1. Colonial Influences
Mayflower Compact
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights
Cato’s Letters
Common Sense
Collection of Good Ideas
Where did America get its ideas about government? Please pick up 2 sheets out of bellwork box.

3. Back to the beginning Aristotle: Greece, 300’s BC, student of Plato
Philosophy school, called the Lyceum in Athens
author of “Aristotle’s Politics,” a series of essays on government
Citizens: all should share in the civic life of ruling and being ruled in turn

4. “Right” and “Wrong” constitutions
Kingship
Vs. Tyranny
Aristocracy
Vs. Oligarchy
Polity
Vs. Democracy

5. What’s the ideal government?
According to Aristotle, can government succeed in a democracy?
We must examine his words to explain his position…..
Do Aristotle Activity

6. What’s the Big Idea Bellwork: Get a sheet from box
1. On the back of that paper, explain what Aristotle believed to be the ideal government.
2. Do the handout on “big ideas.”

7. Aristotle stated that “the rule of law
Aristotle stated that “the rule of law is preferable to that of any individual.” This is because individuals possess flaws and could tailor government to their own individual interests, whereas the rule of law is objective.
[H]e who bids the law rule may be deemed to bid God and Reason alone rule, but he who bids man rule adds an element of the beast; for desire is a wild beast, and passion perverts the minds of rulers, even when they are the best of men. The law is reason unaffected by desire.
Rulers must be “the servants of the laws,” because “law is order, and good law is good order.”
In addition to law, Aristotle believed a large middle class would protect against the excesses of oligarchy and democracy:
[T]he best political community is formed by citizens of the middle class, and that those states are likely to be well-administered in which the middle class is large, and stronger if possible than both the other classes ; for the addition of the middle class turns the scale, and prevents either of the extremes from being dominant.
SUMMARY: a polity, a mix of an aristocracy with some sense of democracy

8. What’s the big idea? Rule of Law Self Government Due Process
All people must follow the laws, and the laws should be enforced fairly.
Self Government
People can make decisions on how their government should work.
Due Process
People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and need to treat all people in the same way.
Limited Government
A government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement.
Rights
A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions.

9. Colonial Influences
Examine the following 5 influences on the writers of our Constitution
Activity

10. Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility. It was written by the English nobility in 1215.
Big Ideas:
Limited Government
Rights
Rule of Law
Due Process
Magna Carta

11. King John (think Robin Hood…) vs. the barons/nobility
At issue: high taxes (to pay for wars and such) and abuse of power
Tussle with the Pope
Barons approach King with demands; he refuses. Could have led to civil war.
To prevent, King agrees to meeting at Runnymeade.

12. The Great Charter
“no free man arrested or imprisoned or (property taken) ….without the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land”
Translation:

13. Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists. It was written by a group of English Puritans as they traveled to Massachusetts in 1620.
Big Ideas:
Self Government
Rule of Law
Mayflower Compact
Magna Carta

14. The Compact "Modern" version
In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.:

15. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another; covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

16. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.

17. English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king. It was written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689.
Big Ideas:
Limited Government
Rights
Due Process
Rule of Law
English Bill of Rights
Magna Carta
Mayflower Compact

18. Cato’s Letters
Cato’s Letters were made up of a collection of newspaper articles published to convince people to support the freedom of expression and to fight against the heavy handed rule of the British government. They were written by two anonymous English journalists in the 1720’s.
Big Ideas:
Rights
Rule of Law
English Bill of Rights
Cato’s Letters
Magna Carta
Mayflower Compact

19. Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet written to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England. It was written by a colonial journalist and circulated in 1776.
Big Ideas:
Self Government
Rights
English Bill of Rights
Cato’s Letters
Common Sense
Magna Carta
Mayflower Compact

20. Excerpt from Common Sense
Why was this so influential in the colonies?
What points does he make?

21. From Big Ideas to the Constitution
The movers and shakers in the colonial period spent a lot of time thinking about these big ideas, and how to put them into practice.
Give it a try yourself by matching each aspect of the U.S. Constitution to the big ideas that you just learned about.
Handout

22. From Big Ideas to the Constitution
“This Constitution and the laws of the United States ... shall be the supreme law of the land.” All government officials “shall be bound by an oath to support this constitution.”
U.S. Constitution, Article VI
Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly A
Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way.
Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do

23. From Big Ideas to the Constitution
The first ten amendments in the Bill of Rights guarantees certain rights and freedoms that include:
Freedom of speech, the press, and religion
Right to petition the government and to bear arms
Prohibition of excessive bail or fines, or cruel and unusual punishments for crimes
Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly
Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way.
Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do B

24. From Big Ideas to the Constitution
The U.S. Constitution created three branches of government. Each branch is given the power to check, or limit the power of the other two. The system of checks and balances keeps any one branch from getting too powerful.
Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly
Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way.
Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do C

25. From Big Ideas to the Constitution
“ No person shall...be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”
U.S. Constitution, 5th Amendment
Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly
Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way. D
Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do

26. From Big Ideas to the Constitution
“WE THE PEOPLE of the United States...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Preamble to the Constitution, 1787
Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly E
Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way.
Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do

27. Bellwork Quiz on a ½ sheet of paper: Name the terms for the following ideas
1. The idea that people can make decisions on how their government should work.
2. The idea that there are things people should be free to do without restrictions.
3. The idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws that should treat all people the same way.
4. The idea that all people must follow the laws.
5. The idea that government should be limited in power by a constitution.

28. First try: 2nd Continental Congress
States loyal to states first.
From what government are they just becoming independent?
Very wary of a strong, central government.
The Articles of Confederation—
1 state=1 delegate
Went into effect 1777; not approved until 1781
WHY?
It took 9 of 13 states to approve any law (or ratification)
Limited power to regulate trade between states. So states could impose tariffs (taxes) on imported goods=strained relationships.
Congress not given power to levy taxes (could only borrow or beg!)
A war to pay for!!

29. Final Straw Shay’s Rebellion
A weak national government might just be less bad than a strong national government!
Back to the drawing board in 1787.
Delegates called to Philadelphia May, 1787

30. Federalism:
The leaders spent the next several years debating the merit of a strong, national government.
Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
Read either:
Pg. 1 of Federalists & Antifederalists—summarize both positions on your notes OR
The Federalist Papers

31. Exit Slip
Which position do you agree with, the Federalists or AntiFederalists? Explain why.

32. Bellwork Translate the Preamble to the Constitution.
Put it in your own words.

33. The Preamble 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.

34. Review Federalists vs. AntiFederalists Major issues: Representation
States’ power vs. strong, central gov’t
Personal liberties

35. Review: Why didn’t the Articles work? What is the Great Compromise?
Why didn’t the Articles work?
What is the Great Compromise?
What is the 3/5 Compromise?

36. Anatomy of the Constitution
The principles of the Constitution
What are they?
Follow along and add these principles to your notes

37. The Articles
Follow along in your packet and highlight/make notes of what he covers in:

38. Assignment
Examples: