1. Chapter 3 Section 1 The Country’s First Governments
The Constitution
Chapter 3 Section 1
The Country’s First Governments

2. Bell Ringer September 5, 2017 Civic Literacy. Analyzing. Page 71
What might Americans gain from visiting displays such as Signers’ Hall and the Freedom Train that deal with the history of our nation and its government?
The documents Americans have written still stand & still influence how we live today.

3. Organizing a New Government
State Constitutions:
Each state created a constitution
Limits on government power
Each state separated the branches of gov’t:
legislative, executive, and judicial.

4. The Articles of Confederation
Although united in opposing England, they were still 13 separate governments.
1777 – Second Continental Congress drew up a plan for a loose Confederation of independent states.

5. The Articles of Confederation
were ratified or approved
by all 13 States in 1781.

6. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Lack of power & money
Lack of Central Power
Rules too Rigid
(Page 75)

7. A Limping Government
After winning the Revolutionary War against England, a struggling economy made life difficult for Americans and their new government due to debt.

8. Congress had no power to regulate trade with England.
English prices were lower than American prices so Americans couldn’t afford to support each other’s businesses.

9. Bell Ringer September 6, 2017 Page 74 – Map Skills
What present day states were created out of the Northwest Territory?
What was the benefit of establishing a system of surveying land for sale?
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, part of Minnesota
It made it possible for the NW Territory to be settled quickly and in an orderly way.

10. The Northwest Ordinances
Ordinance of 1785: set up a plan for surveying western lands.
Northwest Ordinance: 1787 law that set up a government for the Northwest Territory and a plan for admitting new states to the Union

11. Shay’s Rebellion Farmers slid into debt
Farmers lost their land in Massachusetts because the state raised property taxes.
1786- Hundreds of angry Massachusetts farmers, led by war hero Daniel Shays, stormed into courthouses to stop the courts from selling their land.

12. Shay’s Rebellion
Congress did not have the power to order surrounding states to help Massachusetts put down the uprising.

13. Essential Question
Why was it difficult to pass laws under the Articles of Confederation?
There were strict voting rules. The legislature could not pass a law unless nine states voted for it.

14. Junior Scholastic – Sept. 2017 Issue
What two things did the Constitution set up?
What was the name & Dates of the war we fought with Great Britain?
Why did the delegates meet in Philadelphia in 1787?
What two famous Founding Fathers were not present?
What are the 3 Main Sections of the Constitution?
The Constitution set up our Federal Gov’t & its relationship with the states & citizens
We fought the Revolutionary War from 1775 – 1783.
The delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to form a stronger gov’t.
John Adams & Thomas Jefferson were not present because they were in Europe
The 3 main sections are the Preamble, the Articles, & the Amendments.

15. Chapter 3 Vocabulary
Constitution: a detailed ,written plan for government
Bicameral: a legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
Confederation: a group of individuals or state governments
Articles of Confederation: the first constitution of the United States
Ratify: to vote approval of
Ordinance: a law, usually of a city or county
Ordinance of 1775: a law that set up a plan for surveying western lands in the U.S.
Northwest Ordinance: 1787 law that set up a government for the Northwest Territory and a plan for admitting new states to the Union
Shay’s Rebellion: an uprising of Massachusetts farmers who did not want to lose their farms because of debt caused by heavy state taxes after the American Revolution

16. Bell Ringer September 7, 2017
Geography Connection – Ratification of the Constitution (pg 84)
Which states were most supportive of the Constitution?
Why do you think some states ratified the Constitution after it went into effect?
New Jersey, Delaware, & Georgia unanimously ratified the Constitution. Connecticut, Maryland, & South Carolina strongly supported it.
The new nation would be off to a stronger start if all 13 states were in unity

17. The Constitutional Convention
1787 – Delegates met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation.
Rhode Island did not come.
55 Men present.
Patrick Henry refused to attend.

18. Constitutional Convention
The work of the Convention was secret
Public/ Press not allowed
Windows were shut/ Summertime
James Madison kept the “minutes”
Work to strengthen the National Government

19. Compromising
Virginia Plan: Two Houses of Congress based on population (BIG State)
New Jersey Plan: One House of Congress - one vote per state, committee rather than President.
Great Compromise: Connecticut Plan. Two Houses. House of Representatives based on population of each state. Senate with two representatives from each state.

20. Essential Question
Which parts of each plan became the Great Compromise?
Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature, HR based on population
New Jersey Plan: Senate with equal representation from each state

21. Bell Ringer September 8, 2017
Page 83 - American Leaders – James Madison
“Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power” James Madison
Put this statement in your own words.
Liberty without restraint would corrupt the people. The powerful having too much liberty would corrupt government.

