ADOPTING A NEW

CONSTITUTIONHow the United States got rid of the

Articles of Confederation and made a more lasting and efficient government

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION WAS…. An agreement that united the colonies and

made them states A weak form of government that gave

states MOST of the power

STRENGTHS OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

Although the Articles of Confederation:-created friendship and union in the 13 states-Negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783 (ended the Revolution)-Made states recognize (obey/honor) other states laws-created the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION… While the Articles had some success, they

still:-Did not have a executive or judicial branch- Could not levy taxes- Had no standing army (national army)-Could not mediate disputes between states- Could not pay off the war-Each state had their own type of money -soldiers that served in the Revolution were not paid=Shay’s Rebellion

RESULTS OF THE WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

PHILADELPHIA CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1787

Changes were needed because the government was too WEAK!

Fear of strong government= 3 Braches of Government:

Legislative Executive Judicial

*Makes laws-Bicameral-Senate: 2 representatives-House of Representatives: based on population

*Enforces laws-President-Commander in Chief

*Interprets laws-Supreme Court-federal/state courts

PROBLEMS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH….

At the time, delegates could not agree on how they would be represented in congress...so 2 proposals (suggestions) were made: Virginia Plan-

proposed by James Madison *Plan for large states*3 branches of government*bicameral congress (two houses ) based on populationNew Jersey Plan- proposed by William Paterson*Plan for small states*Only strengthen Articles of Confederation*States KEEP most of the power*one-house congress based on EQUAL representation

SOLUTION: “THE GREAT COMPROMISE” Compromise- an agreement which keeps

most people content or happy After much debate, Roger Sherman of

Connecticut proposed the following:• A bicameral congress• Senate based on EQUAL representation (2

per state regardless of size)• House of Representatives based on

population• Government had power to make money• Power is shared between state and

central (federal government)

WHAT ABOUT THE SLAVES?

Many colonies both North and South had slaves Question: How would slaves influence

representation? Or why were slaves being considered as delegates discussed the new Constitution?

South had more slaves and wanted slaves to count as part of the population=more representatives in the House of Representatives

North had less slaves so thought it was unfair that slaves be counted as part of the population because they were considered “property” and because then the South would have more representatives

THE THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE

Both North and South agreed the following:

A slave would count as 3/5 of a person for representation

3/5 of the slave population would count for taxes

Slave owners were to be charged $10.00 per imported slave. After 20 years slaves could no longer be imported.

Question: Why would the North not want more slaves imported into the states?

DRAFTING A CONSTITUTION

Inspired by the Iroquois Indians Constitution, the Committee in charge of the Constitution began by writing (1787)…

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States…”

*The United States Constitution was finally ratified (approved) in the year 1789