Starter

1. Starter • Describe religion in the colonies.

2. Objective 1.05 Identify the major problems of the nation under the Articles of Confederation and assess the extent to which they were resolved by the new Constitution

3. After Independence • States drew up their own constitutions • Treaty of Paris (1783)- officially ended the war • Other nations recognized the US as a new nation • France was the first; they had helped the colonists fight. • Articles of Confederation- document that created the first national government • Weaknesses • The central government was very weak! • Nine of 13 states had to agree to anything- one house legislature (unicameral) • No power to tax, had to ask the states for money • Other nations knew it was weak: Britain did not remove its troops from the Ohio Valley • No President • No federal court system

4. The First Constitution • Articles of Confederation- document that created the first national government • It created a weak central government • Colonists were afraid of such a strong central government like England had. States were given the majority of the power.

5. Good points of the Articles • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Divided Northwest territories into townships and allowed Congress to raise money by selling the land • Northwest Ordinance • Provided guidelines for admitting new states • Eventually led to the formation of five new states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan

6. Impacts • Shays Rebellion • Massachusetts farmer revolted because of high taxes to pay for war- attacked state government • The federal government could not help: they had no army • Constitutional Convention was called to strengthen the federal government • May 1787- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7. US Constitution • Delegates met in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, BUT……… • Agreed to write a new Constitution • Two plans were introduced: • Virginia Plan: three branches of government, bicameral (two house) legislature based on population- favored large states • New Jersey Plan: three branches, unicameral legislature based on one representative per state- favored smaller states

8. The Great Compromise • Roger Sherman of Connecticut introduced his plan: • The Connecticut Plan (the Great Compromise) • Three branches of government • Bicameral legislature: • House of Representatives: based upon population and elected by the people • Senate- two per state and chosen by state legislatures

9. US Constitution- Other Compromises • Slavery was a problem- helped southern states have a larger population • Three-fifths compromise • Slave trade compromise- it would end in 20 years • President to be chosen by the Electoral College • People were not smart enough to vote for president • If no majority, the House of Representatives decides • Some believed not enough protections for citizens were included • Some states refused to sign it until some changes were made • Bill of Rights: first 10 amendments

10. Assignment • Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.