3-2-1 Go On a piece of paper, answer the following to the

best of your ability:

Identify 3 events related to the American Revolution

Identify 2 leaders during the American Revolution

Identify 1 key idea expressed in the Declaration of Independence (not just that it declared our independence from Britain—duh)

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

Check for Understanding: Answer on your note paper

What was the U.S. government like under the Articles of Confederation?

Why is understanding the Articles of Confederation important in understanding the current structure of the U.S. government as set up in the Constitution?

Meeting of states in preparation for Constitutional Convention

When I give you the signal, get together with the students who will represent the same state

Discuss together your state’s perspective on the following issues:

A) should slavery be preserved or ended B) how much representation (# of congressmen) should each

state get—that is, should each state get one vote, should more populated states get more votes, or is there an alternative plan

Be sure to analyze the population chart provided for perspective on these issues.

Also, remember that the questions for your homework tonight, “Your Plan of Government” are to be from the perspective of the state that you will represent

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

Why does Patrick Henry say,

“I smell a rat.”??

Ratification

Federalists – Madison, Hamilton, Jay, Washington

–Nationalists, Pro Business, Pro Law & Order

Anti – Federalists

•Jefferson, Paine, Henry

• Distrusted strong central Gov’t, Debtors

• Criticized secrecy, subordination of states,

& emphasis of property rights over individual rights