Articles of Confederation
Adopted in 1777 during the Revolutionary War, the Articles established the United States of America. The Articles granted limited powers to the central government, reserving most powers for the states. The result was a poorly defined national state that c
Troubles of passing a new law due to the congress.
Each state governed itself, but all were supposed to work together on national issues. However, the shortcomings, or weaknesses, of the Articles made it difficult for the national government to work effectively. Under the Articles of Confederation, delega
Articles limited powers of national or central government.
For example, Congress had the power to declare war, make treaties, and borrow money, but it could not collect taxes. To cover expenses, such as debts from the war, Congress could ask the states for money, but it could not force the states to pay. The Arti
The Annapolis Convention
Under the Articles of Confederation, problems developed with commerce, or trade, in the states. Some goods cost much more in one state than in another. Disagreements over trade created problems because the central government could not control trade among
What they also discussed in Annapolis Convention.
The delegates sent a report to the states and to Congress, suggesting that another convention should meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in May 1787. At this convention, representatives from the states would talk not only about commerce but about how to s
Economic Hardships
Economic problems during the 1780s made life difficult for many people in the United States. Some former soldiers still had not been paid for fighting in the Revolutionary War. Many Americans were poor, yet they had to pay high state taxes. To buy supplie
Shay's Rebellion
Late in the summer of 1786, poor farmers in Massachusetts protested by refusing to let the courts meet. Armed with pitchforks and guns, the farmers shut down courthouses and destroyed debt records. These protests, known as Shays's Rebellion, were named fo
how the government tried to prevent shay's Rebellion.
Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no national army to defend United States property. Because Congress did not have an army to defend the arsenal, the governor of Massachusetts had to send the state militia to stop Shays. As a result of Shays'
Ideas for Change
After Shays's Rebellion, some people argued that Congress needed more power. James Madison, a Virginia leader, believed that the country needed to replace the Articles of Confederation. Other leaders in the United States, such as George Washington and Joh
More about Annapolis Convention.
After Shays's Rebellion, most of the states now agreed to the request of the delegates at the Annapolis Convention to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia in the spring of 1787. Rhode Island was the only state that refused to send a delegate. It
who were the first three delegates who arrived at the Philadelphia convention, and how many were there in all?
George Washington, from Virginia, who received a hero's welcome for his service in the Revolutionary War. The delegates would elect him president of the convention. At 5 feet 4 inches tall and 100 pounds, James Madison, another Virginia delegate, did not
First part of Consitiutional Convention.
The Constitutional Convention, as the meeting in Philadelphia came to be known, started on Friday, May 25. At first, the delegates offered ideas on how to improve the Articles of Confederation. Then they decided to write new constitution. In order to writ
second part of Constitutional convention
The states would keep some powers and share other powers with the federal government. The federal government would have all power over matters that affected the nation as a whole, such as commerce and defense. To keep power over their own affairs, the sta
Virginia plan.
A major disagreement was about how each state would be represented in the new Congress. Edmund Randolph and the other Virginia delegates introduced a plan for Congress called the Virginia Plan. Under this plan, Congress would have two parts, or houses. Th
New Jersey Plan.
Not fair!" replied the delegates from the small states when introduced Virginia plan. William Paterson of New Jersey accused the Virginia Plan of "striking at the existence of the lesser States." The plan would have given large states control of Congress
Connecticut Compromise
The delegates decided to set up a committee to work out a compromise. In one committee meeting, Roger Sherman of Connecticut presented a new plan, called the Connecticut Compromise. It was based on the idea of a two-house Congress. In one house, represent
Slavery Compromise
Under Roger Sherman's plan, population would affect each state's representation in Congress. This raised an important issue that troubled many people in the young nation�slavery. Delegates from the northern and the southern states argued about whether ens
After Slavery compromise what happened?
After this issue was dealt with, some delegates still spoke out against slavery. Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania called slavery "the curse of heaven on the states where it prevailed [existed]." Other delegates were afraid that if the Constitution stoppe
The Preamble.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention wrote the new Constitution with great care. Gouverneur Morris had the job of writing the final version of the Constitution. He spent long hours writing and rewriting each sentence. In the Preamble, or introdu
Legislative Branch.
In Article I, the Constitution describes the legislative branch, or lawmaking branch, of the new government. Powers granted, or given, to Congress include making laws, raising an army and a navy, declaring war, and coining and printing money. It would als
Congress split.
Congress became two houses�the House of Representatives and the Senate. Either house could propose most bills. For a bill to become law, a majority in each house would have to vote for it. Citizens were given the power to vote directly for members of the
Executive Branch
In Article II, the Constitution says the power to enforce laws made by Congress is given to the executive branch. Some delegates believed that one person should be the chief executive, or leader. Others worried that a single executive would be too much li
How to be President.
To be elected President, a person must be at least 35 years old and must have been born in the United States. The President must also have lived in the United States for 14 years. The President is elected to a four-year term. Once again, the delegates wer
Judicial Branch
According to Article III of the Constitution, the judicial branch must decide whether laws are working fairly. The judicial branch is the court system. Although the states already had their own courts, the delegates agreed to create a federal court system
Supreme Court.
The delegates decided that the President would nominate the Supreme Court justices, or judges. The Senate would vote whether to approve them. The delegates decided that Supreme Court justices could stay in office for life. This would allow justices to mak
The Struggle to Ratify the Constitution.
On September 17, 1787, work on the Constitution was completed. Thirty-nine delegates were still present at the Convention and all but three of them�Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph�signed the Constitution because they disagreed with parts
The Vote of Approval.
The first state to call for a vote on the Constitution was Delaware. In December 1787, all the Delaware state delegates voted to ratify the Constitution. Later that month, delegates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey also approved the Constitution. In January
Bill of Rights.
Ten Amendments. 1st-gives people the freedom to follow any religion, or none at all. It also says the government cannot promote or financially support any religion. The First Amendment also protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right o
The New Government
In 1789, George Washington was elected to be the nation's first President. John Adams became the first Vice President. Working with Congress, Washington set up a State Department, a Treasury Department, and a War Department that would become known as the