APUSH

Mr. Weber

Constitution Writing

• You are making a structure of government.– Who will make decisions and how will they be made?– Will there be elected office? How will votes be

distributed?– What will happen with judicial decisions? How long

will judges be appointed for? Why?– What about the food? What supports will be provided

for the needy?– How will you prevent against the tyranny of the

majority?– Do we need a student Bill of Rights? Why or why not?

Read the U.S. Constitution and make analogies to our school

• Suggested analogies:– Advisories as States. – Freshman/Sophomores as working class; Seniors

as wealthy elite.– Advisory counsel as Congress (House and Senate)– Student judicial board as Supreme Court–

I. America under the Articles of Confederation

A. The Articles of Confederation1. Origins

a. Draftingb. Ratification

2. Structure3. Extent and limits of powers

B. Disposition of the West1. Competing agendas

a. Indiansb. Settlersc. Land companies and speculators

I. America under the Articles of Confederation (cont’d)

B. Disposition of the West2. Congressional measures

a. Acquisition of Indian landsi. Northernii. Southern

b. Ordinance of 1784c. Ordinance of 1785d. Sale of frontier lands to private groupse. Northwest Ordinance of 1787

i. Plan for future statesii. Recognition of Indian claim to landiii. Prohibition of slavery in region

I. America under the Articles of Confederation (cont’d)

C. Confederation government under fire1. Points of controversy

a. Unredeemed wartime bondsb. Glut of imported goodsc. State tariffsd. State debt relief measurese. State issuance of paper money

2. Shays’s Rebelliona. Objectives and spiritb. Suppressionc. Upper-class alarm

I. America under the Articles of Confederation (cont’d)

C.Confederation government under fire3. Nationalist impulse

c. Main sources of supporti. Bondholdersii. Large landholdersiii. Merchantsiv. Urban artisans

d. Initial mobilization

II. A new constitution

A.Delegates to Constitutional Convention1. Elite backgrounds2. Shared experience in struggle for independence3. Shared aims

a. Stronger national authorityb. Curbs on “excesses of democracy”

II. A new constitution (cont’d)

B.Structure of government1. Points of agreement

a. Creation of legislative, executive, and judicial branches

b. Congressional power to raise revenuec. Protection of property rights from state

infringementd. Middle ground between excessive central

power and excessive democracy

II. A new constitution (cont’d)

B. Structure of government2. Debate over structure of Congress

a. Underlying issuesi. Balance between state and federal powerii. Balance between large and small state

interestsb. Competing proposals

i. Virginia planii. New Jersey plan

c. Compromise solution