The Constitution

Rosie Jayde Uyola
Oct 30
5 min read

Areas of Concern of the Articles of Confederation

Directions: Begin by reading the areas of concern regarding the Articles of Confederation. Consider how these areas of concern would create problems for the nation. After considering the problems, determine how the Constitution addressed or fixes these areas of concern. Here is a link to the Constitution. Follow the example.

Areas of Concern of the Articles of Confederation	What problem(s) would this create?	How does the Constitution address or fix this concern?
Each state had one vote in Congress.	Ex) States with small populations held the same voting power and influence as states with larger populations.	Ex) In Article 1 Sections 2-3 of the Constitution, the government would have two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House representation would be based on population and the Senate representation would be the same for all states.
The national government had no way to regulate trade.
The national government had to request states for taxes and money.
The national government had to request states for troops.
No executive branch existed.
No judicial branch existed.
A change or amendment to the Articles of Confederation required all 13 states’ approval.

3.10 Shaping a New Republic

Directions: Complete all of the stations. After you complete all of the stations, you will be required to write a thesis statement and one paragraph in response to the following prompt:

Evaluate the extent to which the federal government responded to internal and external conflicts from 1754 to 1800.

Station #1 Whiskey Rebellion

The federal government under the Articles of Confederation struggled to suppress the 1786 Shays’ Rebellion. The rebellion was only put down after the Massachusetts State militia intervened. The federal government faced a new domestic insurrection in 1791 called the Whiskey Rebellion. But what has changed? Now the federal government was under the newly created Constitution. Visit the Mount Vernon website and play the game called, “Be Washington.” For this game, you will take on the role of George Washington and listen to the remarks of Washington’s advisors before you make a decision of how to handle the rebellion.

What were the concerns of the participants of the Whiskey Rebellion?

What suggestions did the advisors give on how to handle the rebellion? What justifications or reasoning did they offer?

How did you choose to handle the rebellion? Why?

How did the response to the Whiskey Rebellion represent a continuity (or change) to federal authority?

Station #2 Learning from Hamilton, the Musical

George Washington’s cabinet comprised political rivals, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. After Washington’s terms, Jefferson emerged as one of the key figures of the Democratic-Republican Party and Hamilton served as an influential leader of the Federalist Party. While serving as the cabinet secretaries, Jefferson and Hamilton vied for influence over George Washington. Two large issues arose during the Washington administration. First, did the federal government have the authority to charter a national bank? Second, should the United States support the revolutionaries in France? Analyze and listen to the lyrics of these two songs from the musical, Hamilton.

Cabinet Battle #1 Song

According to the song, why did Thomas Jefferson disapprove of Alexander Hamilton’s national bank proposal?

What benefits did Alexander Hamilton predict if the National Bank was given a charter?

Hamilton was a huge supporter of the Constitution’s elastic clause. Look up the elastic clause. How might Hamilton use the elastic clause during his support for a national bank?

Cabinet Battle #2 Song

According to the song, why did Thomas Jefferson support the revolutionaries in France?

Alexander Hamilton and other future members of the Federalist Party were accused of being elitist by Jefferson and others. What lyrics would support the idea that Hamilton was an elitist?

What reasons did Hamilton and Washington provide for developing a statement of neutrality?

Station #3 The Political Divide Deepens

In 1794, the United States negotiated with Great Britain and signed a treaty called, Jay’s Treaty. The treaty brokered agreements in regards to trade, debt, and boundaries. However, the treaty’s ratification was a topic of dispute among the Senate.

Watch this two minute clip from the miniseries, John Adams. What arguments did Senators make in support of the ratification of Jay’s Treaty? What arguments were made in rejection? Note: John Adams never had to break the voting tie. Jay’s Treaty was passed 20-10 in the Senate.

How can you use the events of Jay’s Treaty to respond to the prompt: “Evaluate the extent to which the federal government responded to internal and external conflicts from 1754 to 1800”?

Station #4 Washington’s Farewell Address

After serving two terms, George Washington chose not to seek re-election. The precedent of two terms continued for nearly 150 years (until Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first and only president to serve for more than two terms). As Washington prepared to leave office, he worked alongside Alexander Hamilton to draft his Farewell Address. Read the following excerpts and answer the questions below.

Who was the intended audience of this address?

What warnings or advice does Washington offer?

What is the historical situation of this address? Think: what is happening in the United States at the time that might have influenced Washington’s thoughts?

Make a connection: Identify a time when the United States either failed to adhere to the advice given by Washington.

Station #5 The First Presidential Successor: John Adams

John Adams became the first successor. The whole world anxiously watched as the United States peacefully transitioned power from one leader to another. Adams’ presidency was met with internal and external strife. Watch this three-minute overview of John Adams’ presidency and answer the question below.

What historical events may have influenced John Adams to support the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts?

James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were outraged by the Alien and Sedition Acts. In response, they published the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. Excerpts from the resolutions are below. Analyze the excerpts and answer the questions below.

Excerpt from the Virginia Resolution (written by Madison)

“‘Alien and Sedition Acts’ passed at the last session of Congress; the first of which exercises a power no where delegated to the federal government, and which by uniting legislative and judicial powers to those of executive, subverts the general principles of free government; as well as the particular organization, and positive provisions of the federal constitution; and the other of which acts, exercises in like manner, a power not delegated by the constitution, but on the contrary, expressly and positively forbidden by one of the amendments.”

Excerpt from the Kentucky Resolution (written by Jefferson)

“That the several states who formed that instrument, being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and that a nullification, by those sovereignties, of all unauthorized acts done under color of that instrument, is the rightful remedy.”

What arguments did the Virginia Resolution make against the Alien and Sedition Acts?

What arguments did the Kentucky Resolution make against the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Make a connection: Identify a time when individuals applied the arguments of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

How did the Alien and Sedition Acts represent a moment of internal conflict?

It’s time to apply what you learned! Write a thesis statement and one paragraph in response to the following prompt:

Evaluate the extent to which the federal government responded to internal and external conflicts from 1754 to 1800.

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