Chapter 2 Our Political Beginnings Why / How / What did the “Framers” of the United States Constitution utilize in “History” to Set the ground work for our Constitution?

3 main ideas from the English settlers 1) Ordered government-rules to help people get along 2) Limited government-government not all powerful, can be restricted 3) Representative government-should serve the will of the people

English Documents Magna Carta –1215 –Only applied to nobles –Trial by jury –Due process –Power of monarchy is not absolute

English Documents Petition of Rights –Limited the King’s power –No quartering of troops –Trial by peers –No martial law in time of peace

English Documents English Bill of Rights –No standing army in time of peace –Free parliamentary elections –No excessive bail –No cruel & unusual punishment

Timeline to the Constitution 1775-April-American Revolution begins 1775-May-2 nd Continental Congress meets 1776-July-Declaration of Independence 1781-end of War of Independence 1781-Articles of Confederation 1787-U.S. Constitution

Articles of Confederation 1 st legal government Government could coordinate, not control the actions of the states Unicameral Congress Equal votes per state No executive or judicial branch Provided for common defense

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation No power to tax No power to regulate commerce All 13 states to amend 1 vote per state regardless of size No enforcement branch No judicial branch

From Articles to Constitution Economic Chaos Different state money Debts not paid Shay’s Rebellion Massachusetts state militia Mount Vernon trade meeting Constitutional Convention

WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A “MEETING TO REVISE & AMEND” THE ARTICLES OF CONF.

“FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION”

Virginia Plan 3 separate branches-legislative, executive and judicial Bicameral legislature Representation based on population or money given to government House chosen by the people Senate chosen by state legislatures Strong central government

New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature Closely limited power to tax & regulate trade Federal executive of more than one person Federal judiciary-single Supreme tribunal Equal representation

Major area of disagreement representation

Great Compromise aka Connecticut Compromise Bicameral legislature –Senate-equal representation per state (2) –House of Representatives- representation based on population of state

Other Issues Slavery Export Tax Selection of President Structure of court system Amendment process

3/5’s Compromise Slaves counted as 3/5’s of a person for both representation in the House and for tax purposes

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress forbidden the power to tax any exports from any state Congress forbidden the power to interfere with the slave trade for 20 years

Ratification of Constitution Required 9 out of 13 states 2 groups emerged Federalists-for ratification Anti-federalists-against ratification 2 issues –power of central government –Lack of a Bill of Rights

Federalists James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay 85 newspaper essays published in New York to promote ratification

Anti-federalists Patrick Henry John Hancock Samuel Adams Wrote essays under the name Brutus to argue against