Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention Review
What problems did the nation face under the Articles of Confederation?
-could not settle disputes between states-foreign countries did not respect the nation-could not raise enough money
Constitutional Convention
A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
The Articles of Confederation had 13 main articles
Article 2: The state governments still had their own powers that were not listed in the Articles. Article 3: Refers to the union as a "league of friendship" where the states will help to protect each other from attacks.
Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States. This document officially established the government of the union of the thirteen states.
Why did the Americans fear a strong national government when writing the Articles of Confederation?
Because of their experience under the King
Identify 4 things the Articles of Confederation could not do or was lacking.
Congress could not levy and collect taxes. Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade. There was no national court system to settle disputes. The thirteen separate states lacked national unity.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood, included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery
Why did the Articles of Confederation make the national government so weak?
Did not want to be like Britain; wanted to try something different, giving more power to individual states, experience under the King
Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Each state only had one vote in Congress despite the size of the state
Which group supported ratification of the Constitution?
Federalists
President of the Constitutional Convention
George Washington
Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
No power to raise money through taxes (federal/national government was too weak)
Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
No way to enforce the laws passed by Congress (federal/national government was too weak)
What law set up government in the Northwest territory?
Northwest Ordinance
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
Philadelphia, PA in Independence Hall
author of the Great Compromise
Roger Sherman
Why were the Articles of Confederation written?
The colonies knew they needed some form of official government that united the thirteen colonies. They wanted to have written down rules that all the states agreed to. The Articles allowed the Congress to do things like raise an army, be able to create laws, and print money
Bicameral
Two house legislature
What is one way to settle a dispute?`
compromise
used to settle a dispute
compromise
What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?
how enslaved persons would be counted for taxes and representation
Why is the Constitution of the US considered an improvement over the Articles?
it improved the balance of power between national and state governments
Why was Shay's Rebellion important?
it showed the Articles of Confederation were not working
What replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1788?
it was replaced with the current United States Constitution
Things Congress could do under the Articles of Confederation
make treaties with Native Americans, declare war, make alliances, sell land
What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?
raise taxes
What dispute did the Great Compromise settle?
representation in Congress
Land Ordinance of 1785
set up a system for surveying and dividing western lands
What kind of states did the New Jersey Plan support?
small, less populated states
Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
the federal (national) government was too weak; the state governments had more power
Define ratify
to approve
The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to do what?
to revise the Articles of Confederation
constitution
a plan of government
