Constitutional Convention

Constitution

It’s written document, a frame work for government its outline the powers of the government and puts a limit on the government

Amendment

a change to a law

Sovereignty

quality of having power or authority over country

Nation

a unified country

Confederation

group of independence countries that are united together

Republic

type of democracy where you elect leaders who rule for you

Legislature Power

the power to write/make laws

Executive Power

the power to carry our or force the law

Judicial Power

interprets law and court systems

Who has more power in the Articles of Confederation, State or National government. Explain with 2 reason

State government has more power then national gov. They were taxing people and no military. They want to make a new constitution so the national gov. get powers because the state gov has to much power and doesn’t need anymore

Features of the Articles of Confederation (what’s included in the articles)

• No executive

• Weak national gov. (the state gov. all the power)

• Each state got one vote in the national legislature

• Needed 9 out of 13 states to change. They didn’t have the power to declare war and taxes the articles

Purpose of this Features ( why might this be included in the article)

• They were afraid of creating another King

• Afraid of a strong central gov. it would be like Great Britain

Potential Problems with this features (why are some potential problems this may cause)

• No one to enforce the laws or lead the army

• no national law or unity

• This system favored the less populated states, giving them equal power to the larger states

• Made it impossible to fix the problems of the articles. made the government ineffective

Problems with the Articles of Confederation

• Created a very weak central gov. without a military

• the national gov could not COLLECT taxes-it relied on contribution from the states

• Each state had one vote in the unicameral legislature assembly, giving equal power to the population states and less population

• Needed a super majority to amend the articles of Confederation, very difficult to change

• Commerce was severely disrupted

• Each state had their own military system making trade between the states difficultly

• States could also limit trade with each other

Shay’s Rebellion

• In 1786 there was a rebellion by farmers in Western Massachusetts who didn’t want to pay the states taxes

• They forcibly closed down gov. building to avoid tax collection

• This highlights the weakness of the Articles of Confederation as the gov. has no power to send the rebellion. This event will lead to a call for the new constitution

What was America’s first constitution called from 1777-1789

Articles of Confederation

What were some of the defects of this constitution

• The government didn’t have the power to tax; they had no money

• One vote per state (they all vote for themselves)

• Very difficult to change the confederation

• No army

What was Shay’s rebellion and how did it highlight the need for a new constitution

• the rebellion was in mass.

• had no army or money

• Needed a strong national army

• A group of famers stop paying taxes

• new national order

What are the three branches of gov. and describe each of their powers

Legislature- declare wars, coin + borrow money, tax people, Impeach and remove the president

Executive- Command in Chief, make treaties if 2/3 if the Senate agrees

carries out or enforces the laws written by the legislature, federal officials, and appoints Supreme Court judges

Judicial- Made up the federal Court System, interprets the laws, they determines if laws or actions of government are consistent with the Constitution

What are some major differences between the state? What might be some divisions that emerge among the states at the Constitutional convention

Massachusetts has no slaves but Virginia has 292,627 slaves

North- less slaves

South- larger salve count

Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, 4 biggest population

Major Divisions at the Constitutional Convention

Large vs Small

• Representation in the legislature would be assigned according to the population

• Each state should have one vote in the legislature

North vs South

• Slaves should not counts towards representative in the legislature

• Slaves should be counted when levying taxes

• Slaves should count towards determination representative in the legislature

Virginia Plan

• Called for a bicameral legislative branch- A legislature assembly consisting of two chambers

• Each of the states would be represented in proportion to their size

• The national legislature would have the power to address issues that were beyond the ability of any single state government to handle

• And the legislature could also have the power to veto state laws that it found to be against the national interest

Which state would favor this plan

The bigger state in population (Virginia, Massachusetts, North Carolina)

Which states would be against this plan

The smaller states in population ( Delaware, Georgia, Rhode Island, New Hampshire)

Who would favor this plan a proponent of state power or a supporter of a strong central government

A supporter of a strong central government because they get more power

New Jersey Plan

• A unicameral legislature (one house legislature) with each state receiving one state

• At the same time, The New Jersey Plan would expand the power of the national government to address the needs of growing nation in certain ways but not veto state laws

How does this differ from the Virginia Plan

One house of legislature with one vote and one state with it

Which states would support this

The less populated states because they get the same power as the bigger states

Federalism

is a system of government in which is divided between a central authority and smaller constitutional political units, like states.