Unit 2

Unit 2: The New Nation

Unit 2


DAY 1The Articles of Confederation, The Constitutional Convention


Do NowWhat are three problems that Articles

of Confederation could not solve? (Create the scenarios in your notes)

Example: The Articles of Confederation COULD NOT solve disputes between states, because the Federal government was extremely weak

You MAY NOT use this example!


Looking Forward• Tonight’s Homework: Chapter 6, Section 1

Answer all “Main Idea” questions in your notes• Next Unit Test: FRIDAY, February 8th

– Articles of Confederation– Constitution– Presidencies: George Washington, John Adams,

Thomas Jefferson– Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists– And things from Unit 1!

• Use Study Blue! Use the Study Sheet on Edmodo!


Before we get started…• We have to cover 521 years worth of material in

this class: 6.5 years per class period, 26 days per minute of class

• We have to cover 10 wars, 43 presidencies and countless foreign relations interactions

• All of it is for the first time, or the first time in a long time

• Our goal: 80% mastery of every standard and indicator – are we there right now?

• So how are we going to do that?• Why should we care about US History?


Articles of ConfederationPROS

• Declared slavery illegal in the old Northwest Territory (Ohio, etc.)

• Created new states on an equal footing with the original states

• Strong state governments

CONS• Could not levy taxes• Could no resolve conflicts

between the states over interstate trade, currency or boundaries

• Could not negotiate trades or treaties with other countries

• Could not solve national problems because the states held too much power

• Could not foresee problems• Inefficient structure

“The straw” = Shay’s Rebellion


Constitutional Convention of 1787• “We the People…do ordain

and establish this Constitution”

• Conflict: Big states vs. little states– Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan– Great Compromise

• Decision: republic– Voters represented by elected

legislators who made decisions based on the interests of the voters

– House of Representatives AND Congress

– Checks and Balances: Judicial, Executive, Legislative


Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalism: Support the Constitution!– Wanted to limit the power of the national

government by delegating some powers (to state or local level)

– James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay– The Federalist Papers

• Anti-Federalists: Oppose the Constitution!– Feared the power of the elites– Believed a strong national government would

take power away from the people


Fed or Anti-Fed?• Fed = wall• Anti-Fed = window


Exit TicketWhat is one problem the Articles of Confederation could not solve? How did the Constitution of 1787 resolve

this issue?

Write one, full paragraph in response(We also have to work on writing!)

No personal pronouns, no informal language!


DAY 2Ratification of the Constitution, George Washington’s Presidency, Two-Party System


Do Now


Looking Forward


Ratification of the Constitution

• Lots of compromises:– The Great Compromise (aka the Connecticut Compromise)– The 3/5ths Compromise

• John Jay, James Madison• Ratification: what does it mean??• The Federalist Papers: written to influence the New

York ratification convention to agree to a stronger national government– Strong government would protect the rights of the people

against local prejudices– Continuing understanding of the intentions of the

Founding Fathers


George Washington’s Presidency

Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton

• Pay off debt from the Revolutionary War by issuing bonds

• National government should assume the debts of the states

• Establish a national bank– “The elastic clause”

• Whiskey Tax

Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson

• Secondary buyers would have too much of an influence

• The Constitution did not specifically list the establishment of a bank as a power of Congress

• Did not support the Whiskey TaxFederalists Democratic-Republicans


George Washington’s Presidency

FederalistsDemocratic-Republicans


DEBATE!• The Citizen Genet incident• Jay’s Treaty• XYZ Affair

Documents

Unit 2