U3: The New Nation
The Big Picture
As a newly independent nation in 1783, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation. While this
confederation avoided the re-creation of tyranny, its lack of strong central authority eventually proved ineffective,
especially in light of Shays’ Rebellion. After numerous compromises, the founding fathers created a new government at
the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The new Constitution granted the national government more
power over the states but protected liberty by dividing power among three branches of government, promoting popular
sovereignty, and emphasizing limited government. Debates erupted between supporters of the Constitution (Federalist)
and those opposed to the new government (Anti-Federalists), but compromise was reached when a Bill of Rights was
added to protect specific personal liberties. As the first executive leaders of the USA, Presidents George Washington and
John Adams, Secretary of Treasury Hamilton, and Secretary of State Jefferson helped establish significant precedents, a
foreign policy based on neutrality, a financial plan for the young national economy, and America’s first political parties.
Georgia Performance Standards
SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of
the United States Constitution.
a. Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays’ Rebellion led to a call for a stronger
central government.
b. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the
Constitution as put forth in The Federalist concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances, and the
power of the executive, including the roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
c. Explain the key features of the Constitution, specifically the Great Compromise, separation of powers (influence of
Montesquieu), limited government, and the issue of slavery.
d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual and states’ rights.
e. Explain the importance of the Presidencies of George Washington and John Adams; include the Whiskey Rebellion,
non-intervention in Europe, and the development of political parties (Alexander Hamilton).
Essential Questions
1) How did the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and Shay’s Rebellion lead to calls for a stronger national
government?
2) How was the creation of the U.S. Constitution impacted by: (a) the ideas of the Enlightenment, (b) disagreements
between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, (c) the Great Compromise, and (d) Three-Fifths Compromise?
3) What decisions did (a) George Washington, (b) Alexander Hamilton, and (c) John Adams make that impacted
America?
Key Terms
1) Articles of Confederation
2) Land Ordinance of 1785
3) Northwest Ordinance of 1787
4) Shays’ Rebellion
5) Constitutional Convention, 1787
6) Great Compromise
7) Separation of powers
8) Checks and balances
9) Limited government
10) Three-fifths compromise
11) Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
12) Federalist Papers
13) Bill of Rights
14)
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18)
19)
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21)
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23)
24)
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26)
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
Hamilton’s financial plan
Whiskey Rebellion
Farewell Address
John Adams
Impressment
XYZ Affair
Alien & Sedition Acts
Political parties
Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
CPUSH (Unit 3, #1)
America’s First National Government—The Articles of Confederation
II. The Articles of Confederation
A. When Americans declared ___________________________ in 1776, they needed to form a new __________________________:
1. They wanted to form a _________________________ where citizens _______________ for elected leaders to represent
them
2. They wanted to __________________ citizens & individual states from a __________________________ national
government
B. Thirteen Independent States
1. When independence was declared, the 13 colonies became _____________________________________________________
2. Each state had its own constitution, ____________________, & an elected governor; 8 states had ______________________
3. But, the USA needed a national gov’t to do things that states could not, like sign _______________ & form a _____________
C. The National Government
1. America’s 1st national gov’t was the _______________________________________________________________ (17771789)
2. This “______________________” style gov’t loosely connected the states under a __________________ national
government
a. Structure: Each state could send between 2-7 ___________________________ to the national ______________________,
but each state had only _____________________________; To pass a law, ______________ of the 13 states had to agree
b. Powers: The national congress could make _____________, settle disputes between states, negotiate ________________,
handle Indian affairs, oversee a military; But all other _____________________ were left up to the ___________________
c. Americans did not want to re-create a powerful gov’t like the one they just fought the Revolutionary War to break away
from; So, the national gov’t had no _____________________ & could not _____________________ the states or citizens
II. Successes of the Articles of Confederation
A. The Land Ordinance of 1785
1. The Articles established a good system of ___________________________
____________________ lands
2. First, states had _________________ (give up) their ____________ _______ to
lands in the west to the national gov’t
3. Congress passed the _______________________________ of 1785 to create an
orderly way to divide the west into ___________________ & farms
a. Selling western lands was the only way the national gov’t could generate
_____________ since it did not have the power to __________
b. Section 16 of the each township was set aside for a
_____________________________________________________
B. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 gave __________________________ to the territories
1. When a territory had ______________ residents, it could create a self-governing ___________________________________
2. When a territory had _______________ residents, it could apply to become a ______________________________________
3. ________________________ was outlawed in the northwest
III. The Weaknesses of the Articles
A. The Articles of Confederation was America’s 1st form of gov’t:
1. The _____________________ the national gov’t was originally seen as ___________ because it eliminated _______________
2. Later, these same weaknesses kept the gov’t from solving serious ________________________________________________
B. Economic Problems & Shays’ Rebellion in 1787
1. The inability of the government to ________________________ led to problems:
a. America could not pay off ______________ from the _____________________________ War
b. Property foreclosures led an ____________________ among Massachusetts farmers called _________________ Rebellion
in 1787 but the gov’t could not ______________________________________________ to stop it
i. Poor farmers in western Massachusetts were angered over ____________________ & the prospect of debtors ______
ii. Daniel Shays led an uprising & closed __________________ & threatened a federal arsenal
2. Shays’ Rebellion proved to be the convincing event that led to the __________________________________________ of
1787
C. The Philadelphia Convention in 1787
1. After _________________________, people like Hamilton & Madison began calling for a __________________ national gov’t
2. In 1787, delegates met in ________________________ to discuss ways to _______________________ the Articles
3. Instead of _____________________ the Articles of Confederation, the delegates __________________ it with the
Constitution
CPUSH (Unit 3, #2)
The United States Constitution
I. Constitutional Convention, 1787
A. The Articles of Confederation were intentionally ________________ in order to protect state & individual _________________...
