1. EARLY U.S POLITICS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (1776)
CH 2 SUM
EARLY U.S POLITICS
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (1776)
WRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON
PHILOSOPHICAL JUSTIFICATION
LIST OF GRIEVANCES
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
1-PHILOSOPHY
2-GRIEVANCES
3-ACTION

3. EARLY U.S POLITICS ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781)
CH 2 SUM
EARLY U.S POLITICS
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781)
“FIRM LEAGUE OF FRIENDSHIP”
SINGLE-CHAMBER CONGRESS
NO EXECUTIVE
NO NATIONAL COURTS

6. WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
NO POWER TO TAX
NO REGULATION OF COMMERCE
EACH STATE INDEPENDENT
ONE VOTE PER STATE
9 / 13 REQUIRED TO PASS LAWS
STATE MILITIA BASED MILITARY
NO JUDICIAL SYSTEM
UNANIMOUS AMENDMENT PROCESS

7. THE RESULT… “THE CRITICAL PERIOD” NAT. GOV’T TOO WEAK
ECONOMY WAS STAGNATE
U.S.BEGAN TO DISSOLVE
“THE CRITICAL PERIOD”

8. EARLY U.S POLITICS THE CONSTITUTION (1787) CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE
CH 2 SUM
EARLY U.S POLITICS
THE CONSTITUTION (1787)
CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE
3/5’S COMPROMISE
COMMERCE / SLAVE TRADE COMPROMISE

9. EARLY U.S POLITICS RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION (1788) FEDERALISTS
CH 2 SUM
EARLY U.S POLITICS
RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION (1788)
FEDERALISTS
HAMILTON / MADISON / JAY
WANTED RATIFICATION
ANTI-FEDERALISTS
JEFFERSON
AGAINST RATIFICATION
FEDERALIST WIN

10. THE COLONIAL MIND BRITISH POLITICIANS WERE CORRUPT
BELIEF IN HIGHER LAW “NATURAL RIGHTS”

11. THE “REAL” REVOLUTION (IDEOLOGY )
WHAT MADE GOV’T AUTHORITY LEGITIMATE?
SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
HUMAN LIBERTY PRECEDED GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH MOST IMPORTANT
THEY REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE

12. Start Tuesday

13. HOBBES LOCKE ROUSSEAU
The Social Contract

14. Montesquieu: The Spirit of Laws

16. JAMES MADISON
“FATHER
OF THE
CONSTITUTION”
AND
FOURTH
U.S. PRESIDENT

17. GEORGE
WASHINGTON
PRESIDING
OFFICER
OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
AND FIRST
U.S. PRESIDENT

18. NEW JERSEY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

19. THE FRAMERS' MOTIVATIONS ?
THEIR OWN SELF INTEREST ?
CHARLES BEARD
STATE ECONOMIC CONCERNS ?
MORE RECENT RESEARCH
PRACTICAL POLITICS ? (ROCHE)
HAD TO GET STATES’ APPROVAL

31. THE CONSTITUTION & PERSONAL LIBERTY
NO BILL OF RIGHTS
(WHICH LISTS IND. RIGHTS)
LIMITED MANY PEOPLE
BLACKS (SLAVERY)
WOMEN (NO VOTE)
NAT. AMERICANS (NO CIT.)

33. The Constitution Chapter 2 Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Fourteenth Edition
Chapter 2
The Constitution

34. Constitution Definition
A constitution is a nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens.
Sets the broad rules of the game
The rules are not neutral; some participants and policy options have advantages over others.

35. Origins of the Constitution
The Road to Revolution
Colonists faced tax increases after the French and Indian War.
Colonists lacked direct representation in parliament.
Colonial leaders formed the Continental Congress to address abuses of the English Crown.

36. Origins of the Constitution

37. Origins of the Constitution
Declaring Independence
In May and June 1776, the Second Continental Congress debated resolutions for independence.
The Declaration of Independence, which listed the colonists grievances against the British, is adopted on July 4, 1776.
Politically, the Declaration was a polemic, announcing and justifying revolution.

