Do Now: Answer the Following Multiple Choice Questions

Do Now: Answer the following multiple choice questions:

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The government of Massachusetts decided to raise taxes instead of issuing paper money to pay off its debts
Taxes had to be paid in hard currency (gold or silver)
Taxes were the heaviest on farmers and many found it impossible to pay their own debts
Farmers in western Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, shut down several courthouses so that judges could not order farmers to sell their farms in order to pay their debts
Shays and about 1,200 farmers headed to a state arsenal where hundreds of guns were stored to break in and steal the weapons
The Massachusetts government sent a 4,000 man militia to stop Shay’s Rebellion

Shay’s and his men were forced to retreat

“What stronger evidence can be given of the need for action in our government than these disorders? If a power to check them does not exist, what security has a man for life, liberty, or property? The consequences of a weak, or inefficient government, are clear. Thirteen states pulling against each other, and all tugging at the federal head will soon bring ruin on the whole; whereas a new Constitution, well-guarded and closely watched, to prevent rebellions, might restore unity to us.”

-Letter from George Washington to James Madison, November 5, 1786

2. According to this document, what did Shay’s Rebellion show about the government created by the Articles of Confederation?

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Many American leaders believed that the new nation would not survive without a strong central government
New York delegate Alexander Hamilton recommended that a convention be held in Philadelphia in May 1787.
According to Congress, the purpose of the Philadelphia convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation
Many states, however, sent delegates who supported a completely new constitution

The Constitutional Convention, May 1787

Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

People: 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates because they opposed the creation of a stronger government)

-7 served as state governors

-39 had been involved in writing the Articles of Confederation

-8 had signed the Declaration of Independence

The meetings were closed to the public to help ensure honest and open discussion free from outside political pressures.
James Madison took notes about the delegates, their speeches, and their votes. The following is a transcript from a speech given by Alexander Hamilton:

“All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the people. The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this [saying] has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are wild and changing; they rarely judge or determine right. Therefore, give the rich a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the poor masses, and will ever maintain good government.”

How did Hamilton view the majority of Americans? Who did he believe should have permanent control of the government?

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As the convention worked out the details of a new constitution, the delegates found themselves divided
Large state populations vs. small state populations
Northern states vs. Southern states on the issue of slavery

4. How did each of these plans attempt to correct the problems of the Articles of Confederation?

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5. Which form of government is favored by states with larger populations? Smaller populations?

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After days of argument, Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman came up with The Connecticut Compromise or Great Compromise, which proposed a bicameral legislature (2 houses)
In one house of Congress—the House of Representatives—the states would be represented according to the size of their populations
In the other house—the Senate—each state would have equal representation, two Senators from each state
The eligible voters in each state would elect the House of Representatives, but the state legislatures would choose Senators.

Name:______Homework #4

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