US history: the founding era and the Constitution (grade 11)

The Articles of Confederation took effect in 1781. Congress could ask states for money but could not make them pay. Without tax money, the national government could not pay its debts or support an army. There was no president to carry out laws.

In 1786 and 1787, Shays' Rebellion broke out in Massachusetts, as indebted farmers rose up. The weak government could do little. Leaders met at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 to build a stronger plan.

The Constitution fixed key weaknesses. Congress gained the power to collect taxes, and a president was created to carry out the laws. States kept their own governments, sharing power with the nation.

Large states wanted seats in Congress based on population. Small states wanted equal votes for every state. The Great Compromise created a two-house Congress. Seats in the House are based on population, and each state gets two senators.

Delegates also argued over whether enslaved people would count toward a state's population. The Three-Fifths Compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for House seats and taxes. Enslaved people could not vote. The rule gave Southern states more power in the House than counting free people alone.

The Preamble begins 'We the People.' The government's power comes from the people, not from the states or a king. This idea is called popular sovereignty.

Anti-Federalists feared the new government had too much power. Many demanded a bill of rights listing protections for individuals. Federalists promised amendments, and the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791.

In his 1796 Farewell Address, George Washington advised the nation to 'steer clear of permanent alliances' with foreign countries. He feared long-term ties could drag the US into other nations' wars. He still supported trade.