What is known as the official beginning of the America Revolution?

A. The Stamp ActB. Boston Tea PartyC. Quartering ActD. Battle of Lexington

and Concord

During the _________, the majority of delegates voted to declare independence from Britain.

A. 1st Continental Congress

B. 2nd Continental Congress

C. Stamp Act Congress

D. Albany Plan

Journal: Why do people form friendships or alliances?

Why do the colonies need a union?

Why should they form 1 central government rather than 13 small governments?

Social contract theory: giving up some freedom to gain the protection of a society

Most had strong governors with veto power.

Most had bicameral (2-house) legislatures (law-making bodies).

Property required for voting.

Some had universal white male suffrage (voting).

Most had bills of rights.

Most separated religion from government.

Declaration of Independence (1776): declaration of natural rights of all people of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Articles of Confederation (1777/1781): the first “constitution”; set up a loose relationship between the states and a one state-one vote rule. Land Ordinances (1785/1787): set up a system for surveying and selling new land, as well as a system for admitting new states into the Union.Constitution (1788): the document that set up rule of law, the 3 branches of federal government, and rights of citizens.

The Continental Congress set up a loose relationship between the states to help run the war effort.

The Articles set up a one-house (unicameral) legislature (law-making body) where each state had one vote.

Special Powers: legislature dealt with foreign countries and controlled the army.

Lack of power and money Congress had no power to collect taxes, regulate

trade, or enforce its laws – this is because of their experiences with Parliament

Lack of central power No single executive (leader) or group directing policy No national judicial (court) system to interpret laws

Rigid rules for changing the rules Laws needed the approval of 9 states The Articles could not be revised without all 13 states

How did the Articles of Confederation interfere with the ability of Congress to manage the war effort?

Americans feared that the government could not protect them as riots began to break out in several states. Daniel Shays led a rebellion after he had fallen into debt because of heavy state taxes (to pay for the war debt). The Massachusetts courts threatened to take his farm as payment, and Shays led about 1200 farmers in an attack on the federal arsenal.

The rebellion was stopped, but it served as a wake up call to other states and political leaders that a stronger government may be necessary to protect the people.

Which weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation did Shays’ Rebellion expose?

On May 25, 1787, 55 delegates from every state but Rhode Island met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and strengthen the government.

They kept their discussions secret until the Constitution was complete.

The convention began in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on May 25, 1787.

The Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation were signed here (the Constitution would be as well).

Rhode Island was the only state that did not attend the Constitutional Convention

Every other state sent delegates. Each state received 1 votes at the convention.

8 delegates had signed the Declaration of Independence, 7 were governors of their states, and 41 were members of the Continental Congress. They were all white males.

James Madison (VA delegate) took notes of each speech and discussion. His records are the only written details we have of the convention.

George Washington presided over the convention. He never offered his own opinions, but kept debates orderly and reasoned.

Washington

Madison

The delegates wanted to create a government system that was reasoned and reflected, but did not want to create an entirely new system.

The states had their own political habits for

some time because Britain allowed them to govern themselves at first, and the Framers were wise enough to realize that.

Do you find it easy or difficult to compromise? Why? What does a good compromise look like?

The biggest battles during the constitutional convention in Philadelphia were over representation – who was going to have a vote when making laws?

The colonists just fought a war because they were taxed without being represented, so the delegates at the convention wanted to get it right.

This created several problems between the states.

VIRGINIA PLAN Large states

wanted Congress to be bicameral (2 houses) and wanted representation to be based on population (i.e. the more people you have in your state, the more votes you get in Congress)

NEW JERSEY PLAN Small states

wanted Congress to be unicameral (1 house) and wanted each state to be equally represented (i.e. each state receives 1 vote)

combined the desire for representation based on population from the Virginia plan and equal representation for each state of the New Jersey Plan created a bicameral (2 houses) legislature (Congress) where each state would have equal representation in the Senate (New Jersey Plan wanted this) and proportional representation in the House of Representatives (based on population – Virginia plan wanted this)

Southern states wanted to ensure that slavery would continue under the new Constitution.

They also wanted slaves to count towards population when determining representation in the House of Representatives.

Northern states thought that slavery would eventually die out, so they were not incredibly concerned with whether it was allowed to continue.

However, they really did not want slaves to count towards population when determining representation in the House of Representatives.

Remember, the more representatives you have, the more votes (AND POWER) you have!

To solve the issue of slavery and population, the delegates decided to add 3 to the population number for every 5 slaves in a state (or counting each slave as 3/5).

Although slaves had no natural or civil rights, the southern states benefitted from having a lot of slaves because it increased their votes (and power) in the House of Representatives. Who believed that everyone was born with

rights?

How did the Great Compromise (p75 textbook) incorporate elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans? List something specific about each plan that made it into the Great Compromise.

3-4 complete sentences please. Remember, your writing makes your thinking visible!