But, the inability of the national gov’t to ________________ & unify the states led to problems like __________________
Rebellion
B. In May 1787, 55 delegates held a ____________________________________________________ in Philadelphia to discuss ways
to __________________________ the national government…but instead of ______________________ the Articles of
Confederation, they replaced it with the _________________________________________
C. The Constitution was a ______________________________________ from the AOC because it gave more _______________ to
the national gov’t than to the state gov’ts
1. The ___________________________________________________________ establishes the Constitution (not the states) as
the "the _______________________________________________ of the land"
2. The _________________________ government under the Constitution would have _____________ features & powers that
the Articles of Confederation did not have
a. Rather than a single unicameral Congress, the new national government would be divided among ________________
equal branches of government
i. Like the AOC, the gov’t had a _________________________ (legislative branch) to make laws…Unlike the AOC,
Congress had the power to __________________ & coin money
ii. Unlike the AOC, the new gov’t had a __________________________________ (executive branch) to lead the nation
and _______________________________ laws passed by Congress
iii. Unlike the AOC, the new gov’t had a __________________ system (judicial branch) to _______________________
laws and prosecute federal crimes
3. Delegates at the Constitutional Convention agreed on some major philosophical ideas for the new national gov’t
a. Popular Sovereignty: the people have power by _______________________________ for leaders
b. Limited gov’t: even though the national government was stronger, citizens’ _______________________ was still
protected
c. Federalism: the national gov’t _____________________________________ with state gov’ts
d. Separation of powers: ________________________________________ with defined powers
e. Checks & balances: each branch can ______________________________________ of the others
II. Compromises at the Constitutional Convention:
A. The delegates at the convention had to negotiate a series of _____________________ in order to agree on a framework for gov’t
B. Many of these compromises dealt with how ____________________would be chosen from the ___________to serve in Congress
1. Representation in Congress
a. The ___________________ states supported the Virginia Plan which proposed adding a president to lead the nation and
a bicameral congress in which larger states have ______________________________________________
b. The ___________________ states supported the a New Jersey Plan which called for a unicameral congress in which
states are ____________________________________________ just like the AOC
c. The _______________________________________________________ resolved the differences between the large &
small states by creating a _______________________________________________
i. In the Senate each state has ________________ who serve 6-year terms
ii. In the House of Representatives, the number of reps is determined by each state’s _____________________
2. Counting Slaves
a. Northern & Southern states could not agree whether or not to count slaves towards __________________________size
b. If _________ are counted, ________________states would have more votes and power in the House of Representatives
c. The ________________ Compromise allowed states to count _____________________________________________
slaves toward taxation and population size
3. Compromising with Slavery
a. Many Northerners wanted to use the Constitutional Convention to _______________________________________, but
______________________________________ threatened to ____________ the USA anytime slavery was discussed
b. As a compromise for the South, the _____________________________________ could continue for ________ more
years & ____________________________ slaves would be returned to slave masters
C. _____________________________________ negotiated and wrote much of the framework of the new government and is
referred to as the “______________________ of the Constitution”
CPUSH (Unit 3, #4)
Ratification of the Constitution
I. The U.S. Constitution
A. Article I of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch (Congress)
1. Congress has “expressed powers” to make ____________, levy ____________, coin money, regulate trade, declare
____________, admit new states to the Union
2. The “___________________________________” allows Congress to create laws that are “______________________ and
proper”
3. Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate
a. The House of Representatives is based on state ____________________________ size
i. Representatives serve __________ year terms and must be ________years old
ii. All ______________________________________________ must originate in the House of Representatives
b. Each state has __________ Senators
i. Senators serve __________ year terms and must be at least ________years old
ii. The Senate has the power to approve ________________________ and presidential appointments
B. Article II of the Constitution created the Executive Branch which is made up of the President, Vice-President, and bureaucracy
1. The role of the President is to ______________________________________, conduct foreign policy, serve as commander-inchief of the _____________________, appoint judges and ambassadors, provide leadership for the nation
