1. Day 1 Review

2. The Articles of Confederation
Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of government?
Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?

3. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
The first system of government designed by the Founding Fathers was a Confederation. Under a Confederate system, the National or Central Government is given only a few powers, while most of the power is reserved for the States.

4. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
The Articles had 2 major achievements:
Bringing the Revolutionary War to a successful conclusion
North West Ordinance (plan for governing the western lands)

5. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Declare War &
Establish an Army/Navy
No Power to Draft Soldiers

6. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Make Peace & Sign Treaties
No Power to Enforce Treaties

7. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Power to Collect Taxes from the States
Borrow Money

8. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Organize a
Post Office

9. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Chief Executive
No national court system
No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce
No National Currency
Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)

10. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Difficult to Amend
(unanimous vote needed to change the articles)

11. The Articles of Confederation
No Chief Executive
No National Court System
No Power to Draft Soldiers
No Power to Control Interstate Commerce
No Power to Enforce Treaties
No Power to Collect Taxes from the States
Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote)
No National Currency
Difficult to Amend
(Unanimous Vote Needed to Change Articles)
Congress given the power to:
Declare War
Make Peace
Sign Treaties
Borrow Money
Establish an Army & Navy
Organize a Post Office

12. Conclusion
Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of government?
They feared that a strong central government would create tyranny, and stamp out the peoples natural God given rights.

13. Shay’s rebellion proved the need to strengthen the government.
Conclusion
Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?
The nation needed to function as ONE united country & not 13 small unorganized nations.
Shay’s rebellion proved the need to strengthen the government.

14. The United States Constitution For Kids
Constitution Day
September 17

15. The law is the set of rules that we live by
The law is the set of rules that we live by. The Constitution is the highest law. It belongs to the United States and all Americans.

16. The Constitution says how the government works
The Constitution says how the government works. It creates the President. It creates the Congress. It creates the Supreme Court.

17. The Constitution was written in 1787. Yes, it is over 200 years old.

18. This is a picture of the Constitution

19. In 1787, a group of men met to write the Constitution
In 1787, a group of men met to write the Constitution. They did not like the way the country was going. They fixed it by creating the Constitution. We call these men The Framers.

20. The Constitution gives us rights
The Constitution gives us rights. Rights are things that all people have just because they are alive. The Bill of Rights is a part of the Constitution. It gives us rights like freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

21. The Bill of Rights is very important. It protects important ideas
The Bill of Rights is very important. It protects important ideas. It protects your right to say what you want. It gives rules for the police. It lets you gather with your friends to talk and protects your home. The Bill of Rights keep Americans safe.

22. Who determines what the Bill of Rights mean?
The Supreme Court makes rulings on the meaning.
The Supreme Court balances the rights of the individual with the needs of society.

23. The Bill of Rights The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution
Take notes on the slides as they appear.
Draw pictures to represent at least five of the amendments.

24. 1st Amendment
The 1st Amendment guarantees five rights = freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition to the government.
This means that we all have the right to:
practice any religion we want to
to speak freely
to assemble (meet)
to address the government (petition)
to publish newspapers, TV, radio, Internet (press)

25. Which right is this? Individuals can…
Say any political belief
Protest (without getting out of control)
Say things about someone that are true
Burn the flag
Say racist and hate slogans
“this means someone might say something you disagree with.

26. That’s right it’s Freedom of Speech
“Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of speech.”
Limits:
Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools, or the president
Sexual harassment
Create too much social chaos
Extremely crude language in a public forum
Disrespectful, vulgar language in schools
Hate crimes

27. Which right is this?

28. That’s right it’s Freedom of Religion
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there of.”
“Two clauses:
Establishment clause
Free Exercise clause

29. Establishment and free exercise clause often conflict with each other.
In schools, the religion issue is most prevalent.
A student may raise her hand and say, “Teacher, can we say an opening prayer before this test?”
If the teacher says:
“Yes,” it looks like establishment of religion.
“No,” it is denying a student free exercise.

30. Establishment Clause: Government cannot promote religion.
The separation of
church and state is a
basic principle of the
US Constitution.