38. Origins of the Constitution
The English Heritage: The Power of Ideas
Natural rights: rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on government
Consent of the governed: government derives its authority by sanction of the people
Limited Government: certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect natural rights of citizens

40. Origins of the Constitution
Winning Independence
In 1783, the American colonies prevailed in their war against England.
The “Conservative” Revolution
Restored rights colonists felt they had lost
Not a major change of lifestyles

41. The Government That Failed
The Articles of Confederation
The first document to govern the United States, it was adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781.
It established a confederation, a “league of friendship and perpetual union” among 13 states and former colonies.
Congress had few powers; there was no president or national court system.
All government power rested in the states.

42. The Government That Failed
Changes in the States
Liberalized voting laws increased political participation and power among a new middle class.
An expanding economic middle class of farmers and craft workers counterbalanced the power of the old elite of professionals and wealthy merchants.
Ideas of equality spread and democracy took hold.

44. The Government That Failed
Economic Turmoil
Postwar depression left farmers unable to pay debts
State legislatures sympathetic to farmers and passed laws that favored debtors over creditors
Shays’ Rebellion
Series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
Economic elite concerned about Articles’ inability to limit these violations of individual’s property rights

45. Making a Constitution: The Philadelphia Convention
Gentlemen in Philadelphia
55 men from 12 of the 13 states
Mostly wealthy planters and merchants
Most were college graduates with some political experience
Many were coastal residents from the larger cities, not the rural areas

46. The Philadelphia Convention
Philosophy into Action
Human Nature, which is self-interested
Political Conflict, which leads to factions
Objectives of Government, including the preservation of property
Nature of Government, which sets power against power so that no one faction rises above and overwhelms another

47. The Agenda in Philadelphia
The Equality Issues
Equality & Representation of the States
New Jersey Plan —equal representation in states
Virginia Plan —population-based representation
Connecticut Compromise
Slavery
Three-fifths compromise
Individual equality/voting left to states

49. Basic Ideas of the Constitution
Separation of powers between three branches.
Checks and balances provide oversight.
Government takes the form of a federal system.

50. START
NOTES

51. Article I: Legislative Branch
Bicameral, Senate and House.
Sets out terms, selection, and apportionment.
Section 8 lists enumerated powers.
Final clause is necessary and proper clause.
This is the basis for Congress’ implied powers.

52. Article II: Executive Branch
President with a four-year term.
Qualifications for and removal from office.
Lists powers of the office.
Commander in chief, treaties, appointments.
Sets out State of the Union Address.

53. Article III: Judicial Branch
Establishes only a Supreme Court.
Sets boundaries of Supreme Court’s jurisdiction.
Gives Congress the power to establish lower courts.

54. Articles IV-VII Article IV includes full faith and credit clause.
Article IV includes provisions about new states.
Article V discusses amendment.
Article VI contains the supremacy clause.
Article VII contains provisions for ratification.

55. The Agenda in Philadelphia
The Economic Issues
States had tariffs on products from other states
Paper money was basically worthless
Congress couldn’t raise money
Actions taken:
Powers of Congress to be strengthened
Powers of states to be limited

57. The Agenda in Philadelphia
The Individual Rights Issues
Some were written into the Constitution:
Prohibits suspension of writ of habeas corpus
No bills of attainder
No ex post facto laws
Religious qualifications for holding office prohibited
Strict rules of evidence for conviction of treason
Right to trial by jury in criminal cases
Some were not specified
Freedom of speech and expression
Rights of the accused

58. The Madisonian Model
To prevent a tyranny of the majority, Madison proposed a government of:
Limiting Majority Control
Separating Powers
Creating Checks and Balances
Establishing a Federal System

59. The Madisonian Model

61. The Madisonian Model The Constitutional Republic
Republic: A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws
Favors the status quo – change is slow
The End of the Beginning
The document was approved, but not unanimously. Now it had to be ratified.

63. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius” to defend the Constitution
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns about the lack of basic liberties

64. Ratifying the Constitution
Ratification
Lacking majority support, the Federalists specified that the Constitution be ratified by state conventions, not state legislatures.
Delaware first ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
New Hampshire’s approval (the ninth state to ratify) made the Constitution official six months later.

65. The Importance of Flexibility
The Constitution is short, with fewer than 8,000 words.
It does not prescribe every detail.
There is no mention of congressional committees or independent regulatory commissions.
The Constitution is not static, but flexible for future generations to determine their own needs.

