Starter

Describe religion in the colonies.

IDENTIFY THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF THE NATION UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND

ASSESS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY WERE RESOLVED BY THE NEW CONSTITUTION

Objective 1.05

After Independence

States drew up their own constitutionsTreaty of Paris (1783)- officially ended the war

Other nations recognized the US as a new nation France was the first; they had helped the colonists fight.

Articles of Confederation- document that created the first national government

Weaknesses The central government was very weak! Nine of 13 states had to agree to anything- one house

legislature (unicameral) No power to tax, had to ask the states for money Other nations knew it was weak: Britain did not remove its

troops from the Ohio Valley No President No federal court system

The First Constitution

Articles of Confederation- document that created the first national government

It created a weak central government Colonists were afraid of such a strong central government like

England had. States were given the majority of the power.

Good points of the Articles

Land Ordinance of 1785 Divided Northwest territories into townships and

allowed Congress to raise money by selling the land

Northwest Ordinance Provided guidelines for admitting new states Eventually led to the formation of five new states:

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan

Impacts

Shays Rebellion Massachusetts farmer revolted because of high taxes

to pay for war- attacked state government The federal government could not help: they had no

army Constitutional Convention was called to strengthen

the federal government May 1787- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

US Constitution

Delegates met in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, BUT………

Agreed to write a new ConstitutionTwo plans were introduced:

Virginia Plan: three branches of government, bicameral (two house) legislature based on population- favored large states

New Jersey Plan: three branches, unicameral legislature based on one representative per state- favored smaller states

The Great Compromise

Roger Sherman of Connecticut introduced his plan: The Connecticut Plan (the Great Compromise) Three branches of government Bicameral legislature:

House of Representatives: based upon population and elected by the people

Senate- two per state and chosen by state legislatures

US Constitution- Other Compromises

Slavery was a problem- helped southern states have a larger population Three-fifths compromise Slave trade compromise- it would end in 20 years

President to be chosen by the Electoral College People were not smart enough to vote for president If no majority, the House of Representatives decides

Some believed not enough protections for citizens were included Some states refused to sign it until some changes were

made Bill of Rights: first 10 amendments

Assignment

Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.