CONFEDERATION TO
CONSTITUTION
Chapter 8
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
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How did the Americans create a national
government that respected both the
Independence of states and the rights of
individuals?
SECTION 1 IMPORTANT TERMS
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Shay’s Rebellion: uprising of Massachusetts farmer who
demanded debt relief.
Northwest Territory: Land NW of App. Mts. Covered by the
land ordinance of 1785
Articles of Confederation: plan for national government
ratified in 1781.
Confederation Congress: national legislative body formed
by the Articles of Confederation.
Land Ordinance of 1785: law that est. A plan for dividing
the federally owned lands west of the App. Mts.
Northwest Ordinance: law that described how the
Northwest Territory was to be governed.
Republic: state, country, or nation which people elect
representatives to govern.
Ratification: act of official confirmation
Levy: impose or raise a tax
Arsenal: place where weapons are stored
THE CONFEDERATION ERA
After Revolutionary War – to have were
economic hardships- states continue to have high
taxes.
 Shay’s Rebellion: -uprising of farmers
protesting against unfair taxation.
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GOVERNMENT
People before opposed a harsh rule from a
distance.
 Goal was to prevent governmental tyranny in a
new nation.
 Agreed the new national to be a republic- a
country in which people choose representatives to
govern them.
 Property owners –white males who could vote
 African Americans and women could not vote.
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STATE CONSTITUTION LEAD THE WAY
Each state was to create their own government
 Farmers wanted to make colonial systems more
representative
 Some states gave different powers to different
parts of the government.
 Limited powers of Governors
 1st constitutional document – (Virginia’s
Constitution of 1776)
 It protected
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Freedom of Press
 Freedom of Religion
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Realized they had to form a United Government
 Diplomat John Dickinson- “By united we stand,
by divided we fall.”
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THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Delegates disagreed on how each state gets one
vote or by population
 Disagreed on control of the Northwest Territory
 Congress agreed on a plan of Articles of
Confederation
 National Government would be run by legislative
Body called Confederation Congress
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POWERS OF CONGRESS
Wage war
 Make Peace
 Sign treaties
 Run Indian affairs
 Issue money or borrow money
 Each state had one vote in congress
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States Powers
Set taxes
 Enforce National laws
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Articles sent to Ratification (approval)
 But some states refused to sign because didn’t
have land claims in Western Frontier.
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1. sell lands to pay debts- disadvantages to small.
Worried big states would become to powerful
In 1781 finally ratified after states gave up claim from
Western Lands
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE
ARTICLES
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Realized Confederation Congress was to weak to
deal with most national issues.
Land Ordinance of 1785
 To lay out land in a six mile square plot / townships/
lands Northwest Territory
Ohio
 Indiana
 Michigan
 Illinois
 Wisconsin
 Minnesota
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NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Outlined how the Northwest territory was to be
governed
 60,000 people could apply to be a state
 Freedom of Religion
 Rivers open to all
 Trial by Jury
 Helped with orderly growth of the United States.
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PROBLEMS WITH BRITAIN AND SPAIN
Britian competed against America fur trade.
 Britain banned American ships in British waters.
 Spain banned American ships in Carribbean
 Spain refused to allow Americans to use
Mississippi River or deposit goods in New
Orleans.
 Spain and Congress argued over boundary of
Florida.
 Problems with foreign relations – revealed
weakness in National government.
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ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND SHAY’S
REBELLION
Trade weakened – serious economic crisis
 Didn’t have power to levy or collect taxes(national government)
 State sent little money could not afford (states
and people)
 Hoped to solve problems by giving more power to
national government.
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SECTION 2
Creating the Constitution
o Call for a Constitutional
Convention
o 1786
Delegates from 5 states
meet in Annapolis, Maryland.
1. promote trade among states“High tax amongst states
o 2 creating a trade laws- National
would help economics.
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They would have to amend “Articles of
Confederation”
Because National Government had no regulations on
trade among states.
