Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government had limited powers and could not tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws. This led to financial and domestic problems. The Constitutional Convention established a stronger federal government with three branches and a system of checks and balances. Key compromises included the bicameral legislature, electoral college for electing the president, and counting slaves as 3/5 of a person. The new Constitution established a stronger federal government but also led to the emergence of the first political parties.

1. Articles of Confederation
One law making body called the Congress
States sent representatives to Congress
All states had 1 vote in Congress
A super majority to get laws passed
No President
No Courts

2. Under the Articles
• The Federal Government could :
• Declare war and make peace
• Raise an army
• Make and borrow $$
• Send and receive diplomats
• Control Indians affairs
• Est. post offices

3. Congress Could NOT:
• Regulate trade between states
• Pass taxes
• Enforce a law
• Act directly or defend a state
• Stop states from issuing $$$

4. • The Articles succeeded in making the United
States legitimate –
• Northwest Ordinance 1785

5. • Financial Problems
• Foreign Problems
• Britain
• Spain
• Indians
• Barbary Pirates
• Domestic Problems- Shay’s Rebellion

6. The Constitutional Convention
• James Madison-Father of the Constitution
• Principles of the Constitution
• Federalism
• Popular Sovereignty
• Separation of Power
• Checks and Balances
• Limited Power of Government

7. A Series of Compromises
• Representation—how would states be
represented??
• 2 Plans: Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan
• Bicameral House
• Upper House
• Lower House

8. Slaves??
• Should Slaves be Counted?
• 3/5 Compromise

9. Who would elect the President?
• Founders did not want one faction to ever be
able to control and win the election
• States wanted some power
• Example of Indirect Democracy
• Electoral College

10. 538 Electors—Magic number 270

11. Federalist vs. Anti Federalists
• Federalists Papers-Hamilton, Madison, Jay
• Bill of Rights
• 1st 6th
• 2nd 7th
• 3rd 8th
• 4th 9th
• 5th 10th

12. George Washington
• 1st Cabinet
• Sec of State-Jefferson
• Sec of Treasury-Hamilton
• Sec of War-Knox
• Judiciary Act of 1789
• The Assumption Bill and the Creation of the
National Bank-Excise Tax and Protective Tariff
• Whiskey Rebellion

13. 1st Political Parties
• The Federalists Republicans
Hamilton Jefferson
Reading the Constitution
The Nature of Man
Fed. Vs. State Gov.
Business, $$$, industry
Leaders: Who should govern?

14. • The Federalists The Republicans
Taxes
Farmers and rural life
Cities
Foreign Affairs
Voters

15. Foreign Affairs-England & France
• Establishing legitimacy with Great Britain was
a major goal but difficult to achieve.
• In 1793 England and France to go war
• Washington issued a Proclamation of
Neutrality (Jefferson resigned)
• France-Edmond Genet
• Searching and Seizing & Impressment-England

16. Jay’s Treaty
• The withdrawal of British soldiers from posts in the
American West
• A commission to be established to settle outstanding
border issues between the U.S. and Canada
• A commission to be established to resolve American
losses in British ship seizures and Loyalist losses during
the Revolutionary war
• Missing from the treaty was a provision for the British
to refrain from the arrest of American ships and
impressment of American seamen.

17. • Jay's Treaty significance- tremendously
controversial - Washington was admired
man, but he came under sharp attack during this
time.
• Jay resigned from the Supreme Court and later
remarked that he could have traveled the length
of the country by the light of bonfires burning his
effigy.
• Most historians acknowledge the Treaty's
shortcomings, but believe that it was the best
that could be hoped for given America's lack of
international clout at the time.

18. Pinckney’s Treaty
• Spain recognized U.S. borders at the
Mississippi and the 31st parallel (the northern
border of Florida, a Spanish possession)
• Spain granted Americans the right to deposit
goods for shipment at New Orleans.

19. Farewell Address
• Warned against Political Parties
• Warned us against permanent alliances
• Remain neutral

20. 2nd President John Adams
• Superb statement but poor politician
• Had to deal with France
• XYZ Affair-three Frenchmen gave the United States an
offer or more precisely a deal – the deal stated that if
the United States paid France a sum of ten million
dollars, then the French would stop seizing the ships
that belonged to the United States.
• Infuriated America and led to an undeclared naval war
with France
• Ultimately France chose to negotiate, averting war

21. Alien and Sedition Act
• enacted in response to the XYZ Affair, and
were aimed at French and Irish
immigrants, who were considered subversives.
• Alien Act--empowered the president to arrest
and deport dangerous aliens
• Sedition Act-- made it illegal to publish
defamatory statements about the federal
government or its officials

22. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
• declared that states could nullify federal laws
that the states considered unconstitutional.

23. Election of 1800
Revolution of 1800?
• Midnight Appointments