CH 7: A More Perfect Union
Main Idea: After the Revolution, the U.S.
needed to plan for a new, stronger
government and to expand its borders to the
West.
1. The Articles of Confederation
A. The Articles
1. The central government was weak (on purpose).
2. Congress could not tell the states what to do, which
would be a problem soon.
3. Congress could conduct foreign affairs, maintain a
standing army, and borrow/print money.
4. Congress could NOT regulate trade or make taxes (!)
B. Bicameral
1. As colonies had become “states,” most chose to set
up a two house legislature (power to the people).
2. The legislature shared power with the governor but
was more powerful.
C. Republic
1. People “ruled” by electing officials to represent them.
Voters were originally white males minimum 21 years of
age.
2. Elections were held often enough to avoid having a
permanent, corrupt set of rulers.
3. Democracy was not direct: citizens could NOT make
their own laws.
D. Northwest Ordinance, 1787
1. It was a plan for opening land to the west for
settlement.
2. It defined how territories could become states.
3. It ensured that basic rights would protect all settlers…
from government and from each other. It also banned
slavery in the new settlements.
E. Depreciate
1. Money printed during the war did not hold its value.
2. It became almost worthless and some people were
financially ruined.
3. Then, the U.S. Government could not tax and raise
any real money to solve the problem.
2. A New Constitution
A. Depression
1. Unemployment was up and economic activity was
down.
2. The British closed off their trade ports in the
Caribbean to American ships.
3. Southern plantations had been damaged during the
war and couldn’t produce enough.
B. Shays’ Rebellion
1. Farmers couldn’t get out of debt and some wound up
in prison.
2. Former Army Captain Daniel Shays led 1,200 angry
supporters on a raid on the federal arsenal at
Springfield.
3. The rebellion was stopped (barely) but it made
politicians agree that the government was too weak.
C. Constitutional Convention
1. The meeting was closed to the public.
2. Those attending agreed to throw away the old
Articles and draft a completely new government.
3. They met in Philadelphia again (1786) and drew on
the ideas of writers Locke and Montesquieu.
4. Washington and Franklin attended, giving a sense of
legitimacy (honesty) to the meeting.
D. 3/5 Compromise
1. The slavery issue led to arguing between northern
and southern delegates.
2. To get enough signatures, they had to compromise.
3. 3 slaves out of 5 would count for a state’s population
and purposes of taxation.
E. Virginia Plan
1. How should we determine the number of
representatives each state should have?
2. Large states wanted it counted by population.
3. Virginia’s plan also called for 3 branches of
government.
F. New Jersey Plan
1. Small states like NJ wanted each state to be
represented equally.
2. NJ agreed that there should be 3 branches of
government.
3. The compromise: Each state: 2 senators
Pop. determines # of reps
3. A New Plan of Government
A. Anti-Federalism
1. Many people at the convention were afraid of having
a federal (central) government that was too strong.
2. They refused to ratify the constitution until a “Bill of
Rights” was promised to them.
3. They felt that a strong government would take away
the individual rights they had fought for in the
revolution.
B. Bill of Rights
1. Was added after the Constitution was ratified.
2. Was needed in order to make enough delegates sign.