Topic: Historical Documents
Some documents in American history have
considerable importance for the development
of the nation. Students use historical thinking
to examine key documents which form the
basis for the United States of America.
Historical Document #3: The Articles
of Confederation and the Constitution
Content Statements: Problems facing the national government under the Articles of
Confederation led to the drafting of the Constitution of the United States. The framers
of the Constitution applied ideas of Enlightenment in conceiving the new government.
Expectations for learning: Develop an argument that a particular provision of the
Constitution of the United States would help address a problem facing the United
States in the 1780’s.
Explain a provision of the Constitution of the United States in terms of how it reflects
Enlightenment thinking.
Historical Document #3: The Articles
of Confederation and the Constitution
Content Elaborations: The national government, under the Articles of Confederation, faced several critical
problems. Some dealt with the structure of the government itself. These problems included weak provisions
for ongoing management of national affairs (a lack of a separate executive branch), a limited ability to
resolve disputes arising under the Articles (a lack of a separate judicial branch) and stiff requirements for
passing legislation and amending the Articles. National issues facing the government included paying the
debt from the Revolutionary War, the British refusal to evacuate forts on U.S. soil, the Spanish closure of the
Mississippi River to American navigation and state disputes over land and trade. Economic problems in the
states led to Shays’ Rebellion.
The Constitution of the United States strengthened the structure of the national government. Separate
executive and judicial branches were established. More practical means of passing legislation and amending
the Constitution were instituted. The new government would have the ability to address the issues facing
the nation. Powers to levy taxes, raise armies and regulate commerce were given to Congress. The principle
of federalism delineated the distribution of powers between the national government and the states.
The Constitution of the United States was drafted using Enlightenment ideas to create a workable form of
government. The Preamble and the creation of a representative government reflect the idea of the social
contract. Articles I – III provide for a separation of powers in government. Article I also provides some limited
protection of rights.
Independence
Ordinance
of the United
States
Anti-Federalist
Papers
WHO
WHO
WHO
WHO
WHO
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
WHERE WHERE WHERE WHERE WHERE
WHEN
WHEN
WHEN
WHEN
WHEN
WHY
WHY
WHY
WHY
WHY
Who is this?
Who might she have copied after?
Who is this?
These 3 are the judges on what show?
Limited
Gov.
Bill of
Rights
Ideas from
England
Petition
of Right
Rep. Gov.
4 English Ideas Explained
– 1. Limited gov.
• One person does NOT have all the power
• Magna Carta
– 1215 England
– Citizens force King John to sign
– Limited power of king
– Rule of law—gov leaders must act according to a set of laws
– 2. Representative gov
• Bicameral: Having two houses in Congress
– 3. Petition of Right
• 1628
• Parliament forces Charles I to sign it
• Limited power of the monarch
• Parliament (elected by people) had more power
– 4. English Bill of Rights
• Citizens rights from gov violations
English Documents Explained
• Magna Carta webpage
• Petition of Right
• English Bill of Rights
Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
Year
Established
• 1777
How?
• All 13 states had to ratify. Done in 1781
How powerful?
• Not very. Most did not want a powerful
national gov
Legislative
Powers
Limits on
power
• Each state had 1 legislative vote
• majority rule
• 9 votes needed for major decisions
• Could not tax
• Could not regulate trade
• No executive branch
• No judicial branch
Articles of Confederation DID NOT
WORK
• Reasons:
– 1. each colony was very different including
issue of slavery
– 2. size of new nation was
large/communication was slow
– 3. states did their own thing—ignored
federal laws and taxes
– 4. Articles of Confederation HAD NO
POWER!
What next?
• Many felt we needed a strong federal
government
• Otherwise, we would have no country!
• Example: Shays’s Rebellion
Articles of Confederation Video (7
minutes)
• Articles of Confederation video
Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention
General Info
• *Delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to
revise the Articles of Confederation
• *However, delegates moved quickly to form a
stronger national gov.
• *worked 4 months in a hot Phila summer in
secrecy
8 signed
Dec of Ind
7 on 1st
Cont. Cong.
The
Delegates
7 state
governors
Wealthy/e
ducated
Key People
•
•
•
•
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Rival Plans
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Powers of National
Government
1. Levy taxes
2. Make national laws
3. Regulate trade
1. Levy taxes
2. Regulate trade
Executive Branch
Strong executive chosen
by legislature
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
Weak executive
controlled by the
legislature
1. Bicameral
1. Strong unicameral
2. Membership based on 2. Each state has 1 vote
state population
3. Reps chose by state
legislatures
3. 1st house elected by
people
4. 2nd house elected by
1st house
Supreme Court and lower Supreme Court with
courts
justices named by
The Great Compromise
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
1. Bicameral legislative branch
a. House: based on population
b. Senate: 2 per state
The Electoral College
Trade
1. Congress could not ban
import of slaves before 1808
2. Congress could not tax goods
on exports
Slavery
1. North: believed it was wrong;
also believed they should not
count towards population
2. Southern states want slaves to
count
3. 3/5 compromise: each slave
counted as 3/5 of a free person
Finalizing the Constitution
• Most signed the new
Constitution, even though many
still opposed.
Ratifying the Constitution
Ratify: To formally approve or pass a
Bill, Law or Government
Federalists vs. Anti Federalists
a. Federalists
i. Supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
ii. Constitution would protect rights and was
necessary to hold nation together
b. Antifederalists
• i. Opposed the ratification of the U.S.
Constitution
ii. Constitution would create a gov. that would
threaten people’s rights and state’s rights
RATIFICATION!
–After a lot of debate, all
states eventually ratified
(passed) the Constitution