 Alexander Hamilton- Convention in Philadelphia- all
sent delegates (except Rhode Island)
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CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
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May 25, 1787- Convention Opened
Delegates voted for George Washington (President of
the Convention)
 James Madison – Virginia delegate – shaped the
constitution. He took detailed notes –on ideas from
the proceedings.
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WHO WAS THERE?
Constitutional Convention - 55 delegates
 Delegates known as Founders or Founding
Fathers of the U.S.
 Popular Sovereignty- Is a government system in
which people rule.
 Who was missing?
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Jefferson and Adams- oversees diplomat posts.
 Patrick Henry – refused to go –said, “He smelled a
rat towards monarchy.”
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Convention did not reflect on diversity of U.S.
Population
Native mericans
 African Americans
 Women
 In the future will give full rights to all American
citizens
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SOME CHALLENGES OF THE CONVENTION
People and states that have conflict need
government order
 Government that protects people’s rights but
does not oppress them.
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DISAGREEMENTS OVER REPUTATION
Two forms of New Government
 Virginia Plan – Edmund Randolph
 1. executive branch---- enforce the laws
 2. judicial branch----- interpret the laws
 3. legislative branch---- Create the laws
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1. Upper house
 2. Lower House
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Number of representatives based on population
or its wealth
 Checks and balances- Controlling power of
government
 New government designed to limit abuse
 Small states objected the plan
 Gave more power to larger populations
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NEW JERSEY PLAN
William Paterson
 Like the Articles of Confederation
 Single House government
 Each state had a single vote
 The Great Compromise
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1787 passed plan
 Roger Sherman –deal Great Compromise
 Each state had an equal number of votes
 House of Represenatives – it was based on population
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CHALLENGES OVER SLAVERY
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House of represenatives based on population.
How to decided about slaves.
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3/5 Compromise
Southern states had more slaves than the
northern states.
 South- wanted slaves counted and disagreed on
banning slavery
 North- Did not want slaves counted, only for
taxation. They wanted slavery outlawed.
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Compromised that 3/5 slaves would be counted.
 1. Representation in legislation
 2. taxation
South Carolina and Georgia said they would not
sign anything. The right to import slaves would
be untouched.
Congress agreed that they couldn’t ban slavery
until 1808.
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SECTION 3
RATIFICATION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Anti Federalists: People who opposed
constitution
 Pamphlet: sent out by Mercy Otis Warrenconcerns about people ruling the nation.
 Once the pamphlet was circulating the farmers
wanted to ratify the constitution at once.
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CONCERNS OF THE FEDERALISTS
Take too much power away from the states
 Federalism- is a system of government shared
power by federal and state government.
 Federalist- people who supported the
constitution.
 The Federalist Papers: Promoted and answered
their critics about the Constitution.
 Writers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay
 Reasons why people should ratify constitution.
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CONCERNS OF THE ANTI-FEDERALISTS
Too much power taken away from states.
 Didn’t guarantee rights to people.
 Strong President be declared king.
 Feared Senate to powerful, liberties be lost.
 Rural areas supported- Anti- Federalist – do to
Tax Burden
 Large states and strong economies- Had more
freedom under Articles of Confederation.
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BATTLE FOR RATIFICATION
Constitution had nothing to protect the Rights of
People.
 Thomas Jefferson wanted to add Bill of Rights- A
summary of Citizen’s Rights and Freedoms – set
amendments to the Constitution.
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CALL FOR A BILL OF RIGHTS
Patrick Henry and George Mason- were ant
federalist
 Wanted Guarantee that people would have
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Freedom of speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Press
Trial by Jury
Right to Bear Arms
Federalists yielded to demand. Added the Bill of
Rights
 Majority Rule
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BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE CONSTITUTION
Madison proposed ten amendments to
constitution (Bill of Rights)
 Bill of Rights
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1st nine amendments – Basic individual Rights
 Government shall not favor one religion over another
or interfere with anyone’s religious Freedom.
 1st amendment (separation of church and state)
 Protects people from government abuse
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AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
2/3 of each house of Congress or State Legislative
to propose a amendment
 To become a law ¾ approval of states
 Bill of Rights – 1st ten amendments – 17
amendments have been added since.
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