ANSWER KEY ---------Cornell Notes- The Articles of Confederation
DIRECTIONS- Use the “Articles of Confederation” reading packet (pages 11-12) to help
you fill in the blanks
Main Idea
A League of States
Facts

1781- Continental Congress puts Articles of
Confederation into effect

Established the US government; 13 independent
states held together in a loose confederation
Weak Government

weak and ineffective national government

one-chamber Congress

approval of 9 of the 13 states needed for every
action
No Taxes/ No
Money

No authority to impose or collect taxes

Government could not make trade agreements with
other nations but states could

Each state had its own tariff laws

Each state has its own militia

No national military
Public Order
High Debts

USA unable to pay war debts
Worthless Money

No national currency

Each state used a different kind of currency (local
and foreign)
Farmers in Trouble

Farm land highly taxed

Farmers received pay in goods so they couldn’t pay
their taxes

Many thrown in jail

1786-1787- poor farmers led by Daniel
Shays’ Rebellion
Shays in a rebellion against the high taxes
National Solutions
Needed

Force used to put down the rebellion

Caused panic in the states with similar problems

A stronger national government was needed

Constitution created to address problems in the
Articles of Confederation
Cornell Notes- The Constitutional Convention
DIRECTIONS- Use the “Constitutional Convention” reading packet (pages 13-15) to
help you fill in the blanks
Main Idea
Getting Started
Facts

When did the Constitutional Convention formally
meet? May 25, 1787

Where? Independence Hall in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania

Rhode Island did not send delegates to the
convention.
The Delegates

Important leaders at the convention included:
1. Benjamin Franklin
2. James Madison
3. Roger Sherman

Important Americans who didn’t attend included:
1. Thomas Jefferson
2. John Adams
The Rules

Only delegates would be allowed to attend

No visitors or reporters – everything was to be
secret

Agreed to devise a new form of government, not
just to changes the Articles of Confederation.
Problems

Wanted a strong, firm, central government

Slavery became an important issue between the
Northern and Southern States.

Distrust between the smaller states and larger
states
The Document

Established a federal system of government with
three branches – allow for separation of powers so
that no one branch of government and no one
person can gain control

System of checks and balances ensures that no
branch of government is able to dominate the
others
1. Legislative – two houses of Congress

House of Representatives (based on
population)

Senate- with two Senators from each
state
2. Executive – President of the United States and all
of the administrative offices under his control
3. Judicial- Supreme Court with 9 members who serve
for life
New Government

On February 4, 1789, the presidential electors
selected George Washington as president.

First Congress met on March 4, 1789

George Washington was inaugurated on April 30,
1789
Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments of the Constitution are
called the Bill of Rights.

Protect freedom of speech, the right to assemble,
freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, and
the right to trial by jury
Amendments

Today there are 27 amendments