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Presentation by:
Chris Condren
 Also known as the
“American
Revolution” or the
“U.S. War of
Independence”
The King in Great Britain
was taxing the colonies, but
the colonists were not given
representation in
Parliament (British
government).
 Conflict between
the residents of the
13 colonies and the
British Crown
The colonists wanted to
receive the same treatment
as other British citizens.
 In response, a group of colonists met in Philadelphia
in 1774 to talk about the problems they were facing:
 1) No taxation without representation.
 2) The British Army staying in the colonies without
their consent.
 A declaration of rights due every citizen was issued:
 Life, liberty, property, assembly, and trial by jury.
 When the Second Continental Congress met, the
colonists decided to form a Continental Army and
made George Washington commander in chief.
 By June of 1776, the war was in full swing and a
majority of colonists wanted to be independent
from Great Britain.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

On July 1st, 1776, the Second Continental
Congress met in Philadelphia.

On July 4th, Congress officially adopted the
Declaration of Independence.

Today, we celebrate July 4th as “Independence
Day.”
FUN FACTS


The oldest signer of
the Declaration of
Independence was
Benjamin Franklin
(70).
The youngest signer
was Edward Rutledge
(26).
Articles of Confederation

On March 1st of 1781, the Articles of
Confederation were ratified.

The Articles were signed by Congress & sent
to each state for ratification on November
15th, 1777.

Ratification of the Articles by all 13 states did
not occur until March 1st, 1781.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1787

The Convention was called to decide how
America would be governed.
 Fix

the existing government or create a new one?
Two plans were discussed – The Virginia Plan
and the New Jersey Plan.
THE VIRGINIA PLAN V. THE NEW JERSEY PLAN

The Virginia plan:
 The
number of Senators and Representatives
would be based on population.
 Favored by the larger states.

The New Jersey Plan:
 Each
state would have the same number of
Senators and Representatives.
 Favored by the smaller states.
The Great Compromise

A delegate from Connecticut, Roger Sherman, proposed a
two-house legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House
of Representatives.

The Senate would have an equal number of
representatives from each state. This would satisfy the
states with smaller populations. The House of
Representatives would include one representative for each
30,000 individuals in a state. This pleased states with larger
populations.

This two-house legislature plan worked for all states and
became known as the Great Compromise!
THE CONSTITUTION
 On September 17th, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia singed the Constitution.
 “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
 The first ten Amendments to the Constitution are known as the
“Bill of Rights.”
 Protects many of our individual liberties.
 Since the Bill of Rights was ratified, the Constitution has only been
amended 17 times, giving us a total of 27 Amendments.
 Amendments can be proposed in Congress when 2/3rd of both Houses
agree.
 The states can play a role in proposing changes to the Constitution as
well :
 2/3rds of the state legislatures must call Conventions to propose
Amendments. Whether Amendments are first proposed by the
states or Congress, 3/4ths of the states must ratify (or approve) them
before they become a part of the Constitution—the supreme law of
the land.
AMENDMENTS

FIRST:


SECOND:


Freedom of association, religion, speech, expression,
and the press.
Right to keep and bear arms.
FOURTH:

Protection from unreasonable searches and
seizures.

Need probable cause & a warrant, unless an exception
applies.
AMENDMENTS

FIFTH:






Right to a grand jury in a capital case
Prohibition on double jeopardy
Prohibition against self-incrimination
Guarantee that all criminal defendants will have a
fair trial (includes a right to counsel during custodial
interrogation).
A promise that the government will not seize private
property for public use without giving “just
compensation.”
SIXTH:


Confrontation Clause (right to confront your
accusers).
Right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury.
AMENDMENTS

THIRTEENTH:
Officially abolished slavery in America.
 Ratified on December 6, 1865, after the conclusion of
the American Civil War.


FOURTEENTH:



Granted citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized
in the United States,” which included former slaves
recently freed.
Due Process Clause – enforces the Bill of Rights against
the states.
Equal Protection Clause
AMENDMENTS

FIFTEENTH:
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States
or by any state on account of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.”
 Also gives Congress the right to pass legislation to
enforce this Amendment.


NINETEENTH:
Passed by Congress on June 4th, 1919, and ratified on
August 18th, 1920.
 Granted women the right to vote.

 On June 2nd of 1924, Congress passed the Indian
Citizenship Act.
 The government of the United States confers citizenship
on all Native Americans born within the territorial limits
of the country.
 Some states still denied Native Americans the right to
vote.
 The Civil Rights Act of 1964
 Ended segregation in public places and banned
employment discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex or national origin.
Branches of Government
MONUMENTS OF OUR HISTORY
Dexter Avenue King
Memorial Baptist
Church
MONUMENTS OF OUR HISTORY
Rosa Parks Museum
MONUMENTS OF OUR HISTORY
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Birmingham, Alabama
MONUMENTS OF OUR HISTORY
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Atlanta, Georgia
MONUMENTS OF OUR HISTORY
16th Street Baptist Church
Birmingham, Alabama
MONUMENTS OF OUR HISTORY
Questions or Comments?