Unit 4: Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional
Concepts
Federalism
Guiding
Questions:
Assurance
Statements:
Vocabulary
Essential Questions
● Does state or federal government have a greater impact on our lives? (federalism)
● Which level of government can best solve our nation’s problems? (national, state, local)
● Should governments have the power to take away people’s rights?
● Why do people form governments?
● How do governments change?
● Why did the writers develop a weak central government within the Articles of Confederation?
● How did a tradition of representative government develop over time?
● How did different American beliefs and principles influence the writing of the U.S. Constitution?
● How does the Bill of Rights protect the rights of citizens?
● In what ways was George Washington’s leadership important after the American Revolution?
1. The strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787.
2. A compromise between large & small states led to the creation of the legislative system used today in the U.S.
3. The Federalists supported ratification of the Constitution, while the Anti-federalists were against ratification
pending the addition of a Bill of Rights.
4. The Northwest Ordinance established procedures for the orderly expansion of the U.S.
Assurance Terms from Previous Grades
New Terms
Bill of Rights
Ratify
Constitutional Convention
Northwest Territory
Compromise
Republic
Federalist Papers
Philadelphia Convention
Federalism
Founding Fathers
Shays’ Rebellion
TEKS and Content
(4) History. The student understands significant political and economic issues of the revolutionary era. The student is expected to:
(4C) Explain the issues surrounding important events of the writing the Articles of Confederation.
Writing the Articles of Confederation – occurred at the Second Continental Congress (1776), created a new form of
government for the independent colonies, included one branch, a Congress including one representative from each of the
former colonies. Articles created a “firm league of friendship” where “each state retains its sovereignty and independence”
(6) History. The student understands westward expansion and its effects on the political, economic, and social development of the
nation. The student is expected to:
(6.A) explain how the Northwest Ordinance established principles and procedures for orderly expansion of the United States;
o Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – described how the Northwest Territory was to be governed (used for future westward
expansion)
- When population exceeded 5,000 free males, territory could elect an assembly
- When population exceeded 60,000, territory could apply for statehood
- Slavery outlawed (TEK 7B Compare the effects of political factors on slaves and free blacks)
- Free trade on rivers
- Freedom of religion & trial by jury
- Provided that new states would be treated as equal to original states
(15) Government. The student understands the American beliefs and principles reflected in the … the U.S. Constitution, … The
student is expected to:
(15.B) summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation;
 Strengths
o Governed the U.S. during the Revolutionary War
o Negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783
o Land Ordinance of 1785 – created the Northwest Territory & allowed land to be sold
o Northwest Ordinance of 1787—process for governing new territories and adding additional states
 Weaknesses
o Lacked power to enforce laws, levy taxes, regulate trade between states,
o Had no real chief executive & no federal judicial system
o Allowed all states & federal government to print money leading to inflation
o Required all 13 states to approve changes
(1.A) identify the major eras and events in U.S. history through 1877, including … creation and ratification of the Constitution, …
and describe their causes and effects;
(1.C) explain the significance of the following dates: … 1787, writing of the U.S. Constitution;…
(10.A) locate places and regions of importance in the United States during the … 18th … centuries;
 Massachusetts farmers rebelled against courts foreclosing on their farms in an event known as Shays’ Rebellion proving that
the government could not keep order.

The government could not control inflation & other problems under the Articles of Confederation
 The need for a stronger national government led to the Confederation Era when the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 was
held.
 Numerous compromises including the Great Compromise & Three-Fifths Compromise, led to the creation of the U.S.
Constitution.
 This convention addressed conflicts over the proper balance of federal & state powers and led to the governmental system
used in the US today.
(4.D) analyze the issues of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, including the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise;
Constitutional Convention:
(21.C) Summarize a historical event in which compromise resulted in a peaceful resolution
 Virginia Plan proposed & favored by large states:
o 3 branches of government (legislature, executive, judicial)
o Legislature with two houses with the number representatives based on each state’s population or wealth
 New Jersey Plan proposed a one-house legislature with each state having one vote and equal representation; favored by states
with smaller populations
 Great Compromise
o Two-house legislature – Senate (with equal number of representatives per state) & House of Representatives(with
representation based on the state’s population)
 Three-Fifths Compromise
o Three out of every five slaves count toward direct state taxes & representation in the legislature
(4.E) Analyze the arguments for and against ratification.
(17) Government. The student understands the dynamic nature of the powers of the national government and state governments in a
federal system. The student is expected to:
(17.A) analyze the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, including those of Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, James
Madison, and George Mason;
Arguments of Federalists v. Anti-Federalists (use primary source examples)
 Federalist – supported the ratification of the Constitution (including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison)
o Supported removing some powers from the states & giving more powers to the national government
o Favored dividing powers among the different branches of government
o Proposed a single person to lead the executive branch
o Published The Federalist Papers to describe why people should support ratification
 Anti-Federalist – opposed the ratification of the Constitution (including Patrick Henry and George Mason)
o Wanted important political powers to remain with the states
o Wanted the legislative branch to have more power than the executive
o Feared that a strong executive might become a king or tyrant
o Believed a bill of rights needed to be added to the Constitution to protect civil liberties
o Published views in newspapers & pamphlets
(15.A) Identify the influence of ideas from historic documents, including the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Mayflower
Compact, the Federalist Papers and selected Anti-Federalist writings on the U.S. system of government.
Historic Documents =>
Influence on U.S. System of Government
MAGNA CARTA – limited the power of the King
Constitution limits the power of the central government
ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS – listed individual rights
Model for the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to Constitution)
MAYFLOWER COMPACT – agreement written by Pilgrims
in 1620
established the idea of self-government and majority rule
FEDERALIST PAPERS – supported ratification of the
Constitution with a focus on the need for a strong central
government with restricted powers
Constitution provides for a strong central government with
separated powers and a system of checks and balances.
ANTI-FEDERALIST WRITINGS – opposed the Constitution
because it lacked protection of individual rights.
Once the Constitution was ratified in 1789, the first ten
amendments (Bill of Rights) were added in 1791to protect those
rights.
(20) Citizenship. The student understands the importance of voluntary individual participation in the democratic process. The student
is expected to …
(8.20A) Explain the role of significant individuals such as Charles de Montesquieu
• French philosopher who developed the ideas of separation of powers and checks & balances
(8.20B) Evaluate the contributions of the Founding Fathers as models of civic virtue
Civic Virtue is giving up your own personal needs to do what is best for society. The creators of the Constitution spent
months in secrecy with the windows closed through the hot summer, giving up time with their families & businesses in
order to create a document that would provide a lasting foundation for our government.
Key Individuals:
 Alexander Hamilton – Federalist
 George Mason – Anti-Federalist who
proposed adding a Bill of Rights
 George Washington – president of the
Constitutional Convention
 James Madison – Federalist; “Father of the
Constitution”
 John Jay – Federalist
 Patrick Henry – Anti-Federalist
 Roger Sherman –Great Compromise
(8.26B) Identify examples of American art, music, and literature that reflect society in different eras.
Writing the Constitution
• Art – "Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States", by artist Howard Chandler Christy
• Literature-- U.S. Constitution, The Federalist Papers