Michelle Founding Documents and Debates

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What were the Articles of Confederation?

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The first U.S. Constitution (1781-1788). It created a weak central government with no executive or judicial branches and lacked the power to tax or regulate trade effectively.

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Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

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No power to: levy taxes, regulate trade, or enforce laws. Required all states' approval for amendments, and lacked a national executive and judiciary.

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Purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

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A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which ultimately led to the creation of a new U.S. Constitution.

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What was the Great Compromise?

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Resolved the debate over congressional representation. Created a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation per state).

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What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

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An agreement where every five enslaved persons would be counted as three individuals for purposes of determining a state's population for both representation and taxation.

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Who were the Federalists?

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Supporters of the new Constitution who argued for a strong national government to ensure stability and effectively manage national issues.

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Who were the Anti-Federalists?

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Opponents of the Constitution who feared a strong central government would infringe on individual and state rights. They demanded a Bill of Rights be added.

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Purpose of the Federalist Papers?

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A series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to persuade the states, particularly New York, to ratify the Constitution.