Constitution STAAR

The Articles of
Confederation

TEKS

🔘

8.15B Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation.

🔘

8.6A Explain how the Northwest Ordinance established principles and

procedures for orderly expansion of the United States

The Articles of Confederation served as the
written document that established the functions
of the national government of the United States
after it declared independence from Great Britain.

During the American revolution,the Americans

(former British colonists) kicked out the King’s official
government leaders and created a new government.

Creating a new government was a serious and difficult
challenge. So, the Continental Congress wrote a
documentto unite the 13 independent states.

The Continental Congress

LEGISLATIVE

The Articles of Confederation (1777-1781)

Concerns about the Central Government

Members of the Continental Congress feared that individual freedom
might be threatened by the national government if it had too much
power. Therefore, the Articles of Confederation deliberately placed more
power in the hands of the individual states, making the national
government very week. Congress didn’t want an executive leader like a
king.

A

Friendship

of 13

Independent

States

LOSER!

King George III

Structure of the Confederation Government

Under the AOC, the national government was only a loose association -
a “league of friendship,” with only one branch of government - the
Congress

Articles of Confederation

Structure of the Confederation Government

★ One branch of government-Congress (a one-house

legislature)

★ One vote in Congress for each state
★ No national executive (president)
★ No national courts

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

We know that the Articles of Confederation did not last as our plan of national
government. But why? Let’s take another look at the strengths of the Articles of
Confederation.

Strengths of the Articles of

Confederation

★ Power to Negotiate Treaties
★ Could Conduct Foreign Affairs

(Signed the Treaty of Paris 1783)

★ Power to Declare War
★ Ability to Print Money (Coin

Currency)

★ Established a system for settling

the Northwest Territory

Weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation

★ No national court (judicial) system
★ No Chief Executive (President)
★ Congress could not collect taxes
★ No national army
★ No power to regulate trade
★ Nine of the thirteen states (more

than a majority) required to make
most decisions

Multiple Select

Powers granted to the Federal Government under the Articles of Confederation included:

(Choose 4 answers)

• Declare War

• Maintain an army/navy

• Negotiate treaties/conduct foreign affairs

• collect taxes

• established a system for settling the Northwest Territory

The Confederation Congress passed the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

These acts prohibited slavery in the
Northwest Territory=⭐

, encouraged free

public education, and guaranteed both
religious freedom, and trial by jury.

The Northwest Ordinance introduced a
method for admitting these territories into
the Union as new states once a population
of 60,000 people was achieved within each
territory. The new states were admitted on
terms of complete equality with the original
thirteen states.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

⭐

⭐

Dropdown

There will be ​

Select answer

of ​

Select answer

in the Northwest Territories

Dropdown

Citizens are guaranteed the right to ​

Select answer

by ​

Select answer

in the Northwest Territories.

Citizens should be eligible for (reasonable) ​

Select answer

No ​

Select answer

or unusual ​

Select answer

should be inflicted on citizens.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

and ​

Select answer

will be encouraged.

Native Americans should be treated fairly - their ​

Select answer

and ​

Select answer

should not be taken away.

Dropdown

​ Once a state has ​

Select answer

free people, it can apply for statehood.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

is not allowed in the Northwest Territory.​

Multiple Choice

• Declaration of Independence

• U. S. Constitution

• Articles of Confederation

• Mayflower Compact

Multiple Choice

• English Bill of Rights

• Proclamation of 1763

• Northwest Ordinance

• Mayflower Compact

Multiple Choice

A law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed.

• Great Compromise

• Enlightenment

• Northwest Ordinance

• Northwest Territory

Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention - Questions and Compromises

In May 1787, representatives from the states met in Philadelphia, PA to revise (make changes to) the Articles of Confederation.

George Washington was chosen to preside over the Convention.

​Opening the Convention

​

Multiple Choice

Where was the Constitutional Convention held?

• New York City, NY

• Yorktown, VA

• Boston, MA

• Philadelphia, PA

• Because the delegates wanted to speak their minds freely they agreed to keep what was said in the meeting room secret until the convention was done.

​Opening the Convention

​

Multiple Choice

Why did the political leaders meet in 1787?

• To revise the AOC

• To petition King George III

• To revise the Declaration of Independence

• To write a new Constitution

Open Ended

Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention?

The representatives at the Convention quickly agreed on discarding the Articles of Confederation and decided that a new Constitution was needed.

​Opening the Convention

​

Although it was agreed that the discussions of the Constitutional Convention were to be kept secret, James Madison wrote down every speech.

Madison is known as the "Father of the U.S. Constitution." If not for his notes, little of what took place at the Convention would be known.

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​James Madison

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention agreed on the need for strengthening the national government. But they did not agree on all issues.

For example, they could not agree on how states should be represented in Congress.

Two Plans: Virginia Plan Vs. New Jersey Plan

​

The Virginia Plan

• Proposed by Edmund Randolph and James Madison

• favored by the LARGE STATES

• Bicameral (2-house) legislature

• Proportional representation - based on a state's population

Multiple Choice

In the Virginia Plan representation in congress was based on population. Which states favored this plan?

• Northern States

• Southern States

• Large States

• Small States

The New Jersey Plan

• Proposed by William Paterson from New Jersey

• Favored by the SMALL STATES

• Unicameral legislature

• Equality - one representative per state

Multiple Choice

Which plan for a new government was favored by small states?