31. Free Exercise: People Can Cannot
Choose any religion
Lead a prayer in most instances
Ask questions about religions
Break the law and claim it is religious belief
Raise children without education
Deprive children of basic needs

32. Establishment Clause: Government Cans Cannot
Teach about religions in school
Allow voluntary prayer in many instances
Transport students to a religious school
Read Bible for culture or literacy content
Set a state religion
Cannot order prayer
Teach religious doctrine in the school
Pay seminary or religious school teachers
Teach creationism

33. Freedom of the Press: The Press Can Cannot
Print any political position
Make fun of people, especially politicians
Expose wrongs by the government
Say things you might not agree with
Libel– intentionally injuring a person’s reputation by false facts
Disclose classified government secrets
Detail how to make a certain weapons

34. Freedom of the Press
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.”

35. Freedom of Assembly
Congress shall make no law Abridging The people to peaceably assemble.”

36. Freedom of Assembly: People Can Cannot
Protest
Parade (with a permit)
Parade chanting hate slogans
Gather in public
Protest by throwing rocks and breaking windows
Hang out (loiter) on private land without owner’s permission

37. Petition the Government
“Congress shall make no law Abridging the people. . . to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

38. Petition the government
You may sue the government for wrongs.
You cannot be punished for exposing wrongs by the government.
The courts decide the wrongs.

39. 2nd Amendment
The 2nd Amendment protects the right to bear arms, which means the right to own a gun.

40. 2nd Amendment: Right To Bear Arms
“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed.”

41. What is the debate with the right to bear arms?
How much can the government do to keep guns from criminals and youth?
In order to keep guns away from criminals, does that limit the right of law abiding citizens?

42. Shoes representing gun deaths.
Contents
Gun Debate Continued…
Thousands of people die every year because of guns.
Thousands of crimes are prevented because of guns.
Shoes representing gun deaths.

43. 3rd Amendment
The 3rd Amendment says “No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”
This means that we cannot be forced to house or quarter soldiers.

44. 4th Amendment
The 4th Amendment protects the people from unreasonable searches and seizures.
This means that the police must have a warrant to enter our homes. It also means the government cannot take our property, papers, or us, without a valid warrant based on probable cause (good reason).

45. Amendments 4-8 Preserve the Rights of the Accused.

46. 4th Amendment
What does the government need in order to search your home?
Probable cause
A warrant given by a judge

49. 5th Amendment
The 5th Amendment protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, (accused)
You cannot be tried for the same crime twice; that is called “double jeopardy.”
You do not have to testify against your self.
“I plead the Fifth!” . (Self-incrimination)
You must have due process of law before you are convicted.
The government cannot take your land unless it pays.

50. 6th Amendment
The 6th Amendment guarantees a speedy trial (you can’t be kept in jail for over a year without a trial)
The accused must be told the charges
an impartial jury (doesn’t already think you are guilty)
that the accused can confront witnesses against them
the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer if they cannot afford one.

51. 7th Amendment Civil Trial by Jury
The 7th Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy civil trial.
A civil trial differs from a criminal trial. A civil trial is when someone sues someone else. A criminal trial is when the state tries to convict someone of a crime.

52. 8th Amendment Bail and Punishment
The 8th Amendment guarantees that punishments will be fair and not cruel, and that
AKA: No cruel and unusual punishment
extraordinarily large fines will not be set.
AKA: No excessive bail

53. 9th Amendment
All rights not stated in the Constitution and not forbidden by the Constitution belong to the people.
This means that the states can do what they want if the Constitution does not forbid it.

54. 9th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the States
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
Allows states to grant more rights than given under the Constitution
Issues such as
Gay marriage
Drinking age
Driving age
Abortion limitations

55. 10th Amendment
The 10th Amendment states that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people.

56. 10th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the People
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
If the federal and state governments do not prohibit something, than the people are allowed to do it.

57. The Constitution sets up the government
The Constitution sets up the government. It is split into three parts: Congress, the President and the courts. These three parts of government work together to make our laws good and fair.

58. Today, the Constitution protects us and keeps us safe
Today, the Constitution protects us and keeps us safe. We should be grateful to the founding fathers and celebrate each year that we have these freedoms and rights.

59. The Preamble We the people, 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.