THE TRANSITION FROM THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION

*The Constitution

• compact or contract between the government and the governed
• product of the Enlightenment
• The Constitution was the nation's second constitution.

*Articles of Confederation

• first U.S. constitution(1781-89)
• structure and powers of the national government
  • one branch - Congress
  • one state, one vote

National problems in the 1780's

• Spanish claims in the southwest
• British forts in the "Old Northwest"
• trade
• inflation
• national debt
• *Shays' Rebellion

*1787 constitutional convention(25 May-17 September 1787)

• Philadelphia
• Rhode Island abstained.
• 55 delegates
  • typical daily attendance, 30-40
  • key participants
    • *James Madison
    • George Washington
    • Benjamin Franklin

Major issues

• structure and powers of the new national government
  • Virginia Plan
  • New Jersey Plan
  • Connecticut Compromise
    • three branches of government
    • bicameral legislation
      • House of Representatives
      • Senate
    • electoral college
• slavery
  • continuation of slavery
  • *"3/5 compromise"
  • international slave trade
• status of western territories
  • *Land Ordinance(1785)
    • provided for the organized survey and sale of western lands
    • first implemented in eastern Ohio
  • *Northwest Ordinance(1787)
    • provided for the political organization of the Old Northwest
    • slavery prohibited

Ratification struggle

• *Federalists
• *Antifederalists
• *The Federalist
  • Alexander Hamilton
  • John Jay
• *Bill of Rights