Creating a New Government
Articles of Confederation
Once independence was declared the Continental Congress needed to develop a government. Each colony operated under their own laws and constitution. A constitution is a written plan for government. In order to win the war, the colonies needed to unify their governments and work together. This government was described in a document called the Articles of Confederation.
The Confederation Congress helped the Patriots win the Revolutionary War, but it was a difficult system to operate. Making laws was difficult, 9 out of the 13 states had to approve each law. There was also no president to oversee the delegates.
During this time farmers were being taxed to pay for the war. People that could not pay their debt went to jail. One farmer named, Daniel Shays let a group of 1,100 farmers to protest the taxes. This was known as Shays Rebellion.
The Confederation Congress helped the Patriots win the Revolutionary War, but it was a difficult system to operate. Making laws was difficult, 9 out of the 13 states had to approve each law. There was also no president to oversee the delegates.
During this time farmers were being taxed to pay for the war. People that could not pay their debt went to jail. One farmer named, Daniel Shays let a group of 1,100 farmers to protest the taxes. This was known as Shays Rebellion.
Constitutional Convention
In the spring of 1787, 55 delegates came to Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation. George Washington represented Virginia, Benjamin Franklin represented Pennsylvania, and James Madison represented Virginia. James Madison believed the Articles of Confederation should be abolished and a completely new plan for government should be created.
The Articles of Confederation did not give government enough power. Madison and Washington wanted a federal system. A federal system is where states share power with a strong central government. The central government would have more power than the states. Madison also believed that government should act as a republic. A republic is where the citizens elect their leaders. Many were afraid of a strong central government, they thought it would mean that the states would lose all their power.
The Articles of Confederation did not give government enough power. Madison and Washington wanted a federal system. A federal system is where states share power with a strong central government. The central government would have more power than the states. Madison also believed that government should act as a republic. A republic is where the citizens elect their leaders. Many were afraid of a strong central government, they thought it would mean that the states would lose all their power.
Major Issues Debated:
States Representation: James Madison believed that each state should be given a different number of delegates based on size of a state's population. Smaller states felt this was unfair. The Great Compromise was developed to solve this problem. This compromise create two branches of government, as house and a senate. The senate would only allow two representatives from each state. The house would have proportional delegates to the population of a state.
Slavery: Southern delegates did not want to outlaw slavery as it helped them produce profitable cash crops. However, they did want to count these slaves as part of their population. This would increase their representation in congress. They agreed upon the three-fifths rule. This rule stated that every five slaves could count as three people in their population.
Slavery: Southern delegates did not want to outlaw slavery as it helped them produce profitable cash crops. However, they did want to count these slaves as part of their population. This would increase their representation in congress. They agreed upon the three-fifths rule. This rule stated that every five slaves could count as three people in their population.
Constitution
Throughout 1787 all of the delegates worked on the new constitution. Supporters of the constitution were called federalists. Many saw these federalists as radical. They wanted to create an entirely new form of government! People that opposed the constitution were called anti-federalists. These anti-federalists felt a Bill of Rights should be added to ensure natural rights. James Madison promised to add this into the constitution.
The constitution had to be ratified. To ratify means to accept. State representatives met with their own conventions. Once 9 states ratified the constitution, it became law.
The constitution had to be ratified. To ratify means to accept. State representatives met with their own conventions. Once 9 states ratified the constitution, it became law.