Below, read about how our states started the initial journey to the Constitutional Convention. Later, there will be a short activity and quiz to allow you to show what you have learned.

There is an option for you to listen along as you read where is says link to audio if you so choose. Once you click the link, it will open another page where you will need to download the recording.

What brought Our states to the Convention?

The Articles of Confederation (link to audio) 

During the Revolutionary War , the Continental Congress had created the Articles of Confederation to serve as a plan for the government of the new nation. These articles, sometimes referred to as the Nation’s first constitution, defined the former colonies as a confederation of 13 sovereign states, held together an a “league of friendship.” As time progressed leaders realized there were problems with this document, and changes were needed.

America’s First Government Had Some Flaws 

The Articles of Confederation soon showed to be flawed . The articles were more like a treaty, or agreement, among the independent states rather than a unified nation. Due to being ruled by a very powerful government, the British, the citizens wanted a government, but one that really could not do much. At the time the government had only one branch, the lawmaking Congress, each state had only one vote and nine votes were needed to pass a law. Even when laws were passed, Congress really didn’t have an power to actually enforce these laws. Basically, the Congress could “say something, but do nothing.” These 13 states were to be governed as one nation:

Money Was A Problem (link to audio) 

During this time each state was allowed to print their own money which caused inflation (this makes goods more expensive), and that made everyday citizens angry. Today money is made in only a few select places in the US and there are rules and regulations set around money making to help prevent inflation from happening. The Revolutionary War also left the current government with a large amount of debt adding to the inflation problem as the “Continentals” or money of the day, was losing its value. Because of this regular citizens were being affected. Jobs were scarce, and people lucky enough to find work were paid low wages. Debtor prisons began filling with people who could not repay what money they had borrowed. John Quincy Adams would soon say that the nation was entering a “critical period.”

The United States’ Relationship with Other Countries

Before, America had been dependent on Britain and its colonies, but after the Revolutionary War, Britain limited business with America and charged high prices for goods. Being in debt to Britain only furthered the economic strain and soon the country was falling into economic depression.

During this time Spain still controlled most of the Gulf Coast, including the ports in New Orleans that allowed trade and travel via the Mississippi River. To keep American citizens from entering this region the Spanish would not allow trade on the Mississippi River in 1784, leaving little to no travel options for Western merchants wanting to transport goods to the Eastern cities.

The People Were Angry - (link to audio)

Economic and trade problems made civilians unhappy. They had just fought for their freedom from Britain and were left poor, cold and hungry. Some officers from the American Army grew worried that Congress was soon going to be unable to pay them. They started to formulate a plan to take action against Congress. This plan was called the Newburgh Conspiracy. Luckily George Washington met with American Army representatives and was able to remind them about patriotism, civic duty and loyalty to their new country. He was able to stop the uprising.

Unhappiness and anger was not just a problem for the American Army. In Massachusetts not only did the economic depression hurt the farmers in this area, but tension was growing between them and the wealthy businessmen from Boston. Many of the farmers were indebted to the wealthy merchants and they were no longer willing to extend loans to the rural farming population. Some of these farmers had joined the American Army during the war, only to return to nothing. One soldier, Daniel Shay, realized that many soldiers who had fought were now left poor and in debt. He began organizing a rebellions against the government. The summer of 1786 Shays Rebellion held meetings and sent petitions to the legislature, but they chose to ignore the issues. The farmers grew more angry and took over courthouses to stop the auctioning of their farms. The following winter Shay led some 1,200 men in an attempt to attack a federal building that contained weapons which they would take in order to further attack Boston. Shay’s plan was discovered though and was easily stopped by order of the Massachusetts governor. However, the leaders of this new land, saw the real possibility of civil disorder and were alarmed.

The Start of Change - (link to audio)

The growing issues and problems continued to point out the weaknesses in the current Confederation government. A meeting was set, the Annapolis Convention held in Annapolis, Maryland. Twelve delegates from Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania attended the “Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government.” This meeting would be the call for the Constitutional Convention.

During the meeting a clear leader emerged in Alexander Hamilton. For a long time he had believed in the need for a stronger central government. The group had hoped to resolve issues around trade amongst the states, but only further pointed out the weaknesses within the current Articles of Confederation. With so few delegates present another meeting needed to be called in order to make fair decisions that would involve all states. Another meeting was set for the following May in Philadelphia, The Constitutional Convention was now set to take place.