66. Constitutional Change
The Informal Process of Constitutional Change
Judicial Interpretation
Marbury v. Madison (1803): judicial review
Changing Political Practice
Technology
Increasing Demands on Policymakers

69. Understanding the Constitution
The Constitution and Democracy
The Constitution is rarely described as democratic.
There has been a gradual democratization of the Constitution.
The Constitution and the Scope of Government
Much of the Constitution reinforces individualism and provides multiple access points for citizens.
It also encourages stalemate and limits government.

70. Summary
The Constitution was ratified to strengthen congressional economic powers, even with disagreements over issues of equality.
Protection of individual rights guaranteed through the Bill of Rights.
Formal and informal changes continue to shape our Madisonian system of government.

71. END
NOTES

72. AP CHAPTER 2 - OBJECTIVES THE CONSTITUTION
1-EXPLAIN THE NOTION OF “HIGHER LAW” BY WHICH THE COLONISTS FELT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO CERTAIN “NATURAL RIGHTS”. ALSO LIST THOSE RIGHTS.
2-COMPARE THE BASIS ON WHICH THE COLONISTS FELT A GOVERNMENT COULD BE LEGITIMATE WITH THE BASIS OF LEGITIMACY THEN ASSUMED BY MONARCHIES.
3-LIST AND DESCRIBE THE SHORTCOMING OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

73. AP CHAPTER 2 - OBJECTIVES THE CONSTITUTION
4-COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY PLAN, AND SHOW HOW THEY LED TO THE “GREAT COMPROMISE”, AKA CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE.
5-EXPLAIN WHY SEPARATION OF POWERS AND FEDERALISM BECAME KEY PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
6-EXPLAIN WHY A BILL OF RIGHTS WAS NOT INITIALLY INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION AND WHY IT WAS ADDED.
7-LIST AND EXPLAIN THE TWO MAJOR TYPES OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ADVOCATED TODAY, ALONG WITH SPECIFIC REFORM MEASURES.

74. AP CHAPTER 2 = IMPORTANT TERMS
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
CHARLES A. BEARD
CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
FEDERALISM
FEDERALIST PAPERS
GREAT COMPROMISE

75. AP CHAPTER 2 = IMPORTANT TERMS
JOHN LOCKE
JAMES MADISON
NATURAL RIGHTS
NEW JERSEY PLAN
SEPARATION OF POWERS
SHAY’S REBELLION
VIRGINIA PLAN

76. AP CHAPTER 2 - IMPORTANT TERMS
AMENDMENT (CONSTITUTIONAL)
ANTIFEDERALISTS
BILL OF ATTAINDER
BILL OF RIGHTS
CHECKS AND BALANCES
COALITION
CONFEDERATION

77. AP CHAPTER 2 - IMPORTANT TERMS
EX POST FACTO LAW
FACTION
JUDICIAL REVIEW
LINE-ITEM VETO
MADISONIAN VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE
REPUBLIC
UNALIENABLE RIGHTS
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

78. AP CHAPTER 2 = QUESTIONS
1-WHY, IF ONE IS CONCERNED WITH PROTECTING HUMAN LIBERTY, WOULD ONE WANT TO MAKE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT DOMINATE, RATHER THAN THE EXECUTIVE OR JUDICIARY?
2-WHAT FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING? WHY WERE THEY INCLUDED?

79. AP CHAPTER 2 = QUESTIONS
3-THE FRAGMENTATION OF POWER UNDER THE CONSTITUTION (SEPARATION OF POWERS) MAKES THE ENACTMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY A SLOW PROCESS. CAN THE UNITED STATES THRIVE , INDEED SURVIVE, IN A FAST PACED, MODERN NUCLEAR AGE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT RESPOND QUICKLY?
4-HOW DID THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFLECT THE FOUNDERS’ DISTRUST OF DEMOCRACY? WHAT OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL FEATURES LIMITED THE ROLE OF POPULAR MAJORITIES?

80. AP CHAPTER 2 = QUESTIONS
5-EXPLAIN WHAT JEFFERSON MEANT WHEN HE SAID THE TREE OF LIBERTY MUST BE REFRESHED FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND TYRANTS?”