The Constitution of the United States What is the purpose of the Constitution?

TURN AND TALK!  With a neighbor, discuss the following question: How do the political cartoons you just saw represent a message you’ve already heard in previous units (and read about in Washington’s Farewell Address)?

Constitution Timeline 1788US Constitution ratified by 9 states [June 22] and becomes the supreme law of the USA 1789 George Washington elected first President of the USA March 4, The first Congress met (in New York, NY, then the nation's capital) 1790 First Supreme Court assembled (in New York, NY, then the nation's capital); the Chief Justice was John Jay Dec., US capital moves to Philadelphia 1791 The Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments) added to the Constitution

The Constitution is ratified, or approved by the states before it goes into effect. Ratifications occurred between 1787 and 1790… The First U.S. Congress sits on March 4, George Washington was inaugurated as President on April 30, 1789 (before Rhode Island and North Carolina ratified the Constitution)

Washington is inaugurated April 30, 1789 at Federal Hall in New York “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Which amendments in the Bill of Rights will I need to know for my test? 2 nd amendment: The Rights to bear arms 4 th amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizure 6 th amendment: Right to a fair trial

Amending the Constitution A strength of the Constitution is that it can be amended. Amend means to change, so the Constitution can be changed. Amendments are changes to the Constitution. There are an additional 17 amendments to the Constitution after the Bill of Rights…

Amendments to the Constitution 13 th Amendment 1865, Abraham Lincoln (16) Freed Slaves 14 th Amendment 1866, Andrew Johnson (17), Made African Americans Citizens 15 th Amendment 1869, Ulysses S. Grant (18), Gave African Americans the vote. 16 th Amendment1909, William Taft (27), Created the Income Tax

18 th The 18 th Amendment, 1917 Woodrow Wilson (28), Prohibition (made alcohol illegal) The 21 st Amendment, 1933 Franklin Roosevelt (32) Repeal of Prohibition (made alcohol legal again) 19 th Amendment, 1919 Woodrow Wilson (28) Gave women the right to vote!

22 nd Amendment 1947 Harry S. Truman (33), Limited President’s term to two 26 th Amendment 1971, Richard Nixon (37), Lowered the voting age to 18

Amendments… 11 th - Can’t sue a state! 12 th – Electors must pick a President and Vice President 13 th – Freed Slaves 14 th – Made African Americans citizens 15 th - Gave African Americans the right to vote 16 th – Created a federal income tax 17 th - Senators elected by popular vote (1913) 18/21st – Prohibition (outlawed alcohol) 19 th – Gave women the right to vote 20 th – Sets Presidential inauguration in January. (1933) 22 nd – Set Presidential terms 23 rd – Allows Washington DC to vote for electors. (1961) 24 th – Ended Poll Taxes (1964) 25 th - States that the Vice President will assume office if President dies/impeached/resigns (1967) 26 th – Lowered the voting age to th - Changes to Congressional pay must take effect after the next term of office for the representatives.

Amendment matching 1. B - Fourth Amendment 2. F - Fourteenth Amendment 3. I - Twenty First Amendment 4. K - Twenty Sixth Amendment 5. G - Fifteenth Amendment Sixth Amendment – Right to trial by jury

6. A – Second Amendment 7. L – Eighteenth Amendment 8. J – Twenty Second Amendment 9. H – Nineteenth Amendment 10. E – Thirteenth Amendment 11. C - Sixteenth