D. “Weaknesses”
of the A. of C.
(Articles of
Confederation)
Timeline of the Revolution
• 1763 – Seven Years’ War ends.
• 1775 – War for Independence begins.
• 1776 – D of I signed.
• 1777 – A of C completed.
– Battles of Saratoga.
• 1778 – Treaty of Alliance w/ France.
Timeline of the Revolution (cont.)
• 1781 – Battle of Yorktown.
– A of C goes into effect.
• 1783 – Treaty of Paris signed.
• 1787 – Philadelphia Convention.
• 1789 – Constitution goes into effect.
What to know about each
weakness of the A of C:
a) Why was it included in the
A of C in the first place?
b) How did it turn out to be a
mistake?
1) 1 vote/state in Congress.
a) Unitary  Confederation.
b) “Big Three”: VA
MASS
PENN
3 / 13
50%+
pop.
>25%
POWER!
2) 9/13 required in Congress
to pass a law.
a) Parliament = Simple Majority.
2/3
b) Congress passed very few laws.
3) No power to tax.
a) Distant central govt.  States.
b) Congress was broke.
IOUs
4) No standing army/navy.
a) REDCOATS!  State militias.
b) • Pirates.
• Indians.
• Shays’ Rebellion.
5) No power to regulate trade.
a) Mercantilism.  States.
b) • Trade wars.
• Separate currencies.
6) No president to enforce laws.
a) KING!  State Governors.
b) Governors only enforce
the laws they like.
7) No national court system.
a) Distant courts.  State courts.
b) • Different states =
Different punishments.
• No way to resolve conflicts
between states.
8) 13/13 to make an
Amendment.
a) All 13 states willingly agreed to:
• help fight the war.
• support the D of I.
• accept the A of C.
b) Amendments.
ANARCHY!
E. The Philadelphia Convention
• 1780s = “Critical Decade”
• A of C allowed 13 states to act like 13
independent countries.
• Anarchy among the states was the result:
– Trade wars.
– Boundary disputes.
– Armed Rebellion.
E. The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
E. The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• Sept. 1786 – Annapolis Convention.
• Called to discuss trade disputes.
• Only 5 states showed up.
• Unanimous statement calling for a
convention in Philadelphia.
• Winter of 1786-87: Shay’s Rebellion!
E. The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
France
England
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
E. The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
George Washington
Ben Franklin
E. The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• May – Sept, 1787.
• 55 delegates.
• 12 states.
• no Rhode Island.
• REVISE the A of C.
E. The Philadelphia Convention (cont.)
• 3 key decisions:
1) GW = President.
2) Secrecy Oath.
3) ABOLISH the A of C.
•
•
1 vote/state.
simple majority vote
of states present.
96
F. The Virginia Plan
James Madison
Author of the
Virginia Plan.
“Father of the
Constitution.”
F. The Virginia Plan
President
Supreme
Court
New Powers for
Congress:
1) Tax
2) Regulate Trade
3) Army & Navy
4) Nullify state laws
5) Invade the states
New Rules:
1) Simple Majority
2) Proportional
Representation
PARLIAMENTARY
7 years
Life
Terms
BRITISH!
UNITARY
1-term
limit
Congress
House of
Reps
Senate
BICAMERAL
6 years
People
2 years
G. The Great Compromise
The great issue of the Convention:
• How will the states be represented in
the new Congress?
VA Plan = bicameral with Proportional
Representation. (Big states)
Madison
NJ Plan = unicameral with 1 vote/state.
William Paterson
(Small states)
G. The Great Compromise (cont.)
Large States (VA Plan): Small States (NJ Plan):
Virginia
Delaware
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
N. Carolina
Maryland
S. Carolina
New York
Georgia
6
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
5
G. The Great Compromise (cont.)
Roger Sherman
• Delegate from
Connecticut.
• Creator of Great
Compromise.
G. The Great Compromise (cont.)
Congress
House of
Reps
Based on
population
Senate
21 votes/state
vote/state
G. The Great Compromise (cont.)
• James Madison:
The Senate is a non-democratic
body and “confessedly unjust.”
H of R
Senate
CA
53
2
Yes
WY
1
2
No
H. Other Compromises
Madison’s Virginia Plan
Supreme
President
New Powers:
Court
7 years
1-term
limit
Congress
House of
Reps
People
2 years
Population
Life
Terms
Senate
6 years
2 per state
1) Tax
2) Regulate Trade
3) Army & Navy
4) Nullify state laws
5) Invade the states
New Rules:
1) Simple Majority
2) Proportional
Great
Compromise
Representation
H. Other Compromises (cont.)
1) President’s Term Compromise.
• How long can the president serve?
• VA Plan: 7-year term, 1-term limit.
• Too long?
• Too short?
• Solution: 4-year term; no limit.
H. Other Compromises (cont.)
2) Electoral College Compromise.
• Who should choose the President?
1) Congress Jan: HPres. SV.P.
2) People Nov: Vote (non-binding)
3) State Leg. Dec: Choose electors.
No
majority?
Same # as seats in
Congress (H+S).
Simple Majority wins!
H. Other Compromises (cont.)
3) Commerce & Slave Trade Comp.
• What limits should be put on the power
to regulate trade?
Southern fears:
No.
1) Export taxes.
Yes.
2) Import taxes.
3) End of Slave trade? 1808
H. Other Compromises (cont.)
4) 3/5 Compromise
• Look it up in the textbook and add to
your notes!
I. Appeasing the States
Download lecture notes from my
webpage and add to your notes!
I. Appeasing the States
Madison’s Virginia Plan
Supreme
President
New Powers:
Court
Electors
State
Leg.
People
Congress
House of
Reps
Senate
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Tax
Regulate Trade
Army & Navy
Nullify state laws
Federalism
Invade the states
State
Leg.