Articles of Confederation

1
Articles of Confederation

• Ratified March,1781

2
About the Articles

• Every state has the same power
• Government was like a friendship
• Unicameral Legislature
• Each state had one vote

3
Problems

• Congress couldnt tax or collect duties
• Congress didnt regulate commerce
• States were forced to open embassies in other
  states
• No national court system

4
Problems

• No executive
• Unanimous consent to pass amendments led to 0
  amendments passed
• Look at the table on page 45

5
Call for Change
6
Shays Rebellion

• Daniel Shay A War vet who could not pay his
  mortgage. The bank took his house.
• 1,000 soldiers rally behind him to march on
  Boston.
• Legislature panics because the most loyal
  Americans are rebelling.
• Shook the founders to the core

7
Constitutional Convention 1787

• A call goes out to send delegates

8
The States

• Virginia was the largest state
• Rhode Island and Massachusetts were the smallest
• Philadelphia was the largest city. pop 30,000

9
The Delegates

• 74 were selected 58 or 59 come
• All but 2 were Orthodox Christians
• 31 had college degrees

10
The Delegates

• 26 was the youngest
• 81 was the oldest (Ben Franklin)
• Jefferson, Adams, John Jay, and Patrick Henry do
  not attend. VA doesnt want a strong central
  government.

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Principles of the Convention

• Only address comments to the chair
• Deliberations were kept secret
• A majority of states would need to be present to
  conduct business
• One vote per state and a majority carries a
  proposal

12
Things Debated

• Virginia Plan Representation by proportion
• New Jersey Plan Each state has the same say
• 2 months of debate and they have gotten nowhere

13
Compromise

• Connecticut Compromise
• 2 House legislature
• Representation 3/5th Compromise
• For representation but not taxes

14
Ratification

• Anti-Federalists
• Against ratification
• Anti-Federalist control 7-9 legislatures
• Federalist
• Favored ratification

15
What was debated

• No bill of rights
• 1st ten amendments were the main criticisms
• Power of the central government
• Federalist Papers
• Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote 85 papers
  defending the constitution.