for the new nation

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights

10th Amendment – A source of constant conflict, even still today• The powers not delegated to the

United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.