Why was it weak?

AFTER DECLARING INDEPENDENCE IN 1776 THE NEW AMERICANS ADOPTED THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AS THEIR FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN 1777

MOST POLITICAL POWER LAY WITH THE ______?________

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Why was the Constitutional Convention called?

”for the sole and

express purpose of

revising the Articles of

the Confederation”

NJ and VA Plans Great Compromise• Created 2 houses in the legislature• House based on population• Senate – 2 from each state

Slavery 3/5’s Compromise

The AoC tons of problems! The Constitution strengthened the

economic powers of Congress Prohibited certain actions by the

states

Delegates believed they had created a limited government that would not threaten personal freedoms

1. The Framers believed in the basic goodness of human nature.

2. The Framers represented the interests of the upper, rather than the lower, classes.

3. Man’s primary motive is self interest.

4. The Framers believed in checking power with power to prevent abuse.

“ Authority of the people”• The people consent to be governed and

specify the powers and rules by which they shall be governed

Voters hold sovereign power in a republican system• Republic/representative democracy-a

system of limited government where the people are the final source of authority

Restricted the governments power to specific powers granted by the people

The principle of shared power Enumerated powers – powers that belong

only to the federal government• Examples:

Coin money Regulate interstate and foreign trade Maintain the armed forces

Reserved powers – powers retained by the states• Examples:

Establish schools Pass marriage and divorce laws Regulate trade within the state

Concurrent powers – powers the state and federal governments share• Examples:

Right to raise taxes Borrow money Administer criminal justice

to prevent any single group or institution from gaining too much authority, the framers divided the federal government into three branches• Legislative: Congress makes the laws• Executive: carries out the laws• Judicial: interprets and applies the laws

each branch of government can check, or limit, the power of the other branches

Such as…pres can veto legislation- congress holds purse strings and must approve presidential appointments- pres nominate judges but senate must confirm- judicial review (Marbury v. Madison)- HoR and Senate can veto each other- Congress can impeach pres and judges

The Bill of Rights: The first 10 Amendments protect basic liberties and rights

The remaining 17 Amendments expand the rights of Americans and adjust certain provisions of The Constitution

Well… Federalists v. AntifederalistsWhat do YOU think?

Promise of Bill of Rights (ratified 1791) 11 states by 1788 (needed 9 of 13 to

be ratified) N. Carolina- 1789 Rhode Island- 1790

Why hadn’t there been a BoR in the first place?