Unit 2

• Articles of Confederation


  First constitution of the US, weak
• Super-majority


  9/14 states have to agree to change something
• Northwest Oridance of 1787


  - Established a political structure for the Northwest Territory and create a system for the admission of new states

  - Abolished slavery in northwest
• Shay's Rebellion


  - Farmers that fought in the revolution had trouble paying taxes and debt

  - Revealed the weakness of AOC bc the government didn't have power to help
• Weaknesses of the Articles


  - No power to collect taxes = gov short of money

  - No power of enforce laws = unable to raise an army

  - No executive branch = unable to enforce laws

  - Etc.
• Constitutional convention


  Meeting in Philly to revise the weaknesses of the article but they just created a new constitution
• Virginia plan


  - Favored by larger states

  - Bicameral legislature : 2 houses

  - Representatives based on population

  - 3 branches
• New Jersey plan


  - Favored by smaller states

  - Unicameral legislature : 1 house

  - 1 vote for each state

  - Multiple executives
• Great Compromise


  - Bicameral congress : 2 houses

  - House of Representatives : votingbased on population

  - Senate : each state gets two votes
• 3/5 compromise


  3/5 of the enslaved population could be added to southern population for representation
• Federalists


  Supporters of the new constitution (Alexander Hamilton & John Adams)
• Anti-federalists


  Opposers of adopting the new constitution (Thomas Jefferson & George Mason)
• Federalist papers


  Papers written to persuade people to ratify the constitution
• Bill of Rights


  Satisfied the anti federalist concern about having enough individual rights
• Federalism


  Sharing of power between the national and state government
• Legislative


  Makes laws
• Executive


  Enforces laws
• Judicial


  Interprets the laws to ensure they align with the constitution
• Checks and balances


  System that makes sure no branch has more power over the other
• Alexander Hamilton


  - Established a national bank

  - Created tariff system
• Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)


  The US would be neutral between France and Britain (not interfering in their wars)
• Whiskey rebellion


  Farmers rebelled against whiskey taxes, but GW squashes the rebellion (proves the constitution was doing its job)
• James Madison


  - Father of the constitution

  - Wrote the Bill of Rights

  - Proposed Virginia plan
• William Patterson


  New Jersey Plan
• George Mason


  Anti-federalist, helped in drafting the bill of rights
• Roger Sherman


  Great compromise
• Patrick Henry


  "Give me Liberty or Give me Death"

  Anti-federalist who thought the constitution would end liberty and equality
• George Washington


  1st President of the United States;

  Commander of the Continental Army