The Articles of Confederation was the first plan of government for the colonies. When the Congress decided the Articles of Confederation were too weak, they met again to revise the plan. This meeting became known as the Constitutional Convention. It was held in Philadelphia in 1787. The United States Constitution was written at this meeting. George Washington, who was a hero of the Revolutionary War, was chosen to lead the convention. Washington knew it would be difficult to form a plan that all states would accept.
Our Constitution became a model for democratic government that worked with only a few changes for over two hundred years.
Questions to think about in this chapter:
1. Explain why the Articles of Confederation didn't work and why a stronger plan was needed?
2. To identify and describe the compromises made at the Constitutional Convention?
3. To name the four guiding principals used to write the Constitution?
4. To describe the process used to ratify the Constitution?
5. To describe the Federalist and the Anti Federalist points of view?
6. To explain why the Bill of Rights was needed?