Important History Events
Tatyana Adams
Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. Like any "first" document it had some issues. There were a lot of weaknesses and not enough strengths. For example it provided for weak national government, gave congress no power to tax or regulate commerce among the states, provided for no common currency , etc. Eventually the representatives wrote a new document, called the Constitution.
Three Branches of Government
The three branches of government are executive, legislative, and judicial. These branches were created to prevent the central government from getting too strong. The legislative branch votes and writes the laws. The legislative branch also has the power to declare war. The executive branch has the ability to execute or enforce the laws. The leader of the executive branch is the president. The judicial branch interprets the laws. It's made of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Virginia Plan
The Virginia plan was drafted by James Madison. It stated that based on the population the number of representatives would be determined.the Virginia Plan was only to protect the larger states with the new government. Smaller states did not really like this plan. In return the smaller states did not really like this plan. In return they made the New Jersey plan.
Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists opposed of a stronger U.S. federal government.They didn't support the constitution. It later opposed ratification of the Constitution in 1788. Anti-Federalists felt that the constitution didn't equally did odd power among the three branches. They felt the Constituition took too much power from the states.
Federalist
The federalists were the first American political party. It was formed by Alexander Hamiliton. Federalist believed that the new government should have the greatest amount of power in the government. They advocated the importance of a strong central government. The federalists did not want the Bill of Rights because it did not agree with the government.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first 10 commandments of the constitution. The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to give certain freedom to the citizens that the government didn't . The freedoms that were protected included religion, speech, assembly,the right to bear arms, unreasonable search and seizure of your home, speedy trial and, more. It was based on other written documents like the Magna Carta, Virginia Declaration of Rights and the English Bill of Rights. The delegates did not favor the Bill of Rights because it put a limit on what the government could control.