Essential Question:–In what ways did the Constitution

deviate from the gov’t under the Articles of Confederation?

–What were the Federalist and Anti-Federalist critiques regarding the new Constitution?

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Constitutional Reform American political ideology

changed from the beginning of the American Revolution to the late Confederation period: –In the 1770s, American political

leaders saw tyranny as the greatest threat to the USA

–But…by the mid-1780s, they saw ordinary citizens who lacked virtue as the greatest threat

Thus, states created weak state governors & a weak Articles of Confederation

The problem is an excess of democracy not an excess of tyrannyShays’ Rebellion will help prove this point to the Founding Fathers

Constitutional Reform By 1787, the fatal flaws of the

Articles of Confed were exposed:–Shays’ Rebellion broke out

among desperate MA farmers who faced losing their farms or being sent to debtor’s prison

–Congress called for a meeting in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles & strengthening the national gov’t

Merchants in MA hired their own mercenary

militia to end the uprising

Congress did not have the tax funds to send an army

In May, James Madison led the Annapolis Convention to discuss

improving American trade

Shays’ Rebellion gave nationalists like Washington, Madison, Hamilton the

urgency to call for a stronger national gov’t

The Constitutional Convention in

Philadelphia, 1787

The Philadelphia ConventionShay’s Rebellion led to increased

support for a stronger central government & more attendance at the Philadelphia Convention

In May 1787, 55 delegates from all states (except RI) met to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation, but it soon became apparent that something more serious was needed

They did NOT intend to replace the Articles

The Philadelphia ConventionThe Philadelphia Convention

delegates in Philadelphia made 3 important (& illegal) decisions:–The Articles of Confederation

were to be completely replaced–Nothing from the meeting was to

be printed or spoken to the public–Every state got 1 vote but all

decisions needed a majority vote (not 9 of 13 states) to pass

Is this a government of the people?

To amend the Articles, all 13 states had to agree

Inventing a Federal RepublicDelegates incorporated 4 major

principles into this new gov’t: –Limited gov’t—even though a

stronger gov’t was being created, citizens’ liberty is protected

–Republicanism—the people vote for their leaders

–Separation of powers—three branches with defined powers

–Federalism—the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts

Three Branches of Government

Federalism

Inventing a Federal RepublicWilliam Paterson

presented the New Jersey Plan:–Congress given

power to tax–Each state had

one vote in a unicameral legislature

–But Articles mostly untouched

James Madison presented the Virginia Plan:–Bicameral

legislature –Larger states

had more representatives

–Create a chief executive appointed by Congress

Small states objected to this large-state dominance

The large states listened politely then

overwhelmingly voted against it

The Great CompromiseRoger Sherman helped resolve

the differences between the large & small states by proposing the Great Compromise–Congress would be a bicameral

legislature (House & Senate)–Each state was given 2

delegates in the Senate –House of Representatives was

determined by state population

Also known as the “Connecticut” Compromise”

Victory for the small states

Victory for large states

Only the House of Reps could introduce tax bills

What did Congress look like after the

Great Compromise?

The 3/5 Compromise Problems still remained between

the northern & southern states regarding how to count population size (do slaves count?)

The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the issue:–Three-fifths of the slave

population could be counted toward representation in the House of Representatives

Compromising with SlaveryDespite the contradiction slavery

posed, Southerners threatened to leave the USA anytime the slave question was discussed

As a compromise for the South, the slave trade could continue to 1808 & runaway slaves returned“Great as the evil is, a dismemberment

of the Union would be worse.” —James Madison

The Last DetailsIn 1787, a final draft included:

–Electoral College to vote for the president to “filter the masses”

–System of checks & balances among the 3 branches of gov’t

–President would serve for 4 years rather than for life

Delegates decided against a Bill of Rights because most state constitutions already had them

Including ideas once considered tyrannical: Presidential power to appoint judges & presidential veto power over Congress

FYI: Electoral Votes (2000 Census)

James Madison helped broker many of the compromises that made the

Constitution possible & is referred to as the “father of the Constitution”

Key Ideas of the Constitution Only Congress can make laws, declare war, create taxes

The “elastic clause” gives Congress implied powers

to make laws seen as “necessary & proper”

The Senate ratifies treaties & confirms

judicial appointments

Key Ideas of the Constitution

The president can only recommend legislation to

Congress but can veto billsThe president oversees

the bureaucracy

Key Ideas of the Constitution

The only court mentioned in the Constitution is the

Supreme Court

The supremacy clause establishes the Constitution (not the states) as the

"the supreme law of the land"

Federalism—state gov’ts & the national gov’t both have power

A state law cannot contradict a national law

The Struggle for Ratification

The Struggle for RatificationThe delegates in Philadelphia

knew that ratification of the new Constitution would not be easy:–They had no authority to change

the Articles of Confederation–They did not inform the public of

their ongoing decisions–They fundamentally altered the

relationships between the states & the central government

Federalists & Anti-FederalistsFederalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution

Were well-organized & educated

Used Federalist Papers to argue for ratification

Had the support of the media

Anti-Federalists Against ratification

–Distrusted of a gov’t that removed power from the hands of the people

–Claimed the new Constitution favored the upper class

Authored by Madison, Hamilton, & Jay

“The Constitution is itself a Bill of Rights”

Anti-Federalists argued for more protection of

individual liberties

Ratification of the Constitution

Adding the Bill of RightsTo win ratification, the Federalists

agreed to add a Bill of Rights–With this protection of citizens’

liberty, all 13 states agreed to ratify the Constitution

–Constitution became the official the law of the land in 1789

After bitter fight, most Americans chose to support the Constitution

If 1776 was the 1st American Revolution… 1787 was the 2nd American Revolution

Constitution Scavenger Hunt