The Articles of Confederation
and Constitutional Convention
Off the Bat: Wed/Thurs
 If you were to create your own Constitution, what
laws/ideas would you include? Explain at least 3
components.
Agenda
 1. Notes: The Articles of Confederation
 2. Intro to Shay’s Rebellion
 3. Read documents pertaining to Shay’s Rebellion
and discuss colonists’ reactions
 4. Notes: The Constitutional Convention
The Articles of Confederation
 https://prezi.com/ros6ntsov2lv/copy-of-articles-of-
confederation/
Why were the Articles of Confederation
so weak?
What we didn’t like about
the British. . .
So the Articles of
Confederation…
• Taxation without
representation
• Large central government
(monarchy) had all the power
• States always had to listen to
the king
• All power was in the King’s
hands.
• King could change the
rules/laws any time
• Federal government could not
tax
• States didn’t have to follow
laws and treaties.
• States had their own laws and
didn’t have to follow any other
states’ laws
• No executive branch or
national court system.
• Any amendment required all
13 states
What’s the Problem?
 Federal government could not tax; very difficult to
raise money.
 States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties.
 Each State had its own laws.
 No executive branch or national court system.
 Any amendment required all 13 states, so very
difficult to modify.
Shay’s Rebellion
 Read the “textbook account” of Shay’s Rebellion.
 • What happened in Shay’s rebellion?
 • How is it connected to the Articles of
Confederation?
 • According to the textbook, how did Americans
respond?
Central Questions
 Did all Americans think the Articles of Confederation
were too weak? How did Americans react to Shays’
Rebellion?
Assignment
 Read the documents and respond
 Write 1 paragraph in response to the question:
“Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?”
The Constitutional Convention
 After 10 years living under the Articles, it was clear
the loose association of 13 independent states was
not working.
 National govt. needed to be strengthened.
 Delegates met in Philadelphia. All attended except
Rhode Island.
The Convention
 Began May 25, 1787 in Independence Hall.
 55 men: well-educated, lawyers, merchants, college
presidents, generals, governors, planters
 8 were signers of the Declaration of Independence
 Native Americans, African Americans, women not
included
The Delegates
 Chose George Washington to preside
 Agreed that all sates would have one vote
 Simple majority (7 votes) would decide any issue
 Work would be secret
 Only details today come from a notebook kept by
James Madison of Virginia
A New Constitution
 Delegates quickly decided that the Articles were
beyond fixing and set about creating a new
constitution.
Virginia Plan
 Proposed by James Madison and Edmund Randolph
 Included a president, courts, and Congress with 2
houses.
 Representation in each house would be based on a
state’s population.
 Who would this appeal to?
The New Jersey Plan
 Called for a government similar to the one under the
Articles.
 One house Congress with equal representation for
each state
 Congress could set taxes and regulate trade
 Who would this appeal to?
The Great Compromise
 Combination of New Jersey and Virginia Plans
 Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut
 2 Houses
Three-Fifths Compromise
 More than 550,000 African Americans enslaved in the
South
 Issue: Should they be counted for population?
 South said yes: WHY?
 North said no: WHY?
 Compromise: Every 5 enslaved people would count as 3
free people
Other Compromises
 Issue of trade
-North believed Congress should regulate foreign trade
and trade between states
-South feared tax on exports and limits on slave trade
Compromise: Congress could regulate trade but could
not tax exports or interfere with the slave trade
before 1808
Electing the President
 Some believed Congress should choose the
President, others believed the people should vote
 Compromise: The Electoral College
 Delegates worked throughout the summer
 Constitution signed September 17, 1787 (All but 3
delegates signed)
 Constitution had to be ratified (approved) by 9/13
states to take effect