Governing a New Nation

Government by the StatesAs the Continental Congress began moving toward

independence in 1776, individual states began creating governments.

New state constitutions allowed more people to vote than in colonial times, but in most states voters still had to be White males 21 or older Property owners

The Declaration of Independence listed ways that Britain had violated the rights of colonists. To prevent such abuses states sought to protect individual rights, and many states included a bill of rights in their state constitutions.

The Articles of Confederation

While individual states were writing constitutions, the Continental Congress was creating a plan of government for the entire nation. The Articles of Confederation was adopted by Congress in 1777.

Instead of three branches of government, the Articles had just one branch – a one-house (unicameral) legislature called Congress.

The Articles of Confederation

According to the Articles, each state had one vote in Congress, no matter its size, and 9 states had to agree on issues before they could become laws.

Because states did NOT want to repeat the problems they had with the King of Britain, they did NOT want to risk giving too much power to a central government, or to any one person. Therefore, they did NOT choose a King, President, or any type of executive leader.

A New Plan of Government

After 10 years of independence, some leading Americans had come to the conclusion that the Articles of Confederation needed improvement.

In response, Congress asked the states to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Their task was to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Nearpod Question

Why do you think the delegates decided to revise the Articles of

Confederation?

The Constitutional Convention

Who? 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates)

What? Constitutional Convention

Where? Philadelphia, PA

When? Summer 1787

Why? To revise the Articles of Confederation

The Constitutional Convention

Many delegates argued that revising the Articles would NOT be enough.

However, members of the convention did NOT have the authority to “form some new system of government.”

Therefore, delegates voted to keep their debates secret.

George Washington was voted president of the convention.

The Virginia PlanOn the third day of the convention, Edmund

Randolph of Virginia proposed a plan for a new, strong central government.

James Madison was the principal author of this Virginia Plan. For the next month, debate focused on this proposal.

The Virginia Plan called for: A central government divided among three

branches A strong executive (leader) A two-house legislature (bicameral) Representation based on population

The New Jersey Plan

Because the Virginia plan called for representation based on population, smaller states strongly opposed the plan.

William Paterson of New Jersey introduced a modified plan on behalf of the small states.

The New Jersey Plan called for: Single house of Congress (unicameral) Equal representation for each state

Nearpod Question

After hearing about both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, which plan do you choose?

Virginia PlanNew Jersey Plan

Nearpod Question

Why did you choose that plan?

The Great CompromiseFor days the delegates argued, and some feared the

convention would fail and the Union would break apart.

On July 16, 1787, Roger Sherman of Connecticut worked out a compromise that delegates narrowly voted to accept.

The Great Compromise: Combined Virginia and New Jersey Plans Created a two-house legislature/Congress

House of Representatives - based on populationSenate - has equal representation

Nearpod Question

Why do you think it is important for the states to have

representation within the House of Representatives and

the Senate?

Debate Over SlaveryAnother issue largely argued touched on a

bitter debate between northerners and southerners.

Southern delegates said that enslaved people should be counted in calculating how many representatives a state should have in Congress.

Northern delegates said that because enslaved people could not vote, they should not be counted toward a state’s representation.

Three-Fifths CompromiseFinally, a compromise was reached – The Three-Fifths

Compromise.Each enslaved person would count as three fifths of a

free personThis was a gain for the South, as it gave them more

seats in the House.Northern delegates reluctantly agreed in order to keep

the South in the Union.This compromise was a blow to African Americans as it

helped preserve slavery in the new Constitution by making a distinction between “free persons” and “all other persons.”

A New ConstitutionAfter many more weeks of debate, the delegates

agreed on all the terms, and a committee was appointed to draw up the final wording of the new Constitution.

The Preamble highlights a major difference between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were a pact between separate states. The Constitution opens with “We the People of the

United States, in order to form a more perfect union, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” With this statement, the Constitution claims to take

its authority from the people rather than the states.

Nearpod Question

Draw a picture that represents the Preamble of the Constitution.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the

common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Federalists Vs. Anti-federalists

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention set a process for states to ratify the Constitution. The Constitution would go into effect once it was ratified by nine states.

Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists because they favored a strong federal government. Three well known Federalists were James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.

Federalists Vs. Anti-federalists

Those who disagreed with the Federalists were called Anti-federalists. Two leaders of this group were George Mason and Patrick Henry.

Anti-federalist arguments included: The Constitution weakened state governments

There were no protections for basic freedoms

(no Bill of Rights) President could become a king by being elected

again and again

Nearpod Question

If you were a state government official during this time, would you consider yourself a Federalist or a Anti-Federalist?

FederalistAnti-Federalist

The Ratification DebateDelaware was the first state to ratify the new

Constitution on Dec. 7, 1787, and seven other states soon followed.

New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution making it effective.

In May, 1790, Rhode Island was the last of the 13 original states to ratify the Constitution.

(North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789)

The Bill of Rights

When nine of the 13 states ratified the Constitution, Congress took steps to prepare for a new government. George Washington was elected President, and John Adams was Vice President.

During the debate over the Constitution, many states insisted that a bill of rights be added, and this became one of the first tasks of the new Congress.

The Bill of RightsFramers of the Constitution created a way for

the Constitution to be amended. They wanted the Constitution to be flexible enough to change, but not so easy that it would be taken lightly.

In 1789, Congress passed the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and by December 1791, three fourths of the states had ratified these ten amendments that were known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments protect the people against abuses by the federal government.

Nearpod Question

How could you illustrate what you feel is the most

important freedom from the 1st Amendment (Speech,

Religion, Assembly, Press).

In Conclusion

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention are often called the Framers because they framed or shaped, our form of government.

The Constitution they wrote established a republic that has thrived for more than 200 years.