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Essential Question

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How and why was the Constitution created?

Why You Should Care

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The War was only part of the Revolution. Many thought the new nation would fail quickly and it kind of did. Being independent isn’t enough – people need laws to succeed. It is important to see how our laws came to exist.

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The Articles of Confederation

Created a “firm league of friendship” among the states but gave the national government very little power.

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John Hanson

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  • storytime

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Great job winning the war, you should pay your debts now. And only cash this time. No trades.

Dude. Not cool. We ain’t got no cash. We’re poor farmers man.

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Haha, no problem young man. I can just take your entire farm instead!

. . .

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Well, I guess we’ll just destroy the government again then.

Now, now, let’s be fair. We’ll just raise taxes on these farmers. That will help pay off the debts.

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Yeah? You and what army?

Hey! You can’t do that! I’m the AoC and I’m here to protect this new government!

Oh… um. Dang. Good point.

Man, I’m worthless.

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Shay’s Rebellion

Poor farmers rebelled against new taxes. The Articles of Confederation were powerless to stop them.

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SO NOW

WHAT?

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Delegates met to fix the Articles. Very quickly they decided to start over completely causing some delegates to leave.

The Constitutional Convention

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Secrecy

All of the discussions were kept secret so they could give their honest opinions.

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Secrecy

Rules

That no copy be taken of any entry on the Journal, during the sitting of the House, without leave of the House.

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That members only be permitted to inspect the Journal.

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That nothing spoken in the House be printed, or otherwise published, or communicated, without leave.

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3 Big Questions

How will representation in the government be determined?

What will we do about the presidency?

What about slavery?

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Representation

Population

Number of votes based on a state’s population.

Equality

Number of votes equal among the states.

Wealth

Number of votes based on a state’s wealth.

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The Presidency

Should the government have a single president with military authority or is that too much like a king?

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Slavery

Should the trade of slaves continue? Should slaves be freed? Should they be counted in the population?

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Brain

Snack

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CHALLENGE

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Find the following info as quickly as possible.

  1. Delegate who wrote the first draft of the Constitution.
  2. Name and age of the youngest delegate.
  3. Name and age of the oldest delegate.
  4. One thing all the delegates had in common.
  5. One other thing all the delegates had in common.
  6. The delegate with the same name as a major historical figure – only reversed.

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Find the following info as quickly as possible.

7. The state that did not send any delegates.

8. The only delegate to later be president.

9. Three delegates who are on money.

10. One of the delegates who died in a duel (there was more than one!)