The New Nation, 1783-1800 (part 1)

Chapter 7:
The New Nation,
1783-1800

The Articles of Confederation

During the war, the colonies agreed to make up a group of rules. These rules were called Articles of Confederation. The Articles set up Congress to help govern the nation. A congress is a group that makes laws.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a congress?

• To represent make laws and help govern the nation.

• To juggle flaming torches, perform magic tricks, and write poetry.
• To fly to the moon, swim with dolphins, and climb Mount Everest.
• To bake cookies, ride bicycles, and paint pictures.

​The New Nation Faces Problems

The new Congress was not very strong, but most Americans liked that. They had enough strong government under the British. One the other hand, the new nation faced problems that the weak Congress could not solve.

For example, Congress could not pass taxes. It could only ask each state to payits share of running the government. States also fought over boundary lines. Courts in one state could not settle arguments in another state. People went on thinking of themselves as citizens of their state, not as Americans.

Multiple Choice

What was one problem faced by the new nation of the United States?

• Lack of ability to pass taxes

• Influx of immigrants
• Abundance of natural resources

​More Problems for the Nation

The powerful European countries didn't take the new nation seriously. When John Adams was in Great Britain trying to set up trade agreements, he was asked, "Do you represent one nation or thirteen?"
Several American leaders became worried. How could such a weak government protect the nation? Could the nation even continue? The leaders decided to meet in May 1787 to discuss these problems.

Multiple Choice

What was the main problem faced by the new United States?

• Lack of a strong government

• No military

• Other nations didn't like them

• Unicorns invaded

A New Plan of Government

At the meeting in Philadelphia, there were 55 delegates. Delegates were people chosed to represent and speak for all Americans. Some delegates hoped simply to change the Articles of Confederation. But they soon realized that this would not be enough. The delegates agreed to start over and make a new government.

The delegates worked six days a week for four months. On September 17, 1787, only one job was left. Each delegate signed a new constitution. A constitution is a group of laws. The United States Constitution is the basic law of our land.

Multiple Choice

What is a constitution?

• A constitution is a set of laws

• A constitution is a type of computer software
• A constitution is a type of bird
• A constitution is a type of dessert

​A New Law for a New Land

While writing the Constitution, the delegates often disagreed with one another. One disagreement was about how to set up the legislature. The delegates wanted each state to be represented in this group.
Delegates from states that had small populations, like Delaware, wanted all states to have the same number of memebers. "Unfair!" said states like Virginia that had large populations. "States with more people need more representatives."

Multiple Choice

What was one disagreement the delegates had while writing the Constitution?

• Length of presidential term
• Number of representatives

• Number of branches of government
• Location of the capital

In the end, the delegates decided to compromise. This means that each side gives in a little to reach an agreement. The result was the Congress we have today. It has two parts, each called a house. In one house, the Senate, each state has two members. The other house is called the House of Representatives. Here each state has a different number of representatives depending on the number of people in the state.

Multiple Choice

How many members does each state have in the Senate?

• 2
• 4
• 3

Multiple Choice

How many members does each state have in the House of Representatives?

• 50
• 100
• 2

• It varies

Match

Match the following

• Each side gives a little to reach an agreement

• a group of laws

• a group that makes laws

• people chosen to represent and speak for others

compromise

consitution

congress

delegates

• compromise

• consitution

• congress

• delegates