Constitutional Convention DBQ

Why did the articles of confederation fail?

• No collective monetary policy

• Centralized government was weak and didn't have enough power

• 9/13 states needed to agree to pass new laws

• 13/13 needed to agree to make amendments

• Large debt from war but immediately pressing taxes would be bad

• Shays rebellion

Revolutionary War Debt

Us got loans from france during the war. After winning the war, options to pay it back were printing money (leading to hyperinflation), and rasing taxes, which lead to tensions bc they just taught a war over taxation from the British.

Monetary Policy

States has different monetary, contributing to the further separation of states. Trade differed a lot and status was still based on land.

Shays Rebellion

1786-1787, an uprising in Massachusetts against rising taxes and a bad economy. Armed farmers and citizens forced closure of government establishments and raised tensions, and lead to the Constitutional convention, because something has to be done.

The Constitutional Convention

1787.Started to revise articles of confederation but less to drafting the constitution. Interesting it was all written by a group in the upper class rather than the people affected.

The New Jersey Plan

A proposal for the structure of the new government. William Paterson authored it, and was alternate to the Virginia plan. This plan aimed to still allow smaller states to have the same amount of representation and power as larger ones in government affairs. The plan said all states would have the same number of representatives, and treated them all as individual territories rather than a collective.

The Virginia Plan

Proposed new governmental structure by James Madison and Edmund Rudolph. Proposed three branches of a supreme government, and to strengthen the central government. Representation in the government would be based on state size and NON SLAVE population.

Connecticut Compromise

Agreement offered by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth to solve small and large state representation disputes. Decided: upper house would have equal representation between states, while lower house would have proportional representation; a bicameral legislature.

Three Fifths Compromise

A compromise where people of African descent were counted as only 3/5 of a person. This gave slave owners more power by letting them vote based on these numbers.

Bill of Rights Amendments

• Freedom of speech, press, assembly, and petition

• Right to bear arms

• Quartering soldiers

• Search and seizure

• Grand jury, double jeopardy, self incrimination, due process, takings

• Right to speedy trial and witness council

• Jury trial in civil lawsuits

• Excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishment

• Rights shall not be different amount people….

• Rights reserved to states or people

• Suits against states

• Election of president and vice president

Electoral College

The group of electors that decide the candidates. Number for each state is two senators plus number of representatives. The majority is required to select the president and vice president.

Republic

A state in which political power rests with the public usually through representatives. The true power of the people in republics varies.

Democracy

A form of government where the people and population have the political power through elections. Definitions link to guaranteed civil and human rights. Republic mostly means not a monarchy, while democracy is more specific and election based.

Checks and Balances

Principle where desperate branches are made toshare power. In the convention, they were seen as necicary to maintain liberty and to stop tyranny. Literally a way to keep people in check and balance power.

Federalism

Division and sharing of power between national and state governments. Meant to unify the national government and give States more accountability.