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 pf Confederation

What were some of the defects of this constitution

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

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