our first constitution—the articles of confederation (1777 ......•at first, the founding fathers...
TRANSCRIPT
Our First Constitution—the Articles of Confederation (1777-1787)
So, what were the Articles, what kind of government did they
establish, and what was so wrong with them that they had to be
replaced?
Okay, what’s a confederation again?
• A group of states loosely tied together
• Weak central govt
• Strong state governments
Articles of Confederation (1777-1787)
• 13 states operated like semi-independent countries
• Agreed to cooperate on some things
The Articles of Confederation (1777-1787)
Only one weak branch of government—
No chief executive
No national judicial branch
How many branches of government were there in this first government of the U.S.?
a nearly powerless congress
Why did the Articles Fail?
• States quarreling
•Vulnerability
Why Did the Articles Fail?
• Shay’s Rebellion
Constitutional Convention
When:
May-Sept. 1787
Where:
Philadelphia, PA
Independence Hall, Philadelphia
Key Figures
President of the Convention:
George Washington
“Father of the Constitution”:
James Madison
Which of these Founding Fathers Attended the Convention?
Not There: • Thomas Jefferson • John Adams • Patrick Henry
Definitely There: • Benjamin Franklin • Alexander Hamilton
John Adams, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson
Article I of the Constitution
• Creates a Legislative Branch (Congress) to make laws
• Congress has two parts:
--House of Representatives (based on
population)
--U.S. Senate (2 per state)
• Powers of Congress
--to regulate commerce
--declare war
--taxation
--approves/disapproves president’s treaties
Article II of the Constitution
• Sets up an Executive Branch (President)
• Qualifications
• Election process—Electoral College
• Powers of the President
--commander-in-chief
--can sign/veto laws
--makes treaties with other nations
Article III of the Constitution
• Sets up a national Judicial Branch
• Creates Supreme Court, Other federal courts
• Term of office
• Can rule that acts of Congress and/or the president are unconstitutional
“Checks & balances”
Check for Understanding: Answer on your note paper
• What was the U.S. government like under the Articles of Confederation?
• How did Shay’s Rebellion make people realize that the Articles of Confederation were ineffective?
Summary
• At first, the Founding Fathers purposely created a weak government—the Articles of Confederation-- to protect hard-won freedoms
• It soon became clear for many reasons that a much stronger government was needed
• The Constitution was—and is—the plan of government that the Founding Fathers created