Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation & Constitutional & Constitutional

ConventionConventionSchaumburg High SchoolSchaumburg High School

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

First American First American Gov’t (1777) Gov’t (1777) (1781)(1781)

Written by 2Written by 2ndnd Continental Continental Congress – John Congress – John Dickinson (PA)Dickinson (PA)

Battle between Battle between Radicals & Radicals & Reconciliationists Reconciliationists

ProblemsProblems Unable to collect Unable to collect

taxestaxes Unable to regulate Unable to regulate

tradetrade No Executive to No Executive to

enforce lawsenforce laws No Judiciary to No Judiciary to

interpret lawsinterpret laws Consensus needed to Consensus needed to

amend the Articlesamend the Articles

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

The AOC reflected the prevailing The AOC reflected the prevailing political philosophypolitical philosophy

Nationalists emerge pushing for a Nationalists emerge pushing for a change!change!Alexander HamiltonAlexander HamiltonJon MorrisJon Morris

It could not handle America’s It could not handle America’s challengeschallengesShay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion

FederalistsFederalists

Supporters of a Supporters of a new, more highly new, more highly centralized centralized governmentgovernment

Supported national Supported national organization/local organization/local libertiesliberties

Alexander Alexander HamiltonHamilton

AntifederalistsAntifederalists

Supporters of a Supporters of a loose organization loose organization of states under of states under the Articles of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

Feared another Feared another anarchyanarchy

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

5/25/1787- 9/17/17875/25/1787- 9/17/1787 A meeting of nationalists A meeting of nationalists

to revise or overthrow to revise or overthrow the AOC to make national the AOC to make national government strongergovernment stronger

74 men elected74 men elected 55 men attended55 men attended

16 attendees did not sign it16 attendees did not sign it 39 served in Cont Congress39 served in Cont Congress 21 fought in Amer. Rev.21 fought in Amer. Rev. 8 signed the Decl of Indep.8 signed the Decl of Indep.

A Bundle of CompromisesA Bundle of Compromises

Big States versus Small States (Big States versus Small States (Most Most important)important)

Representation in both houses of Congress?Representation in both houses of Congress?How to elect the president?How to elect the president?Taxation? Proportional or equal?Taxation? Proportional or equal?

North versus SouthNorth versus SouthSlaverySlaveryTariffsTariffs

Nationalists versus States RightsNationalists versus States RightsRural versus UrbanRural versus Urban

Main Issue: Liberty vs OrderMain Issue: Liberty vs Order

How much power do you give the How much power do you give the government to maintain order yet not hinder government to maintain order yet not hinder or control liberty?or control liberty?

Amend AOC or overthrow it?Amend AOC or overthrow it? Great Compromise: Proportional rep. in Great Compromise: Proportional rep. in

House & equality in SenateHouse & equality in Senate Main reason small states ratified the ConstitutionMain reason small states ratified the Constitution Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for taxes & Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for taxes &

representationrepresentation North got its Navigation laws passed thenNorth got its Navigation laws passed then

John DickinsonJohn Dickinson

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Did not sign Dec. of Did not sign Dec. of

Indep.Indep. Author of AOCAuthor of AOC Leading champion Leading champion

of small statesof small states

Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton

New YorkNew York Responsible for Responsible for

calling conventioncalling convention Author of Author of

Federalist PapersFederalist Papers Washington aid in Washington aid in

Amer. Rev.Amer. Rev. 11stst Sec. of Treasury Sec. of Treasury Killed by Aaron Killed by Aaron

Burr in a duelBurr in a duel

George WashingtonGeorge Washington

VirginiaVirginia Brought legitimacy to Brought legitimacy to

the conventionthe convention Worried about his Worried about his

reputation by reputation by attending “illegal” attending “illegal” conventionconvention

Winner of Amer. Rev.Winner of Amer. Rev. 11stst President of the President of the

United States of United States of AmericaAmerica

Gouverneur MorrisGouverneur Morris

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Most conservative Most conservative

& vocal delegate& vocal delegate Leading anti-Leading anti-

slavery voiceslavery voice Constitution was Constitution was

his wordshis words

Robert MorrisRobert Morris

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Superintendent of Superintendent of

FinanceFinance 33rdrd or 4 or 4thth most most

important delegateimportant delegate Spoke rarely but Spoke rarely but

influentiallyinfluentially Financed the warFinanced the war

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Oldest delegate at Oldest delegate at

8787 Added legitimacyAdded legitimacy Slept throughout Slept throughout

most of the most of the conventionconvention

Suffering from the Suffering from the gout gout

James MadisonJames Madison

VirginiaVirginia Wrote the Wrote the

ConstitutionConstitution Author of Author of

Federalist PapersFederalist Papers Father of Bill of Father of Bill of

RightsRights Checks & BalancesChecks & Balances 44thth Pres. Of the USA Pres. Of the USA

Other IssuesOther Issues

The power of the Executive BranchThe power of the Executive BranchCitizenships, Immigration, & Citizenships, Immigration, &

admission of new statesadmission of new statesFederalists vs AntifederalistsFederalists vs AntifederalistsState ratifications-All states had State ratifications-All states had

conventions to ratify the Constitutionconventions to ratify the Constitution11stst to ratify – Delaware to ratify – DelawareLast to ratify – NC & RI – Why?Last to ratify – NC & RI – Why?