continued Flashcards
no separate executive or judicial branches
states were sovereign
weak central government
unicameral congress- make laws
every year states would elect delegates (representative) to serve in congress
structure of constitution
after the American Revolution the colonies had to establish a new gov.
plan for a loose union of states under the authority of the Congress
critical period (1781-1787)
first national Constitution
Articles of Confederation
declare war negotiate treaties conduct foreign affairs coin money ( states can also) establish a military and run a Postal Service
Powers to national government
cannot enforce laws tax regulate trade settle disputes between states no money to fund military
limits of national government(can’t do)
-Massachusetts raised taxes to pay off debts
-taxes fell heavily on farmers who were unable to pay taxes and debts and mortgages
-farmers faced the loss of their farms
Led by a former captain and Continental Army, he was the rebellions leader
- January 1787
-this happened at state arsenal attending to seize weapons before marching on Boston
-this rebellion sparked fear that the Republic was at risk as many people began to argue for strong central government; AOC needed to be revised
shays rebellion
negotiated several commercial trade treaties with other countries
Northwest ordinance
- created new territory north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River
- Lance old help Confederation Congress to raise money to pay its debts
- excluded slavery from the Northwest territory resulting in future division of the southern slaveholding states and northern free states
major achievements of AOC
articles were too weak to be effective
no power to levy taxes, regulate trade or enforce laws
division of power under AOC
Congress had no power to tax
-no national current
-growing dept
- inability to pay army to enforce laws
Congress has no power enforced treaties and laws
-foreign countries angry when treaties are not honored
-lack of respect for new nation
-unable to pass balls at home
Congress has no power to regulate commerce(trade)
-trade wars between states
-States imposing high tariffs on each other
weaknesses of the AOC
-weaknesses of the AOC worried many American leaders
-May 1787, 55 delegates met in Philadelphia to address the need for a stronger central government
- James Madison -
father of the Constitution
under his direction the Constitutional convention formed the new government
constitutional convention
-create a brand-new national government
-Power to make laws binding the states and to levy taxes
-bicameral legislature-
two houses
representation based on population
-favored large states
Virginia plan
- modify the AOC to make the central government stronger
-Power to raise taxes and regulate trade
-single house legislature-
equal representation
-favored small states
New Jersey plan
The convention appointed a special committee to resolve the differences between the large and small states
union built on compromise
-A.k.a. the Connecticut compromise
-main issue-
number of representatives each state would have in the national legislature
-bicameral Congress-
House of Representatives based on population
senate based on equal representation
the Great compromise
-each state can elect one member to the House of Representatives for every 40,000 people
-Southern delegates-
Count slaves when determining representation
-Northern delegates-
if slaves counted in representation, than they should count for taxes too
compromise over slavery
-every five enslaved people would count as three free people for determining representation and taxes
3/5 compromise
