how did the u.s. constitution solve a problem created by the articles of confederation?

The Growth of a New Nation

The Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention

The Articles of Confederation

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation, adopted by Congress in November, 1777, were America's first constitution. They provided for a new central government, but one in which the states had the majority of the power and, "in which each state retained its sovereignty, freedom and independence." Under the Articles of Confederation, each of the States had only one vote in Congress, regardless of its population.

Though this was a step toward self-governance, and the Articles did have its strengths, they also had their share of weaknesses as well. Check out the link below for more information.

United We Stand...

What message do you think the following image is trying to send?

Writing Reflection:

In your opinion, which were the top three (3) weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Justify your answers with evidence from your research.

The Northwest Ordinance and Land Ordinance of 1785

Watch the video below to learn about the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Created procedures for admittance of states created within the Northwest Territory; an area north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Laws set up for governing the Northwest Territory.

Discussion Questions:

Why did every township have sections reserved for schools and churches?

Why would it be important to establish a land system such as townships?

Writing Reflection:

As the creation and settlement of townships expands, what rules and procedures should the U.S. government put in place for the formation of states?

Shay's Rebellion

Click on the link below to view an interactive map of the actions of Shay's rebels.

Key Concepts/Definitions:

Shay's Rebellion: armed uprising in Massachusetts led by farmer Daniel Shays that created

awareness of the need for a stronger national government

Government: the institution in which society makes and enforces its public policies.

Article: a particular section or item of a series in a written document, such as a contract,

constitution, or treaty.

Confederation: a loose union of independent states

Federation: a jointing together of states in a league or federal union

The Constitutional Convention of 1787

What was the Constitutional Convention?

A gathering of state representatives on May 25, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Just because I like Snoopy...

Interactive map of 18th Century Philadelphia

Take a look at the link below to tour Philadelphia as the delegates of the Constitutional Convention would have.

Let's Make a Deal!

Just as it started to get heated, compromises saved the day...and the Constitution.

After the Constitutional Convention agreed that the Articles of Confederation needed to be fixed, the Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, and Slave Trade Compromise dealt with the issues of Representation and slavery.

Constitutional Influences

The Constitutional Principles

To meet the challenge of making sure that the Constitution created a national government that was strong, but not so strong that it would pose a threat to the individual liberties identified in the Declaration of Independence, it's authors adopted a number of important principles. Watch the videos below for more.

Separation of Powers

To protect against tyranny and protect civil liberty, the government was divided into 3 branches; the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.

Each of these branches is given "checks" in order to keep one branch from making major changes without the others agreeing. (Checks and Balances)

Separation of Powers Rap:

Checks and Balances Political Cartoons

How do the political cartoons below demonstrate the system of checks and balances and conflicts that may occur because of them?

Popular Sovereignty

The powers of government come from the consent of the governed. The people exercise this by electing representatives and indirectly electing a president.

The Rule of Law

This term means that no person, no government, no entity is above the law. Basically, the rules of the game can not be changed in the middle of the game by anyone.

Representative Government

This describes government in which decisions are made by the people through representatives. This is not pure democracy, but a representative democracy.

To sum it up...

Separation of Powers Quiz Game

Click the link below to play the game.

Copy of the U.S. Constitution

Use the links below to access a copy of the U.S. Constitution. You can use these links as a resource when analyzing the Constitutional amendments or while playing the Power Grab game.

Preamble to the Constitution Matching Game

Use the link below to see if you can match the lines of the preamble to their meaning.

Failed Constitutional Amendments

Use the link below to explore six Constitutional Amendments that either never made the cut or are still pending.

Selling the Constitution

With a new Constitution drafted, the nation had to agree to adopt it. Two sides emerge, using propaganda and political persuasion, hoping to sway the American people and influence the future of the United States.

Federalists vs. Anti-federalists

The Federalists: Those who were in favor of the newly proposed Constitution. They believed that the central government needed to be stronger to protect the nation from domestic unrest and foreign invasion.

The Anti-federalists: Those who opposed the proposed Constitution. They argued that it gave too much power to the central government and could threaten civil liberties, since it lacked a bill of rights to protect them. They also felt that it gave the central government too much power at the expense of state governments.

Famous Federalists

Prominent Anti-federalists

Propaganda

The Federalist Papers state the claim for the Constitution and a stronger Federal Government while the Anti-federalist Papers argue that the new Constitution represents another opportunity for tyranny and the loss of civil liberties. You decide who's right.

Click the link below to take a look at the Federalists (Federalist Papers)

The Federalists Papers were written in 1787 and 1788 and were printed in several New York publications in order to convince New York voters to adopt the new Constitution.

Click on the link below to see what the Anti-federalists wrote in opposition to the Constitution. (Anti-federalist Papers)

Less famous, but every bit as important are the Anti-federalist Papers . Much like the Federalist Papers, the authors of these typically used pen names to sign their work. See how you think their arguments measure up to the points made by the Federalists.

The Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights Quiz Game

Click the link below to take the Pacman Bill of Rights Quiz.

Group Project:

The Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution by the request of the Anti-Federalists in order to ensure that the document, and the national government, would maintain the individual liberties of the people. These rights are represented in the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

You and your group will be creating a song, a video, a poem, or a skit that shows how each of these rights impact you today. See the teacher for details!

Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence Quiz

Use the link below to play the Dust Bin quiz game and check your knowledge on these three important documents in American history.

Blueprints for a new government.

Take a look at the image below for a recap of how the 55 at the Constitutional Convention replaced the Articles of Confederation and drafted the U.S. Constitution to meet the needs and address the fears of the nation.

Reflection:

When the delegates were debating and writing the U.S. Constitution, where did their ideas about government and rights come from?