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Download The Constitution of The United States
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The Constitution of The United States Our Plan of Government, Created in 1787 Ratified in 1789 Amended with Bill of Rights in 1791 The original Constitution is in The National Archives in Washington, D.C. Oldest Constitution in the World Background Vocabulary 1. Articles of 10. Bill of Rights 11. popular sovereignty Confederation 2. democracy 3. republic 4. U.S. Constitution 5. federal system 6. separation of powers 7. checks and balances 8. Federalists 9. Anti-Federalists 12. Founding Fathers— also called “framers” 13. Executive Branch 14. Legislative Branch 15. Judicial Branch Articles of Confederation—first weak form of government Democracy— “people rule” Republic—representative government U.S. Constitution—our plan of government Federal system—powers shared between states and national government Separation of powers—each branch of government has different powers Checks and balances—each branch of government has power to curb the power of other branches Federalists—men who believed in a strong central government Anti-Federalists—men who believed in stronger state governments Bill of Rights—first ten amendments of The Constitution Popular sovereignty—rule of the people Founding Fathers (framers)—men who wrote The Constitution Executive Branch—enforces the law (President) Legislative Branch—writes the law (Congress) Judicial Branch—interprets the law (Supreme Court) I. After the American Revolution, Americans needed to define what they stood for and what role the federal government would play with the state governments. II. The Articles of Confederation established a limited national government with a one-house legislature. States had more power than the federal government. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation No army No navy No president No federal courts States had more power than the federal government III. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison criticized the weakness of the new American government and wanted the U.S. to provide a model of a strong democratic republic to the world. Mount Vernon, Washington’s home IV. The Annapolis Convention of 12 delegates from 5 states discussed the issue and called for a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, summer of 1787 V. Shays’ Rebellion was a test of the weak government in Massachusetts There was no army to put down the rebellion of farmers over taxes—no enforcement of laws! VI. The Constitutional Convention met with 55 delegates from 12 states (RI did not attend) Founding Fathers were young, educated, idealistic and wealthy men Elected G. Washington as the convention’s President Secrecy Many Compromises Independence Hall, Philadelphia The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia James Madison put it together—called The Father of the Constitution Jefferson was NOT THERE!! Created three branches of government Created a bicameral legislature (2 houses) Created a federal system with national, state, and shared powers Reflected the social contract between citizens and government VII. Federalists and Anti-Federalists argued over the interpretation of the Constitution The Federalist Papers urged states to ratify or accept it 9 ratified in 1789 1788—first president elected 4 more states ratified in 1791 Parties Federalists Anti-Federalists Led by Hamilton Led by Jefferson Loose interpretation of the Strict interpretation of the Constitution “spirit of the law” Pro-business Pro-North Constitution “letter of the law” Pro-farming Pro-South The Bill of Rights Added in 1791 First 10 amendments List of fundamental rights of citizens Capital Cities 1. New York 2. Philadelphia 3. Federal City (Washington,D.C.) Influences of The Enlightenment 18th centuries philosophers and ideas of natural rights of man Greek democracy and Roman republic— influences on our founding fathers Capitol City Architecture looks like ancient Greece or Rome (columns, obelisks, statues of heroes, marble “temples”)—Neo-Classicism Who did not attend the Constitutional Convention? Jefferson—ambassador to France J. Adams—ambassador to England P. Henry Sam Adams Who wrote The Federalist Papers? James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay Ratification—9 out of 13 states “Laggard States”—last to ratify in 1791 APUSH--Compromises Great Compromise-- created two-house legislature (New Jersey proposed two reps per state, Virginia proposed rep based on population—we took BOTH) Three-Fifths Compromise—SC wanted to count slaves as full population—Northern states disagreed—compromised to count them as 3/5—for every five slaves, count them as three (for representation and taxation). Also extended slavery for 20 more years Capital Compromise—War debts would be paid by federal government and southern states complained because they had already paid—they got the capital in the South! Parties Federalists Anti-Federalists Led by Hamilton Led by Jefferson Loose interpretation of the Strict interpretation of the Constitution “spirit of the law” Pro-business Pro-North Constitution “letter of the law” Pro-farming Pro-South APUSH—add to parties Federalists (Anti-Federalists) Democratic-Republicans John Adams, Madison Cities, business, merchants Northern, Eastern Wealthy men of education “elite” “elastic clause” of Constitution Split into “High and Low” Pro-English Died out after War of 1812 Called Republicans for short (not today’s party!) Added Bill of Rights Madison, P. Henry, Burr Southern, Western Common men Farmers, pioneers Letter of the law Pro-French Washington’s Chair At the close of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin remarked that he had often stared at the George Washington’s chair at the front of the room. The chair had a sun carved into the back and he had wondered whether the sun was rising or setting. Since this was a great analogy of whether this new nation would survive with its new constitution, Franklin asserted that he believed that it was definitely a rising sun. Land Issues Land Ordinance of 1785 Greatest accomplishment of The Articles of Confederation Provided for orderly creation of territorial governments and new states (Ohio was first from NW territory) Land sold would pay public debt Supported public education Established townships (6 X 6) Northwest Ordinance of 1787 60,000 inhabitants could lead to statehood Excluded slavery north of the Ohio River Gave new states same status as the original thirteen Public education required religious indoctrination The American Northwest in 1780s
