1. Please Read In order to speed up your Cornell Note taking:
Read all the words on the slide.
Write only what your teacher has highlighted in BLUE
Draw pictures in the left hand column if it helps you understand.

2. U.S. Constitution

3. What documents did Americans look to when creating a new Government?
The Mayflower Compact - American
1st document in the colonies that defined self-government.

4. Document 2 Magna Carta - British
The king was not above the law—he had to follow the same laws as the citizens

5. Document 3 The English Bill of Rights – British
Took more power away from the king.
Protected the rights of citizens.

6. Other Ideas The Enlightenment – Europe
I’m John Locke! I
think people should
govern themselves
Other Ideas
The Enlightenment – Europe
18th century movement focused on thinking with reason and science
John Locke = Enlightenment thinker
believed that people were able to govern themselves.
believed if the government isn’t working, the citizens could replace it
Baron De Montesquieu = Enlightenment thinker
Suggested the 3 branches and separation of powers

7. What were the Articles of Confederation?
America’s first constitution

8. What is a constitution?
The laws and plan for a nations government

9. What was the plan? Government is ran by a congress
Congress was controlled by representatives from each state.
Each of the 13 states had ONE vote.
Laws could be passed with a 9 out of 13 vote.
STATES HAD ALL
THE POWER—THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
WAS WEAK. 9

10. What were the problems after the war?
Great Britain closed its ports to America.
Congress could not collect taxes.
Each state produced its own money.
No courts to settle arguments between states.

11. Shays Rebellion. . . . More problems.
Violent revolt (uprising) against new government
Massachusetts raised taxes to pay off war debt
Farmers unable to pay taxes
Daniel Shays – an angry farmer
Led revolt to attack an arsenal (a place where weapons are stored)

12. One more problem. . .
Northwest Territory (land that is not yet a state)
Settlers were claiming the land
Need a way to govern the settlers

13. Northwest Ordinance The ordinance = a set of laws
Tell how a territory becomes a state
60,000 freemen = apply for statehood
$640 = 1 sq. mile of land
No slavery allowed in the territory

14. Constitutional Convention
A convention = a large gathering of people for a particular reason.
Come up with a better plan for the government

15. What is the purpose of the U.S. Constitution?
Popular sovereignty – the power belongs with the people
Be able to defend the country from other countries
To ensure freedom for citizens
To ensure peace among the states

16. Big States vs. Small States
Delegates did not agree on anything
2 ideas
Virginia Plan
More power to large states
States with more people = more votes in Congress.
New Jersey Plan
Each state = 1 vote
Number of people in state shouldn’t matter.

17. The Great Compromise A compromise = a settling of
differences where both sides
gives up something.
2 houses of Congress
Senate = each state had 1 vote.
House of Representatives = votes determined by number of people in the state

18. How were slaves to be counted?
Problem
South = count slaves as population
South would have more votes in congress
North = south owns slaves as property, so slaves should be not counted as population
South would have less votes in congress

19. 3/5ths Compromise When counting population in a state:
5 slaves would count as 3 people.

20. 3 Branches of Government
Settles differences about the meaning of laws
Carry out Laws
Makes Laws

21. System of Checks and Balances
Dividing the government into 3 branches
Balances the powers of all 3
No one branch has more power than the other
All 3 branches have separation of powers
Separate duties/jobs
All 3 branches check each other
Must work together as
equal partners
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch

22. Approving the Constitution
All laws and plans for the new government were written down
Delegates took new constitution back to their states
9 out of 13 states had to ratify or approve the Constitution for it to go in effect.

23. Ratify or Not to Ratify? Federalists = liked the Constitution
Wanted a strong national government
Wealthy landowners, merchants, and lawyers
Anti-Federalists = didn’t like the Constitution
Wanted more power given to the states
Farmers
1790- Constitution was ratified by all 13 states.

24. The Bill of Rights First 10 amendments were added in 1791
amendment = a change or addition to a document
Lists things the government cannot take away from citizens
Guarantees
Freedom of Speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial to every American citizen.
Many other amendments have been added

25. Write your summary.
REVIEW your notes by looking back to the beginning of your Cornell Notes.
Your summary must include the MAIN IDEAS and the important DETAILS about each main idea.