Workshop: Is it From the Articles of Confederation or Constitution?
Directions: The Constitution was written to correct some of the problems the U.S. experienced under
the Articles. List three of those problems.
A.
B.
C.
More Directions: The following selections are some of the provisions from the Articles of Confederation
or the Constitution. Those from the Articles should be marked “A.” Mark “C” for Constitution. A hint.
Any example that seems to be making the government or its branches stronger is from the Constitution.
Explain why delegates to the Constitutional Convention decided to do that?
1.__ U.S. "a firm league of friendship."
2.__ 1 vote in Congress for each state
3.__ U.S. a firm union of people where the national government was supreme
4.__ 2/3 vote (9 states in Congress for all important measures)
5.__ Laws executed by committees of Congress
6.__ 2 votes in Senate for each state; representation by population in House
7.__ Simple majority vote in Congress, subject to presidential veto
8.__ Laws executed by powerful president
9.__ Congress to regulate both foreign and interstate
10.__ Extensive power in Congress to levy taxes
11.__ Unanimity of states for amendment
12.__ No authority to act directly upon individuals and no power to coerce states
13.__ No congressional power over commerce. States free to impose levies, and restrictions on trade with
other states and enter economic agreements with foreign countries.
14.__No congressional power to levy taxes – payment of taxes by states was voluntary.
15.__ No national courts – states free to resolve their own matters, or conflicts with other states.
16.__ National Courts, capped by Supreme Court
17.__ Ample pMeower to enforce laws by coercion of individuals and to some extent of states
18.__ No authority to act directly upon individuals and no power to coerce states
Workshop: Federalists or Anti-Federalists
Directions: Federalists wanted ot ratify (approve) the Constitution. Anti-Federalists opposed that idea.
Identify each of the following as being a belief of either Federalist (Mark F) or Anti-Federalists (Mark A-f).
#s 28 and 29 deal with their supporters.
19.__ Powers in foreign policy needed to be strengthened while excesses at home needed to be controlled.
20.__ Articles of Confederation were weak and ineffective.
21.__ Opposed a standing army
22.__ Strong national government threatened state power.
23.__ Men of experience and talent should govern the nation. "Mobocracy" threatened the security of life
and property.
24.__ Constitution lacked a bill of rights. State governments already had bills of rights but they might be
overriden by the Constitution.
25.__ Argued against 2/3 ratification plan. Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent.
26.__ Strong national government threatened rights of the common people.
27.__ Opposed the dropping of annual elections for representatives.
28.__ Constitution favored wealthy men and preserved their power.
29.__ backcountry farmers, poor farmers, the ill-educated and illiterate, debtors, & paper-money
advocates. In general, the poorer classes of society.
“You Talking to Me?” – Was It Said By a Federalist or Anti-Federalist?
Directions: If it was said by a Federalist mark F. Anti-Federalists get an “A-F”
30.__ "I had rather be a free citizen of the small republic of Massachusetts, than an oppressed subject of
the great American empire."
31.___"There are two opinions prevailing in the world-the one, that mankind can only be governed by
force; the other, that they are capable of freedom and a good government. Under a supposition that
mankind can govern themselves. ”
32.__ "The facility of corruption is increased in proportion as power tends by representation or
delegation, to a concentration in the hands of a few..."
33.__ "...the power vested in congress of sending troops for suppressing insurrections will always enable
them to stifle the first struggles of freedom."
34.__ "The idea that the powers of congress in respect to revenue ought to be unlimited, because 'the
circumstances which may affect the public safety are not reducible to certain determinate limits' is novel,
as it relates to the government of the United States"
35.__ "Congress may mortgage any or all the revenues of the union, as a fund to loan money upon; and it
is probable, in this way, they may borrow of foreign nations, a principal sum, the interest of which will be
equal to the annual revenues of the country. By this means, they may create a national debt, so large, as to
exceed the ability of the country ever to sink."
36.__ “Whoever seriously considers the immense extent of territory comprehended within the limits of
the United States, together with the variety of its climates, productions, and commerce, the difference of
extent, and number of inhabitants in all; the dissimilitude of interest, morals, and policies, in almost every
one, will receive it as an intuitive truth, that a consolidated republican form of government therein, can
never form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to you and your posterity, for to these objects it must be directed: this
unkindred legislature therefore, composed of interests opposite and dissimilar in their nature, will in its
exercise, emphatically be, like a house divided against itself.”
STRENGTHENING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Under Articles of Confederation
Under Federal Constitution
A loose confederation of states –"a firm league of friendship."
A firm union of people where the
national government was supreme.
1 vote in Congress for each state
2 votes in Senate for each state;
representation by population in House
(Art.I, Secs. II., III)
2/3 vote (9 states in Congress for all important measures)
Simple majority vote in Congress,
subject to presidential veto (Art. I, Sec.
VII, para. 2)
Laws executed by committees of Congress
Laws executed by powerful president
(Art. II, Secs. II, III)
No congressional power over commerce. States free to impose
levies, and restrictions on trade with other states and enter
economic agreements with foreign countries.
Congress to regulate both foreign and
interstate commerce (Art. I, Sec. VIII,
para. 3)
No congressional power to levy taxes – payment of taxes by states Extensive power in Congress to levy
was voluntary.
taxes (Art. I, Sec. VIII, para. 1)
No federal courts – states free to resolve their own matters, or
conflicts with other states.
Federal courts, capped by Supreme
Court (Art. III)
Unanimity of states for amendment
Amendment less difficult (Art. V) –
2/3 Congress and ¾ of the states
No authority to act directly upon individuals and no power to
coerce states
Ample power to enforce laws by
coercion of individuals and to some
extent of states
http://staff.gps.edu/mines/APUSH%20-antifederalists_vs_federalists.htm"I
ANTIFEDERALISTS VS FEDERALISTS
Anti-Federalist objections to the Constitution
Federalist defenses of the Constitution
Antifederalists -- states' rights advocates,
backcountry farmers, poor farmers, the illeducated and illiterate, debtors, & papermoney advocates.
Federalists -- Well educated and propertied
class. Most lived in settled areas along the
seaboard.
In general, the poorer classes of society.
Ratification Positions:
Ratification Positions:
1. Articles of Confederation were a good plan.
1. Articles of Confederation were weak and
ineffective.
2. Opposed strong central
government.Opposed a standing army and a
10 square mile federal stronghold (later
District of Columbia)
3. Strong national government threatened
state power.
4. Strong national government threatened
rights of the common people. Constitution
was created by aristocratic elements.
Suspected a sinister plot to suppress liberty of
the masses.
5. Constitution favored wealthy men and
preserved their power. Opposed the dropping
of annual elections for representatives.
6. Constitution lacked a bill of rights. State
governments already had bills of rightsbut
they might be overriden by the Constitution.
7. Argued against 2/3 ratification
plan. Articles of Confederation required
unanimous consent.
2. National government needed to be strong in
order to function. Powers in foreign policy
needed to be strengthened while excesses at
home needed to be controlled.
3. Strong national government needed to
control uncooperative states.
4. Men of experience and talent should govern
the nation. "Mobocracy" threatened the
security of life and property.
5. National government would protect the
rights of the people
6. Constitution and state governments
protected individual freedoms without bill of
rights. Since people could take back delegated
power to the gov’t, there was no risk that the
national gov’t would overreach.
7. In favor of establishing the Constitution
with almost any means possible.
8. More sympathetic to separation of church
and state.
8. Opposed omitting any reference to God.
the small republic of Massachusetts, than an oppressed "
http://jeffryfisher.net/Statesman/Quotes/Antifederalists.htm or l.