Three Governments

Three Governments

#1 Second Continental Congress1775 - 1781

• Declared independence• Managed the revolution• Developed the Articles of

Confederation

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#2 Articles of Confederation1781 - 1788

I. CharacteristicsA. Unicameral legislatureB. No president, no courtsC. Limited powersD. ¾ vote to pass legislationE. Unanimous vote to amend

Three Governments

#2 Articles of Confederation1781 - 1788

II. ProblemsA. Weak national governmentB. Conflict amongst the statesC. Unable to pay debtD. Shay’s rebellion

Three Governments

#2 Articles of Confederation1781 - 1788

III. AchievementsA. Western lands policyB. Peace treaty with England

Three Governments

#3 U.S. Constitution1788 - Present

Three Governments

ConstitutionalConvention

Three Governments

AttendeesAt Second Continental Congress, but not at Constitutional Convention:

Thomas Jefferson (France)John Adams (England)Sam Adams (drunk)Patrick Henry (refused)John Hancock (governor)

At Constitutional Convention, but not at Second Continental Congress:

George Washington (revolution)Alexander Hamilton (revolution)James Madison (Virginia)

At both: Benjamin Franklin

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Disagreements

• Representation• Economics and Slavery

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Three GovernmentsCompromisesRepresentation

• Connecticut Compromise• Two houses:

lower house – representation by populationupper house – equal representation by state

Three GovernmentsCompromises

Slavery

• Northern states concede to count slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation

• Northern states agree to not end slave trade for 20 years

• Southern states concede to majority vote, rather than 2/3

• Southern states concede to count slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation

Three GovernmentsRatification

I. Immediate division over the new constitutionII. Federalists v. Anti-federalistsIII. Federalists

A. Federalist Papers – 85 essays defending the new constitution

B. Hamilton, Madison, John JayIV. Anti-Federalists

A. National government v. statesB. Bill of Rights