Chapter 3 Notes

Creating a Constitution (1781-1789)

I. The Confederation

   A. Congress Under the Articles of Confederation

      1. The A of C

            a. weak central gov’t—why?

            b. congress only-(no exec or jud)

                  i. powers: declare war, raise army, sign

   treaties

                   ii. can’t: tax, regulate trade, enforce

      2. Western Policies

            a. Land Ordinance (‘85), NW Ordinance (‘87)

                  i. $ - divided western lands-see map

                  ii. qualifications for statehood

                  iii. rights of people

                  iv. no slaves—uh oh!

      3. Success in Trade

            a. Brits exclude us, but we make other friends

   B. The Congress Falters

      1. Problems with Trade

            a. Brits flood markets w/ goods—problems?

                  i. states don’t all resist evenly

                  ii. states start to tax each other (pg 101) and

                      act like independent countries

                  **Where’s Congress?**

         2. Problems with Diplomacy

            a. Brits don’t live up to treaty (we don’t either)

            b. Congress can’t force states to do anything

            c. Spain—same thing—they took away access to

                 New Orleans and wanted better border w/ GA

                    **Where’s Congress?**

      3. The Economic Crisis

            a. gold vs. paper currency

            b. Rhode Island pg. 103

      4. Shays’s Rebellion

            a. farmers in Mass. Angry over taxes—why?

            b. rebellion put down, but shows problems w/

                 gov’t and power of the mob

II. A New Constitution

A.   The Constitutional Convention

1.   present system not working

a.   nationalists- need a stronger central gov’t

2.   Philly Convention Called

3.   The Framers

a.   55 delegates—best of the best

b.  read page 105

4.   The Virginia Plan

a.   3 branches

                                                     i.     bicameral

b.  representation base on population

                                                     i.     little states no-likey

c.   The New Jersey Plan

                                                     i.     Unicameral with equal representation

B.   A Union Built on Compromise

1. The Connecticut (Great) Compromise

     a. combine VA & NJ for representation

2. Compromise over slavery

     a. 3/5 Compromise

     b. Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

   C. A Framework for Limited Government

*popular sovereignty, federal system, separation of pwrs

        1. Checks & Balances

            a. see diagram

        2. Amending the Constitution

            a. 2/3 of both houses or 2/3 of states can propose

            b. ¾ of state legislature or conventions can ratify

III. Ratifying the Constitution

    A. A Great Debate

  1. Federalists and Anti-Federalists

      a. Feds want a federal system

            i. rich, artisans, merchants (why?

        b. A-F fear too much power

            i. want a Bill of Rights

            ii. fear danger to state power

  2. The Federalist (Papers)

      a. A-F have no alternative

      b. Feds are well organized

      c. essays convince many to support

     B. Battle for Ratification

        1. some were quick (DE, PA) others more timid

        2. The Debate in Massachusetts

            a. Feds promise a Bill of Rights

        3. The Debate in Virginia

            a. ratified on promise of Bill of Rights

        4. New York Votes to Ratify

            a. Hamilton convinces ratification

                  i. enough states (9) already did

            b. March 4, 1789 new Congress to meet

            c. NC & RI last to ratify

            d. GW as president eases some minds