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Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention. Mac 2005. What is the single most significant factor of a Confederation ?. Weak Central Government A loose alignment of independent states See George Washington reading168-69 Cite three examples of Washington’s criticisms.
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Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention Mac 2005
What is the single most significant factor of a Confederation? • Weak Central Government • A loose alignment of independent states • See George Washington reading168-69 • Cite three examples of Washington’s criticisms.
Articles of Confederation • Congress (the central government) was made up of delegates chosen by the states and could conduct foreign affairs, make treaties, declare war, maintain an army and a navy, coin money, and establish post offices. • Measures passed by Congress had to be approved by 9 of the 13 states.
Northwest Ordinance • The Confederation Congress did provide for settlement of the Ohio Territory. • Entering the union • Eastern states had to relinquish claims to western lands (example Maryland) • See map
Northwest Territory • The ordinance organized the territory into a grid pattern for townships.
Confederation Problems • Congress was severely limited in its powers. • It could not raise money by collecting taxes; • it had no control over foreign commerce; • it could pass laws but could not force the states to comply with them. • Thus, the government was dependent on the willingness of the various states to carry out its measures, and often the states refused to cooperate. • The articles were virtually impossible to amend, so problems could not be corrected.
Call For Change • As the need for a stronger federal government began to be realized, leaders from throughout the states got together to decide how to create it. • One example of the need for a stronger central government was Shay’s Rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion • Massachusetts 1786-87 • Tax protest turns violent • Poor farmers couldn’t pay taxes • Asked for redress • Took up arms and were suppressed • Caused-showed problems with the MOB • Leaders were afraid of Anarchy and more support for revising of Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia Convention • Many delegates/leaders gather to revise the Articles of Confederation • Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison… • Decide to make the discussions secret • Immediately decide to start over the process of organizing a national or central government
Great Compromise • House of Representatives: • Representation determined by population-more people more reps • Large states get more reps/power • Senate- • Each state gets 2 Senators • Benefits small states
Great Compromise and Slavery • Very Divisive issue • Southern State threaten ratification if Slavery is touched. • 20 year moratorium on addressing Slavery Trade See article I Section 9 • 3/5ths Compromise- Slave populations will count for representation-5 slaves=3 people
The Constitution is Ratified • December 7, 1787 Delaware is the first state to ratify the Constitution • Pennsylvania December 12 • New Jersey Dec. 18 • Georgia January 2, 1788 • Connecticut Jan. 9 • Massachusetts Feb. 7 • Maryland April 28 • South Carolina May 23 • New Hampshire, June 21 (9th state to ratify Constitution goes into effect)