Constitution

Explain the importance of the following:

republic - citizens vote for people to represent them in the government

Articles of Confederation - the first document outlining the government of the U.S. In it the government could: wage war make peace enter into treaties issue money

Main flaws: no Bill of Rights too much power in the govt. - not enough representation govt. couldn't tax citizens

Northwest Ordinance - described how the NW territory was to be governed 5,000 free men who owned at least 50 acres could form a legislature when the population of a territory got to 60,000 inhabitants, the area could apply for statehood

Shay's Rebellion - In MA - farmers were being taxed so much that their land was being foreclosed. Daniel Shay led a rebellion to march on the armory - the militia had to be called out to calm the crowd. The farmers won the sympathy of many people. Federal Government realized that an armed uprising of common farmers spelled danger for the nation. The central govt. needed to be strengthened.

Constitutional Convention -1787 in Philadelphia 55 delegates from 12 states - no RI White men, oldest 85 (Benjamin Franklin) - youngest in mid twenties. 1/2 were lawyers, the rest were planters, doctors and merchants James Madison was one of the ablest delegates. Had read more than 100 books on government. The delegates met to come up with a new plan of government. President of the convention: George Washington

VA Plan - 3 branches (Judicial, Legislative and Executive) Judicial - courts/judges Legislative - make laws Executive - President

Legislative - two houses - representatives based on population Could tax, regulate commerce and make laws Smaller states didn't like the VA plan.

NJ Plan - Legislative - one house. Each state would have one vote.

THE GREAT COMPROMISE Two houses in the Legislature - Senate - 2 representatives from each state House - representatives based on population

Three-Fifths Compromise Larger states would have had an advantage based on population because of slavery. So, three-fifths of the slave population would be counted when setting direct taxes and counting population for representation in the House. Delegates agreed that Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808.

Federalists - Thought the Constitution was good as written. George Mason - VA insisted that a Bill of Rights be added to the Constitution. VA would not ratify the constitution until it was agreed that a Bill of Rights be added.

Bill of Rights - 1791 - ratified by all states.

What is the Wilderness Road and where did it lead? Daniel and 30 men cut a road the width of a horse from VA to Central KY through the Cumberland Gap. 250 mi. long

What problems did the Continental Congress successfully address? taxation, representation and a Bill of Rights

What is federalism? A form of government in which power is shared between the Federal Govt. and the States

Why did some states think that it was necessary to add a bill of rights to the Constitution? To address personal freedoms. The people of the states might have rebelled if they felt that they were being controlled in the same way that they had been under the king.