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U.S. HISTORY REVIEW 4
Constitution
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
 Weak Central/Federal government (can’t
enforce laws, no president and one vote per
state in Congress)
 First Constitution of the U.S.
 No Money as a nation; each state had its
own paper money
 National government can declare war, sign
treaties and make peace
 No National power to tax
 Can operate post offices
 No National army or navy
 Northwest Ordinance 1787 – plan for the
formation of new states
 No National power to regulate commerce
or trade between states; each state could
put tariffs on trade between states
 No National courts
 Strong State Governments
SHAYS’ REBELLION
Daniel Shays led farmers to protest
against tax collections in Massachusetts
 They were debt-ridden and couldn’t make
their payments on their mortgages – didn’t
want to lose their farms to creditors
 showed the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
 This led to the call to revise the Articles
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The Great Compromise – also known as the
Connecticut Plan
 Two house legislature
 Equal representation in the Senate and based
on population in the House
Virginia Plan (supported by
large states)
3 branches of government
 Executive, Judiciary and
Legislative (population
determined the number of
members in the House and
Senate)
VS
New Jersey Plan (supported
by small states)
 Equal representation in
Congress
 One House Legislature
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
3/5 Compromise
- a slave would count as 3/5 person when
determining House representation and direct
taxes by states to the federal government
South – wanted slaves to count as people to gain
more representatives in Congress
North – unfair since slaves were considered
property
FEDERALIST VS. ANTIFEDERALISTS
Federalist – support the
ratification of the
Constitution
Antifederalist – oppose
the ratification of the
Constitution
RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
Federalists (Favored)
Antifederalists (Opposed)
Strong National government - Limiting
state power
Too much government power; Took too
much power from the states
Bill of Rights not necessary
Needed a BILL OF RIGHTS to protect
individuals
National government could properly
manage debt
Big business support
Support of farmers and small rural
communities
Central banking system
States should manage their own money
RATIFICATION
Federalist Papers:
- Newspaper essays written about the U.S. government in
support of the Constitution
Antifederalist Writings:
- opposed ratification because they believed in limited
power of the national government
BILL OF RIGHTS
1st Amendment:
Freedom of Speech,
Press, Religion,
Petition and
Assembly
2nd Amendment:
Right to bear arms
6th Amendment:
7th Amendment:
Right to a jury for
Right to a jury in civil
criminal trial, speedy cases
trial
3rd Amendment:
Protection from
quartering troops
4th Amendment:
Protection from
unreasonable search
and seizure
5th Amendment:
Grand jury,
protection from self
incrimination
8th Amendment: No
cruel and unusual
punishment,
excessive bail
9th Amendment:
Protection of rights
not stated in the
Constitution
10th Amendment:
Powers not listed go
to the states and
people
GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENSHIP
Judicial Review:
- review by the U.S. Supreme Court of the constitutional
validity of a legislative act
Due Process:
- fair treatment through the normal judicial system
Civic Duty:
- expectation of every member of society (jury duty, taxes,
voting, volunteering)
7 PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION
Federalism: power of the
government is shared between the
states and national government
Separation of Powers: Split the
powers of the government into three
branches; Executive, Legislative and
Judicial branches
Limited Government: placed strict
limits on government to protect the
people
Individual Rights: the first 10
amendments of the Constitution
protect individuals rights against the
power of the government
Republicanism: Government in
which the desires of people are
represented in government by
elected representatives
Popular Sovereignty: Means the
government was created by the
people in order to govern
themselves
Checks and Balances: Each branch
makes sure the others are
working the way they are
supposed to
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Proposed:
Ratified:
#1 – Amendments Proposed in Either of
2 ways:
#2 – Amendments Ratified in Either of 2
ways:
- By Congress – whenever 2/3 of both
Houses deem it necessary
- By Legislatures – of ¾ of the states
Or
- By a Convention – called by Congress
on the application of 2/3 of the state
legislatures
Or
- By Conventions – in ¾ of the states
(whichever mode of ratification may be
proposed by Congress)