Ewen and Donable, Winding Road, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution

THE ROAD TO THE

CONSTITUTION

By: Laura Birge

REASONS FOR THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• Written during the Revolutionary War

• Written by The Continental Congress

• Ratified March 1, 1781

• Sense of a unified government

• Bring states together

“The Articles of Confederation.” www.congressforkids.net. The Dirksen Congressional Center, 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

Cliff 1066, Betsy Ross Flag, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution

PROBLEMS WITH THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• Weak government

– Purposefully

• Could notenforce laws

“The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.” www.earlyamerica.com. Archiving Early America, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.

Steve Cherrier, Flying Eagle 2, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution, No Derivative Works

MONEY PROBLEMS

• Could not collect taxes

– Can’t raise money

• All States had own currency

• Bankrupt in 1786

• State money = other state money?

“The Making of the Constitution.” www.socialstudiesforkids.com. Social Studies for Kida, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

Alancleaver_2000, Piggy Bank, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution

PROTECTION PROBLEMS

• Weak military

– No navy

– Lacks support

• States had local militias

Kelly, Martin. “Why did the Articles of Confederation Fail?” americanhistory.about.com. About.com, n.d. Web.25 Feb.2011Sean Hackbarth, Revolutionary War

Reenactors, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution

TRADE PROBLEMS

• States taxed other states goods

• Bad feelings between north and south

• Decline in trade

• Little respect from other nations

Linder, Doug. “The Constitutional Convention of 1787.” Law2.umkc.edu. The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.Jessica Burmann, DSC7319, 2/27/22, Attribution and Non

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THE CALL FOR A CONVENTION

• Revise the Articles of Confederation

• Make the government stronger

Kelly, Martin. “Why did the Articles of Confederation Fail?” americanhistory.about.com. About.com, n.d. Web.25 Feb.2011

Wallyg, Philidelphia- Independence Hall, 2/27/11, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

WHERE AND WHEN?

• Held in Philadelphia

– Nations capital

– Independence Hall

• Convention started on May 25, 1787

• Constitution signed September 17, 1787

• Ratified June 21, 1788

Mount, Steve. “The Convention Timeline.” www.usconstitution.net. U.S. Constitution Online, 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

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WHO WAS THERE?

• 12 of 13 states attended

– Rhode Island did not come

• 70 invited- 55 attended

– Ages 26-81

– All men

• Met in secret

Linder, Doug. “The Constitutional Convention of 1787.” Law2.umkc.edu. The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.Kurt Magoon, Independence Hall,2/27/11, Attribution-

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LEADERS OF THE CONVENTION

• George Washington– From Virginia

– President of convention

– Commander of Continental Army

– 1st President

• Alexander Hamilton– From New York

– Active in the ratification of Constitution

– Secretary of Treasury

“The Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention.” www.archives.gov. National Archives, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.

Cliff1066, George Washington, First President, 2/27/11, Creative Commons AttributionMarion Doss, Alexander Hamilton, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike

• James Madison

– From Virginia

– Father of the Constitution

– Federalist Papers

• Benjamin Franklin

– From Pennsylvania

– Oldest member

– Very respected

“The Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention.” www.archives.gov. National Archives, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.

U.S. Department of State, James Madison, 2/27/11, United States Government WorkMCS@flickr, Benjamin Franklin, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution and No Derivative Works

THE DECISION FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION

• Articles had many things wrong with it

– Could not be fixed

• Some states would not have attended

Mount, Steve. “The Constutional Topic: The Annapolis Conference.” www.usconstitution.net. U.S. Constitution Online, 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

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DISAGREEMENTS OVER THE CONSTITUTION

• How it was set up

– representation

• Small states vs. big states

Linder, Doug. “The Constitutional Convention of 1787.” Law2.umkc.edu. The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

Rosie O’Beirne, Stock Photo of the Consitution of the United States and Feather Quill, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution and No Derivative Works

WHICH WERE WHICH?

Big States

• Virginia

• Pennsylvania

• North Carolina

• Massachutes

• Maryland

• New York

Small States

• South Carolina

• New Jersey

• New Hampshire

• Georgia

• Rhode Island

• Delaware

Connecticut

Merrill, Deane. “Estimated Population of American Colonies 1630-1780: Source Bureau of Census.” merrill.oln.net, n.p, 1998. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.

VIRGINIA PLAN

• Proposed by Edmund Randolph

• House elected by the people

• Senate elected by state legislatures

• Both represented proportionally

Mount, Steve. “Constitutional Topic: Madison and the Virginia Plan.” www.usconstitution.net. U.S. Constitution Online, 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

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NEW JERSEY PLAN

• Proposed by William Paterson

• One house

• Every state had same representation

Mount, Steve. “Constitutional Topic: Paterson and the New Jersey Plan.” www.usconstitution.net. U.S. Constitution Online, 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

Jimmywayne, New Jersey State Capital, 2/27/11, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

THE GREAT COMPROMISE

• Also know as the Connecticut Compromise

• House of Representatives elected by people

– Based on population

• Senate is elected by state legislatures

– 2 from each state

Longley, Robert. “The Great Compromise of 1787: A Congress Created.” Usgovinfo.about.com. About.com. n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.“Direct Election of Senators.” www.senate.gov. United States Senate, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

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3/5 COMPROMISE

• 3 of 5 slaves counted for population

– Representation

– Taxes

• South wanted them to be 1

• Same as the Articles of Confederation

Mount, Steve. “Constitutional Topic: The Problem of Slavery.” www.usconstitution.net. U.S. Constitution Online, 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

Okinawa Soba, SLAVES, EX-SLAVES, and CHILDREN OF SLAVES IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, 2/27/11, Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

• Articles of Confederation were weak

• Constitutional Convention is called

• Constitution written

• Arguments over representation and slaves

• The Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise

“The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.” www.earlyamerica.com. Archiving Early America, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.Kelly, Martin. “Why did the Articles of Confederation Fail?” americanhistory.about.com. About.com, n.d. Web.25 Feb.2011Mount, Steve. “Constitutional Topic: Madison and the Virginia Plan.” www.usconstitution.net. U.S. Constitution Online, 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2011.

Jcoleman, American Flag, 2/27/11, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs