Miss Smith 7th Grade Civics *pgs. 43-48 Civics in Practice A New Constitution Miss Smith 7th Grade Civics *pgs. 43-48 Civics in Practice

The Constitutional Convention and History The U.S. Constitution is the oldest constitution still governing a country today

British Principles Influence the Delegates Magna Carta Guaranteed that free people could not be arrested, put in prison, or forced to leave their nation unless they were given a trial by a jury of their peers English Bill of Rights Guaranteed rights such as: the right to petition/request the government to improve or change laws The right to a fair punishment if a citizen were to be found guilty of a crime Parliamentary Government Parliament- the lawmaking body of Great Britain. It is bicameral (has 2 parts or “houses”) Each house can check the work of the other The head of Parliament is the Prime Minister What rights did the Magna Carta guarantee for English people? Free people could not be arrested, put in prison, or forced to leave their nation without a trial by jury of their peers. Citizens of England would be judged by English law only What might be some benefits and challenges of having a bicameral lawmaking body? The two houses can check each other and improve each other’s work, but conflicts between the two houses can delay the passage of important laws

British Principles Influence the Delegates The Mayflower Compact First document to establish self government in the colonies The Enlightenment Philosophers such as John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau Believed that government exists only by the “consent of the governed” Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Written by Thomas Jefferson Argued that government has no right to impose or interfere with religious practice

Delegates hold Their Meetings in Secret James Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution His journals are the only source that tells us what happened during the Constitutional Convention

Writing the Constitution Federalism- system of government that divides powers between national and state governments Compromise- agreement in which each side gives up part of its demands in order to reach a solution to a problem The Great Compromise- delegates compromised when they created 2 houses of Congress Senate: states have equal representation House of Representatives: each state is represented according to population size Why did the framers of the Constitution establish a federal system? To balance the powers of the states and the national government so both could work effectively

Government Becomes Stronger Congress now has power to: Coin/print money Raise armed forces Regulate trade (among states and with foreign countries) Set taxes The president can carry out laws Supreme Court interprets laws

The Constitution is Completed September 17, 1787 the Constitution was signed by 39 out of 42 framers/delegates Why did Benjamin Franklin believe that the framers had written the best constitution possible? Because compromises had made most delegates feel satisfied about most of the constitution

Approving the Constitution Ratification- official approval The Constitution had to be ratified by 9 out of the 13 states Once the Constitution was written, what needed to happen before it could go into effect? It had to be ratified by at least 9 of the 13 states

Federalists, Antifederalists, and Ratification Federalists- supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong national government Antifederalists- people who opposed the new Constitution and the federal system of government How might the federalists be able to convince the anti-federalists to support the Constitution? By adding protections for the people’s and the states’ rights

The Constitution is Ratified The Bill of Rights was added to ease the minds of citizens so the Constitution would be approved The Constitution was put into effect in March 1789 George Washington was sworn in as president on April 30, 1789 Who was the first president of the united states? George Washington Why did some people oppose the new Constitution? The believed it would not protect the people’s freedoms and rights