• Virginia Plan

• New Jersey Plan

• Articles of Confederation

Match

Match the following

• Virginia Plan

• Articles of Confederation

• New Jersey Plan

favored by the large states who wanted representation based on population

gave more power to the states than the Federal Government

favored by the small states who wanted equal representation

• favored by the large states who wanted representation based on population

• gave more power to the states than the Federal Government

• favored by the small states who wanted equal representation

• ​Proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut.

• Solved the question of how states should be represented in the new government.

​

The Great Compromise

How?
Created a bicameral (2-house) legislature (Congress)

1.

Senate with equal representation

2.

House of Representatives with representation based on states’ population

The Great Compromise - Solved the issue of Representation in Congress between the Large States and the Small States

Multiple Choice

What Compromise solved the question of how states should be represented in the new government?

• The Electoral College

• The Great Compromise

• The Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise

Multiple Choice

The Senate will have equal representation for each state. The House of Representatives will be based on ... ?

• Money

• Slaves

• Population

• It will also be equal

Match

Match the following

• Representatives for each state are determined by population

• Each state gets two representatives

• Solved the question "How should states be represented in the new government?".

House of Representatives

Senate

The Great Compromise

• House of Representatives

• Senate

• The Great Compromise

Another issue concerned slavery. Should the states count their slave populations when determining how many representatives they should have in Congress?

How should slave be counted?

Northern States Vs. Southern States

​

​The Question of Slavery

​How should African Americans be counted in the new government?

​

Three-Fifths Compromise

• 3 out of 5 slaves counted for purposes of representation and taxation

• especially benefitted smaller Southern states

• gave Southern states more political influence in the House of Representatives

Multiple Choice

Under the 3/5 Compromise at the Constitutional Convention, African American Slaves counted as ____________ % of a normal vote?

• 40%

• 60%

• 80%

• 90%

Multiple Choice

Which States argued that slavery was essential to their economy and making money?

• Southern States

• Northern States

• Large States

• Small States

The Debate Over Ratification

Federalist vs Anti-Federalist

Members of the Constitutional Convention decided that before the Constitution could become law, nine states out of thirteen should ratify (approve) it.

Multiple Choice

• Approve

• Disqualify

• Advantage

• Deny

Federalists v.

Anti-Federalists

Federalists

• Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, John Adams (Favored US Constitution)

• Believed in a powerful central/national government to make the country stronger and more stable

• NO BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO CONSTITUTION

• Supported ratification (approval) of the Constitution

• Believed the Constitution protected states & individuals enough

• All ideas contained in a series of documents called the Federalist Papers

Multiple Choice

• Federalists

• Republicans

• Democrats

• Whigs

Multiple Choice

With which of the following ideas would Federalists most likely have agreed on?

• A Bill of Rights should be included in the Constitution

• Having a stronger central government will make the country stronger & more stable

• The 3/5th Compromise will make the country more fair and equal

• Everyone should be able to vote

Multiple Choice

• Anti-Federalists Papers

• Federalists Papers

• Liberal Papers

• Conservative Papers

Anti-Federalists

• Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Patrick Henry (Opponents of the new Constitution)

• Believed in strong STATE government

• Constitution needed explicit protection of individual rights and freedoms from a strong Federal/National government

• A BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION

• Against ratification of the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

Multiple Choice

Why did Anti-Federalists demand a Bill of Rights be added to the Constitution?

• to strengthen the authority of the federal government

• to Improve the organization of the judicial branch

• to give each state equal amounts of power

• to protect individual freedoms from the federal government

Federalists

• Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, John Adams (Supporters of the Constitution)

• Believed in a powerful central/national government to make the country stronger and more stable

• NO BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO CONSTITUTION

• Supported ratification (approval) of the Constitution

• Believed the Constitution protected states & individuals enough

• All ideas contained in a series of documents called the Federalist Papers

Multiple Choice

People in support of ratifying the constitution were called---

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalists

• Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Patrick Henry (Opponents of the Constitution)

• Believed in strong STATE government

• Needed explicit protection of individual rights and freedoms from Federal government

• YES BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION

• Against ratification of the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

Multiple Choice

People opposed (against) ratifying the Constitution were called ----

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

Federalists

• Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, John Adams (Supporters of the Constitution)

• Believed in a powerful central/national government to make the country stronger and more stable

• NO BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO CONSTITUTION

• Supported ratification (approval) of the Constitution

• Believed the Constitution protected states & individuals enough

• All ideas contained in a series of documents called the Federalist Papers

Multiple Choice

Which speaker was in favor of ratifying the Constitution?

• Speaker 1

• Speaker 2

• Speaker 3

• Speaker 4

Multiple Choice

Those who agreed with this point of view were known as---

• Minutemen

• Loyalists

• Anti-Federalists

• Federalists

Anti-Federalists

• Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Patrick Henry (Opponents of the Constitution)

• Believed in strong STATE government

• Needed explicit protection of individual rights and freedoms from Federal government

• YES BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION

• Against ratification of the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

Multiple Choice

Patrick Henry opposed ratifying the constitution because he believed...

• the states would surrender too much power to the federal government

• alliances could not be formed with other countries

• the courts will not be able to hold officials accountable

• Individuals would have too much power over the federal government

DEBATE OVER RATIFICATION OF U.S. CONSTITUTION

Patrick Henry
George Mason
feared a strong
central gov’t
might threaten
individual
liberties. Wanted
a Bill of Rights to
protect individual
liberties.

James Madison
A.

Hamilton

John Jay
Wanted a strong
central gov’t and
federalism,
separation of
powers and
checks and
balances would
limit its power and
protect individual
liberties

Created “The Federalist
Papers” to help support
ratification (approval) of
the U.S. Constitution