7.1 The Articles of Confederation
John Locke was a political philosopher who believed that a social contract existed between political
leaders and the people they governed, and that part of this concract included the governments duty
protect the peoples’s natural rights
Repulicanism – type of government in which the head of state is elected and in which the people hold
the political power
Some basic individual rights of citizens include trial by jury, freedom of the press, private ownership of
property, and freedom of religion
Suffrage – voting rights
Ratification – formal approval
Confederation Congress – governing body for the states under the Articles of Confederation, in which
each state had one vote
Articles of Confederation – document that created a firm league of friendship among the states which
would lead to the Constitution
Constitution – set of basic principles and laws that determine the powers and duties of the government
7.2 Problems in the New Nation p.194 CTF
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could not force states to provide soldiers for an army
which made it difficult to enforce international treaties.
Tariffs – taxes on imports or exports
Interstate commerce – trade between two or more states
Inflation – increased prices for goods and services combined with the reduced value of money.
Debtors – people who owe money
Creditors – people who lend money
Depression – a period of low economic activity combined with a rise in unemployment
7.3 The Constitution pp. 200 - 205
The Constitutional Convention met in May 1787 to discuss ways to improve the Articles of
Confederation.
Delegates at the Constitutional Convention were divided over several issues:
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Representation (how many)
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Regional issues such as slavery
Economic issues such as tariff differences in the north and the south
Signs of strong government
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan
VA plan favored bigger/larger states and NJ plan favored small states
The Great Compromise – every state regardless of size, would have equal votes in the upper house of
the legislature (Senate). In the lower house (House of Representatives), each state would have a
number of representatives based on its population
Three-Fifths Compromise – slaves counted as 3/5 of a person in determining representation in the
government. Many disagreed with this as it gave more power to states that promoted cruelty to
humans.
Our Living Constitution– some of the powers states have under the US constitution include: controlling
local government and education, the chartering of corporations, handling civil and criminal law and
protecting citizens’ welfare.
Balance – Constitution balances the powers within the federal government with three branches
responsible for different tasks.
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Legislative Branch (Congress)
Senate (upper house 2 delegates from each state)
House of Representatives (lower house based on state population)
**proposing and passing laws is their job
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Executive Branch (president and departments that help run the government)
**make sure laws are carried out
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Judicial Branch (national courts-judges)
**interpret the laws, punish criminals, and settle disputes between states
**This type of government provides a system of checks and balances to keep any branch
of government from becoming too powerful.
The president can veto or reject laws from Congress – however, - congress can override
his veto with 2/3 majority vote. The court system ensures that all laws are constitutional
and upheld.
Final draft of constitution signed September 1787 and sent to states for ratification.
Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia.
president of the convention.
George Washington was the
In 1787, women, blacks, and Indians were not granted citizenship and couldn’t serve as
delegates to the Constitutional Convention
7.4 Ratification of the Constitution p.206
Antifederatlists opposed the constitution –some thought we needed a bill of rights, others thought
central government had too much power. Heroes of the Revolutionary war such as Sam Adams and
Patrick Henry were antifederalist. George Mason warmed against the power of a strong central
government
Federalists supported the constitution. Some key federalists were James Madison, George Washington,
Ben Franklin, and Paul Revere. Federalist thought the constitution offered a good compromise between
various political views.
Federalist Papers – written under a pen name of Publious were essays favoring the constitution. We
now know that the majority of the essays were written by Alexander Hamilton.
Ratification Fight
Ratify=approval. States were asked to ratify the constitution of the USA. Only 9 of the 13 states had to
ratify the constitution for it to go into effect. State conventions were held and both federalists and
antifederalist addressed the people. Paul Revere had a big influence over the craftsmen (common
people).
Delaware became the first state to ratify the constitution in Dec. of 1787
North Carolina was the next to the last state to ratify the constitution
Demanding a Bill of Rights
Several states ratified the constitution only after the promise that a bill of rights would be added to it.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government
on earth…and what no government should refuse”
Bill of Rights would be added to the constitution as amendments.
In order to change the constitution, the proposed amendments must be approved by a 2/3 majority in
both houses of Congress and then ratified by ¾ of the states before taking effect.
The first ten amendments to the constitution are the Bill of Rights. They added to the strength and
flexibility of the constitution and set a clear example of how to amend the constitution to address the
needs of the country.
The flexibility of the Constitution has allowed it to survive for more than 200 years. It is the world’s
oldest written national constitution.
Federalism
Powers of the
National Government
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Declare War
Maintain armed forces
Regulate interstate and
foreign trade
Admit new states
Establish post offices
Set standard weights
and measures
Coin money
Establish foreign
policy
Make all laws
necessary and proper
for carrying out
delegated powers
Powers Shared by
National and State
Governments
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Maintain law and order
Levy taxes
Borrow money
Charter banks
Establish courts
Provide for public
welfare
Powers Reserved to
the States
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Establish and maintain
schools
Establish local
governments
Regulate business
within the state
Make marriage laws
Provide for public
safety
Assume other powers
not delegated to the
national government or
not prohibited to the
states