2. The President is aided by numerous federal agencies and 15 executive _______________________________ each with a
secretary who serves on the President’s __________________
3. The President is elected to a __________ year term and must be a native-born American at least __________ years old
4. The President is not elected directly by the people, but by an ___________________________________
C. Article III of the Constitution created the Judicial Branch which is made up of Supreme Court and other federal courts
1. The role of the judicial branch is to __________________________ the law and promote ____________________
2. There are no specific qualifications to be a federal judge; Judges serve for _______________
3. The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws ___________________________________________ (called judicial review)
D. The Supremacy Clause of Article V states that the Constitution is the “the ____________________________________________”
II. Ratification of the Constitution
A. From May to September 1787, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention worked out a framework for a new federal
government
B. But, this plan for government had to be ___________________ by __________ states if it was to replace the Articles of
Confederation
C. Many Americans were concerned about the possibility of _____________________ because the Constitution gave more power to
the national government over the __________________
1. Anti-Federalists
a. Those who ____________________ the Constitution, _____________________ a stronger national gov’t , and wanted
states to remain power were called ___________________________________________
b. The Anti-Federalists were led by Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams
2. The Federalists
a. Those who supported the new Constitution and a stronger national gov’t were called the ___________________________
b. Federalist leaders ________________________________, ______________________________________, and John Jay
wrote a series of essays called the __________________________________________ to counter the arguments of the
Anti-Federalists
D. Ratification
1. Some states ratified the Constitution quickly, but states with large majorities of Anti-Federalists _____________________
without a __________________________________ to protect their liberty
2. New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution which went into effect in _____________, but the Federalists
wanted all 13 states to ratify the new gov’t
3. In 1789, the Bill of Rights was introduced and the last two states ratified the Constitution by 1790
4. The Bill of Rights was approved in _____________
E. Today, the Constitution is the _________________ existing ___________________ gov’t in the world and is a model for other
nations
CPUSH (Unit 3, #5)
The Presidencies of George Washington & John Adams
I. The Presidency of George Washington (1789-1797)
A. When the Constitution was ratified in 1789, George Washington was __________________________ elected 1st president:
1. Washington helped shape the new nation and created __________________________ for future presidents and leaders
B. During his first term, President Washington focused on ________________________________ that would shape the new nation:
1. Congress passed the ___________________________________________________ which created federal courts
2. Congress created the Treasury, State, War, Justice Departments
3. Washington created the 1st _______________________ (group of _________________________ who head departments)
a. Alexander Hamilton was named Secretary of Treasury (Treasury Department deals with issues involving ___________ or
________)
b. Thomas Jefferson was named Secretary of State(State Department deals with issues involving
______________________________)
c. Hamilton and Jefferson were the most influential of Washington’s cabinet, but they had different views on the role of
government
(Hamilton vs. Jefferson: See Chart)
C. Alexander Hamilton vs. Thomas Jefferson
1. Alexander Hamilton believed that a ___________________________________ government was necessary to provide order in
America
a. He wanted to build a strong _______________________ focused on _______________________ so America could be selfsufficient
b. He believed that the Constitution should be ________________________ interpreted to allow the government to respond
to issues
2. Thomas Jefferson believed that political power should remain with _____________ governments in order to protect
______________
a. He wanted the economy to remain focused on ___________________ and the gov’t to protect farmers
b. He believed that the Constitution should be __________________ interpreted with all other powers reserved to state
governments
c. Among their biggest disagreement was over Hamilton’s Financial Plan
3. In 1789, Hamilton proposed a _______________________________ that would guide the future of the U.S. economy
a. Hamilton proposed __________________ and _______________________ of all state debts incurred during the
Revolutionary War
i. By taking the ______________________________, the USA government would force the states to work together
ii. By repaying all debts, the USA would gain foreign ____________________
iii. Congress and Washington ________________________ Hamilton’s plan for funding and assumption
b. To raise money for the new nation, Hamilton proposed a tax on _________________ and a creating a protective
_______________ on foreign manufactured goods that would promote American __________________
i. Congress and Washington approved Hamilton’s whiskey __________...But did ___________ approve Hamilton’s
