Articles of Confederation 1781-1789

1. Articles of Confederation 1781-1789 • 1st Set of laws following independence from Britain • Established a weak federal government.

2. Strengths of Articles • Established Land Ordinance of 1785—divided up the Northwest Territory for settlement. • Established the Northwest Ordinance—developed governments in the Northwest Territory & prohibited slavery north of the Ohio River.

3. Weaknesses of the Articles • No President of the U.S • No Federal Courts (Supreme Court) • No power to collect taxes or regulate trade.

4. Constitutional Convention; Philadelphia 1787 • 1. Convention called to revise the Articles of Confederation. • 2. Delegates met in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia to create what becomes our U.S. Constitution.

5. Virginia Plan • 1. Representation in Congress was to be based on each state’s population. • 2. Favored larger, more populated states. • 3. Plan proposed by James Madison, delegate from Virginia.

6. New Jersey Plan • 1. Proposed representation should be equal in each state. • 2. Favored smaller states. • 3. Sponsored by William Patterson of NJ.

7. Constitutional Compromises • 1. The Great Compromise---State representation in the lower house based on population; Representation in the upper house would be based on equal representation.

8. 3/5 Compromise • Developed between northern & southern states on how slaves would be included in representation for Congress. • Established that five slaves would be equal to 3 free persons for representation.

9. Electoral College • 1. Electoral College established to select President---to provide a ‘check’ on the power of the people. • **This compromise has been controversial throughout American history.