WANTED :

1. WANTED: A “Just Right” Government

2. Wanted: A government that… much • Has enough ________ to do its job • Doesn’t give anyone too ______ power • Considers the needs of all _________ • Lets people have a ________ • Protects individual __________ say states power rights

3. In 1777, the Americans wrote their first plan for government in a document called the Articles of Confederation

4. The First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation TheArticles of Confederation?What’s a confederation?? A confederation is a _________ of individuals _______ together for a _________. group united purpose

5. The First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation independent • Each state was _________________ and had its own ________________. • Each state would send _______________ to the “Congress of the Confederation.” • The Congress was the only ____________ government. There was no ___________. • In Congress, each state got _______ vote. government representatives central President one

6. The First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation Hey, this sounds great! Wait! Not so fast… • States get to keep their ______ and ____________ • No _____________ telling the states what to do • Congress had the power to create a _________ to ________all the states • Congress had no way to __________ its _______! • Congress had no power to collect _________ to pay for the military! • The Articles could only be _________ if ______ the states agreed! power independence enforce laws government taxes military protect changed ALL

7. Think About It Under the Articles of Confederation, a President would lead the country.  True  False 

8. Think About It States would be independent under the Articles of Confederation.   True  False

9. Think About It The Articles of Confederation were easy to change.  True  False 

10. Think About It The more people a state had, the more votes it got in Congress.  True  False 

11. Think About It Congress did not have the power to collect taxes.   True  False

12. Think About It Congress could pass laws and force states to follow them.  True  False 

13. Think About It The Articles of Confederation created the first American government.   True  False

14. There were some good things and some bad things about the Articles of Confederation. In general, people felt like the government wasn’t working! Congress is too weak to end the conflicts between our states!

15. But there was no easy solution… We need a President! Large states should have more say! Down with central government! Small states should have more say! More help for fishermen! Who needs a President? Up with central government! More help for farmers!

16. States Had Different Needs Some states depended on , fishing while others mostly grew . crops

17. States Had Different Sizes Some states had people, many few while others had .

18. People Had Different Opinions Some people feared a central government. Others thought a central government was . necessary A central government will have too much power! We’ll lose our freedom! But we’ll never get anything done if no one is in charge!!

19. Think About It Everybody thought the central government should have more power.  True  False 

20. Think About It Some people were afraid states might lose their independence.   True  False

21. Think About It Different states had different needs for government to meet.   True  False

22. Think About It The states all got along with each other.  True  False 

23. Think About It The government created by the Articles of Confederation had everything under control among the states.  True  False 

24. Something needed to change, but people didn’t want a central government to have too much power!

25. The states decided to put aside some of their differences and come together to try to solve the problem of forming a new government…

26. A New Idea! Articles of Confederation New Idea 1 Branch Legislative—makes laws 3 Branches

27. A New Idea! How many should each state get in the legislature? votes Legislative: Makes laws But Wait! Executive: Carries out laws Judicial: Interprets laws

28. Think About It Each state gets to send representatives to the legislature. Which states would have the most power if… • The more people a state had, the more representatives it got? Answer: The more people, the more power!

29. Think About It Each state gets to send representatives to the legislature. Which states would have the most power if… • Each state got one vote, no matter how small? Answer: People in the small states would have more power.

30. Battle of the Plans The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan • Legislative branch has ___ “chambers” • Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s ___________ • ________ states would have more power 2 • Legislative branch has ___ “chamber” • Each state gets ___ vote • ________ states would have more power 1 1 Smaller population Larger (Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. Surprise!)

31. Think About It  All states should have the same power  Larger states should have more power Is it more fair for every state to have the same amount of power no matter how few people live there, or should states with more people have more power? WHY?

32. There were a lot of differences to overcome and a lot of compromises to make…but finally…

33. The Constitution Solution Legislative: Makes laws Divide Congress Into Two Houses Executive: Carries out laws Judicial: Interprets laws And that’s not all…

34. Not only did the Constitution resolve the problem of the legislature, but it solved some other problems as well…

35. Think About It Did the Articles of Confederation require states to treat other states the same as their own citizens?  Yes  No 

36. The Constitution Solution The Constitution requires each state to treat ________ of other states the ______ as it treats its own citizens. citizens same

37. Think About It How many states had to agree in order for the Articles of Confederation to be changed?   All states  A majority of states

38. The Constitution Solution The Constitution can be changed if ________________ of the members of Congress and ________________ of the states agree. two-thirds (2/3) three-fourths (3/4)

39. Think About It Did the Articles of Confederation require states to follow the laws Congress passed?  Yes  No 

40. The Constitution Solution The Constitution says that the laws passed by Congress are _________ to laws passed by the _______. superior states

41. The new Americans made compromises and found solutions for their new government. Let’s review the final product of the Constitutional Convention!

42. Under the Constitution Laws are made by the _______ branch. A B  executive legislative

43. Under the Constitution Laws passed by Congress are _____ to state laws. A  B superior inferior

44. Under the Constitution Congress has ______. A B  1 chamber 2 chambers

45. Under the Constitution Each state gets two votes in the __________. A B  House of Representatives Senate

46. Under the Constitution In the House of Representatives, the number of votes each states gets is based on its ________. A  B population taxes

47. Under the Constitution A change to the Constitution must be approved by ___________. A B  All states ¾ of states

48. Although they managed to solve the problems created by the Articles, there were still many decisions to be made before everyone accepted the Constitution!