Chapter 13, Lesson 1
Free African society
Richard Allen
1st organized movement for rights of Africans
Articles of Confederation
1st Central Government
Most power to the states due to fear of strong central government
Why Articles created a weak government
States operated independently (laws, taxes, $$)
Congress had no power to enforce laws, no money
Shay’s Rebellion
Farmers were being put in jail and losing land because they couldn’t pay taxes.
They couldn’t pay because the government did not pay them for their service as
soldiers.
The farmers started to rebel and it turned bloody.
Northwest Ordinance
New way for territories to become states
Big territory divided into smaller sections
People who lived in area could apply for statehood
Once they had 60,000 people
No existing state could claim part of the territory
Territory included: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois
And Wisconsin
Outlawed slavery and indentured servants
Chapter 13, Lesson 2
Constitutional Convention
Meeting to change Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia, PA
Present @ convention
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
George Mason
Ben Franklin
Missing from convention; serving as ambassadors
Thomas Jefferson
Patrick Henry
John Adams
All members were white and owned property
Over half were lawyers
Most had fought in revolution
Many helped write state constitutions
James Madison: arrived 11 days early, liked to be prepared
Got books from Jefferson to read about other countries
Wrote down everything.
George Washington elected president of convention
All kept secret…no open doors or windows
Virginia Plan
Central Government should have 3 branches
Legislative: makes laws
Executive: carries out laws; led by president
Judicial: interpret laws; led by Supreme Court
Called for 1 house based on population
Large states in favor
New Jersey Plan
All states would get the same number of reps.
Small states in favor
Great Compromise
Proposed by Roger Sherman
Congress would have 2 houses
House of Representatives: based on population
Senate: each state gets 2 representatives
Established Electoral College which actually votes for the president.
Every 5 slaves counted as 3 people
Chapter 13, Lesson 3
Amendments: additions to the Constitution
Writers knew the Constitution had to be permanent, but still allow for change.
Preamble: begins with, “We the people…”
Shows the people are in control
Federal System: states and central government share power
Federal Powers
Declare war
Coin money
Treaties w/countries
Run post office
Settle state disputes
State Powers
public schools
local governments
run elections
*Both can collect taxes and pass laws
Checks and Balances: System in which one branch of
power of another.
government is balanced by the
President can order army into battle…but Congress can declare war
Congress can pass a law…but the president can veto it…
Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote
Congress can make a law…but the Supreme Court can say it is unconstitutional
Chapter 13, Lesson 4
Ratify: officially approve
9 states or 2/3 of them needed to approve
Federalists: supporters of the constitution
(because it provided a federal system of government)
Antifederalists: opponents to the Constitution
Feared states would lose power
Complained it did not contain a bill of rights like their state constitutions, but
John Hancock told them they could be added as amendments. This
persuaded some to sign.
New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify.
By 1790 all 13 states had ratified.
“Bill of Rights” (10 amendments) added a year later
Adding an amendment is a long process
Approved by 2/3 House and Senate
Call for special convention in which ¾ states agree
In 1791 there were 10,000 proposed…only 17 added
George Washington elected by every member of electoral college
Took oath on April 30, 1789
New York city was country’s first capital
President’s Cabinet
Secretary of Treasury: decisions about money
Secretary of State: dealt with other countries
Secretary of War: defense
Political Parties: group of people who share similar ideas about government. Started
because people disagreed on how strong government should be.