protective tariff
c. Hamilton proposed creating a _________________________________ (BUS) that would regulate the
_______________________ supply by holding federal funds and loaning it to state banks
i. Jefferson argued that the BUS was _______________________________________ and gave too much power to bankers
in cities
ii. Hamilton argued that the BUS was “__________________ and ______________” to control the economy and regulate
currency
iii. President Washington __________________ with Hamilton and Congress passed a law creating the Bank of the U.S. in
1791
D. The disagreements between Hamilton and Jefferson led to the formation of America’s first _______________________________
1. Hamilton formed the __________________________________: Federalists supported a _________________ national
government… _________________ interpretation of the Constitution…a strong _____________________ system that favored
banks and industry… supporting England when war broke out with France
2. Jefferson formed the ___________________________________________ Party: Republicans supported strong state
governments… ______________ interpretation of the Constitution…state banks and policies that support small
farmers…supporting ______________ when war broke out with England
E. After 4 years, George Washington was unanimously elected president for a __________________ term…In his second term
(1793-1797), Washington had to solve serious problems that faced the young nation
1. In 1793, war broke out between Britain and France after the French Revolution
a. France tried to gain an _______________________________________ in their war with Britain
b. Jefferson wanted the USA to support ____________________ and their fight for _________________
F.
II.
A.
B.
c. Hamilton wanted to support _____________________ in order to avoid angering our largest ________________ partner
2. In 1793, Washington made an important foreign policy precedent with his Proclamation of Neutrality
a. President Washington believed that America was ______________________________ to involve itself in a European war
b. America politicians remained _____________________ in European affairs from 1793 to 1898
3. In 1794, Washington faced another crisis: the Whiskey Rebellion
a. Hamilton’s whiskey tax frustrated western farmers in Pennsylvania who saw it as an ____________________________ on
the poor
b. When the ________________________________ began in 1794, President Washington saw the uprising as a threat to
public safety
c. President Washington mobilized an _______________ of 13,000 soldiers which ___________________ the rebellion
d. The quick end to the rebellion revealed the __________________________ of the new national government under the
Constitution
In 1796, Washington chose not to run for a 3rd term as president
1. He was afraid that if he __________________ in office, it would create a precedent that presidents can serve for
_________________
2. There was no term limit in the Constitution, but Washington created the precedent that no president serve more than
_______ terms
3. In 1796, George Washington gave advice to the nation in his ___________________________________
a. Washington warned against the growth of “factions” and ______________________________
b. He warned against growing __________________ tensions between the North and South
c. He restated his desire for neutrality by warning against ___________________________________________
The Presidency of John Adams (1797-1801)
After Washington’s retirement, the Democratic-Republicans and Federalists campaigned for the presidency in 1796… Federalist
____________________________defeated Republican ______________________________________ and won the presidency
1. The war between England & France was still going on and continued to cause problems for America
a. France was frustrated with American neutrality and began to _____________ U.S. merchant _____________
b. Adams sent diplomats to France to negotiate an agreement on _______________________________________________ in
Europe
c. Three French officials (nicknamed X, Y, and Z) demanded a ________________ to meet with French ministers… Americans
were offended by this ____________________________ and called for __________ with France, but Adams kept his cool
2. President Adams’ handling of the conflict with France led to _____________________ by Democratic-Republicans
a. Federalists in Congress passed the _______________________________________ Acts
b. The laws made it a crime to criticize government leaders, restricted __________________________ for new immigrants,
and made deporting immigrants easier
c. This attack on ________________________ and citizenship backfired and badly damaged President Adams and the
Federalist Party
3. Republicans Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wrote the
___________________________________________________________ to attack the Federalist Party
a. These essays presented an argument for _____________________ suggesting that states could ignore (nullify) unfair
national laws
b. These arguments of states’ rights and ______________________ will be used by the South to __________________ from
the USA by 1861 and start the Civil War
Adams and his Federalist Party were unpopular by the election of 1800…Republican Jefferson defeated Adams in the election of
1800
1. The 1800 election marked the first time in U.S. history when one ____________________ transferred power to another
political party
2. Jefferson’s victory over Adams marked the beginning of 30 years of dominance by the
__________________________________ Party