Chapter 2 Origins of American Government Section 4 Creating the Constitution

Creating a Constitution  Refresher: What is a constitution? rules for setting up and operating a government  A national convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787 to: Revise the Articles of Confederation Create a new form of government  Thomas Jefferson called the convention “an assembly of demigods” because the delegates were educated, powerful, and wealthy citizens.  Some colonial leaders believed that the convention was illegal and did not attend.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Your Turn 1.If you had the opportunity to lead a group of delegates creating a new government, where would you start? 2.What elements would you need to include? 3.What challenges would you face in working with the delegates?

© EMC Publishing, LLC Federalism  Federalism: A government in which states share power and sovereignty with a national government and therefore have fewer rights. Less power to the states, more national.  Federalists: Those who approve federalism Wanted to secure government that promoted order and security because: Stability was needed for America’s growth and prosperity.  Anti-Federalists: Those who fear the power of a central government Feared the government would become too powerful.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Large States versus Small States The New Jersey PlanThe Virginia Plan William Paterson, authorJames Madison, author Unicameral legislatureBicameral legislature One state, one vote; representation not based on population Representation determined by population Multiple executivesSingle executive National judiciary State law is supremeNational law is supreme Large states preferred the Virginia Plan because it based representation on population.

© EMC Publishing, LLC The Great Compromise Also known as the Connecticut Compromise  Was adapted from the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan  Created a strong federal structure to manage the country  Called for a single executive and a national legislature with two houses: First house = House of Representatives, based on population Second house = Senate, with two representatives from each state

Planning for a New Government  If population affects representation, what about slaves? Three-Fifths Compromise the population value of a slave compared to a citizen. Each slave would count 3/5 of a person to the total state’s population  Three documents influenced the Constitution: Articles of Confederation Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

© EMC Publishing, LLC Planning for a New Government  The founders focused on eight key discussion points: Sovereignty of state or people Supremacy of national or state law Unicameral versus bicameral legislature Process of passing laws Powers of Congress Kind of executive Kind of judiciary Format for changing the document

© EMC Publishing, LLC Your Turn Indicate the document that contributed each of the following characteristics to the Great Compromise. Mark each characteristic from the New Jersey Plan with the letter a and each characteristic from the Virginia Plan with the letter b. 1.Bicameral legislature 2.Multiple executive 3.Equal representation for all states 4.Representation based on population 5.State law as supreme 6.National judiciary 7.Unicameral legislature

© EMC Publishing, LLC The Ratification Fight…  For approval, the Constitution needed to be signed by 9 of 13 states.  Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists tried convincing the public and state leaders of their beliefs regarding ratification.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Federalists versus Anti-Federalists Federalists  Favored ratification  Believed that people should be in charge of government  Believed that the average person should not have too much power  Supported a strong central government with built-in protections to prevent tyranny

© EMC Publishing, LLC Federalists versus Anti-Federalists Anti-Federalists  Opposed ratification  Believed that government should be kept small and local  Feared a strong central government with no accountability to the people  Supported a bill of rights to protect states and people

© EMC Publishing, LLC The Federalist Campaign  The Federalist Papers: Persuasive, logical essays used to convince voters to ratify the Constitution  Authors: John Jay James Madison Alexander Hamilton

Federalist Papers  85 essays written to persuade the public into supporting the Constitution. (1787) Argued there were safeguards against the human tendency to abuse power.  The Federalist No. 10 Greatest danger to a republic is interest groups.  The Federalist No. 51 Proposed a system of checks and balances. “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” Anti-Federalists disagreed with it. © EMC Publishing, LLC

Your Turn “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.” (James Madison, The Federalist No. 10) 1.Madison compares air and fire to what political principles? 2.What might Madison think of the role of factions in U.S. politics today? 3.Would Madison still believe that factions can be controlled by a large republic? Explain.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Ratification of the Constitution  Before they would ratify the Constitution, several states demanded that 10 amendments be added to it.  Those 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights.  A bill of rights lists citizens’ rights under the law.  The Bill of Rights lists limits on the power of the central government.

© EMC Publishing, LLC The Final Vote StateDate of Ratification 1DelawareDecember 7, PennsylvaniaDecember 12, New JerseyDecember 18, GeorgiaJanuary 2, ConnecticutJanuary 9, Massachusetts (including Maine) February 7, MarylandApril 28, 1788

© EMC Publishing, LLC The Final Vote StateDate of Ratification 8South CarolinaMay 23, New HampshireJune 21, VirginiaJune 26, New YorkJuly 26, North CarolinaNovember 21, Rhode IslandMay 29, 1790