22. Three-Fifths Compromise
Southern States wanted to count Slaves for population
Northern States did not.
Compromise: counted each slave as 3/5 of a person.

23. Constitution Sent to the States
Sept. 17, 1787: 39 Delegates signed The Constitution
The Constitution had to be ratified, or approved, by at least nine state conventions.

24. Federalist v. Anti-Federalist
Federalists: supported the Constitution and Federalism – power divided between the national & state governments
Federalist Papers: Essays written to convince Americans to accept the Constitution

25. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists: opposed the Constitution.
They feared a strong national gov’t would ignore rights of the states.
Concerned that the wealthy would have all the power.
Wanted a Bill of Rights.
June 1788 – the ninth state – New Hampshire ratified

26. Essential Question
Describe the views of the Federalists & the Anti-Federalists.
The Federalists supported the Constitution & Federalism as a form of gov’t
The Anti-Federalists believed in States’ Rights. They didn’t want a strong national gov’t. They insisted on a Bill of Rights.

27. Bell Ringer September 12, 2017
Bell Ringer: Page 88 – Comparing Governments
How did the Constitution strengthen the power of the national government?
The Constitution created the Executive & Judicial Branches. The Articles of Confederation only had a Legislative Branch. The Congress gained the power to tax & regulate trade.

28. Parts of the Constitution
Preamble: states the goals of the government
7 Articles: Main part – way the government is set up
I. Legislative Branch
II. Executive Branch
III. Judicial Branch
Amendments: Changes or addition to the Constitution
First 10 are the Bill of Rights
27 total Amendments

29. Amending the Constitution
Proposal:
A vote of 2/3 of both houses of Congress
National Convention called by 2/3 State Legislatures
Ratification:
¾ of the States must ratify by State Legislatures OR
State Conventions (21st Amendment)

30. Necessary & Proper Clause
Article I :
Gives Congress the power to “make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.
Implied Powers: Any laws Constitution doesn’t forbid? (Loose)
Only laws mentioned in Constitution (Strict)
Final Authority for Interpreting: Supreme Court

31. Essential Question
What government powers do the First 3 Articles of the Constitution set up?
Legislative: Congress ( Senate & HR) Lawmaking authority
Executive: President – Law enforcing
Judicial: Supreme Court - & lower courts interpret the laws

32. Bell Ringer September 13, 2017 Page 95 System of Checks and Balances
How does the Legislative Branch check the power of the judiciary?
Do you think one Branch of the Federal Government is more powerful than another? If so – which one?
 It can reject the appointment of judges.
It can impeach judges

33. Major Principles of Government
Popular Sovereignty: people rule themselves (voting – elect leaders)
Limited Government: limited by the Rule of Law
Separation of Powers: Division of Authority
(legislative, executive, judicial)
Checks & Balances: Each branch can limit the
other two

34. Three Types of Power
Enumerated Powers: Powers of the Federal gov’t listed in the Constitution (coin money, declare war, etc)
Reserved Powers: Powers NOT given to the Federal
gov’t are set aside for the States
(education, marriage laws, etc)
Concurrent Powers: Federal and State powers
overlap.
( taxes, courts, prisons)

35. Essential Question How does Social Change influence government?
New laws are made
Amendments to the Constitution are made
Courts interpret laws differently in different time periods

36. Chapter 3 – Constitution - Review
Congress could not regulate trade under the:
Articles of Confederation
2. What was the name of the Farmer’s Rebellion that led to the
Constitutional Convention?
Shay’s Rebellion
3. The men who feared that the Constitution would create a tyrannical government were called:
Anti-Federalists

37. Review What does the “establish justice” part of the Preamble mean?
Establish a Court System
5. What Branch of Government did the Articles of Confederation provide?
Only a Congress (Legislative Branch)
6. Which Article provides a process for Amending the Constitution?
Article V (5)

38. 7. Which Article specifies the powers of the Judicial Branch?
Article III (3)
8. Which Article specifies the powers of the Executive Branch?
Article II (2)
9. Which Article specifies the powers of the Congress?
Article I (1)
10. Which Article specifies the relationship between the federal and state governments?
Article IV (4)

39. 11. What Frenchman influenced our 3 Branches of Government known as the Separation of Powers?
Montesquieu
12. Before it was amended, The Constitution allowed who to select the electors that chose the president?
The State Legislatures
13. What did the Founding Fathers first intend to do when they met together in 1787?
Fix the Articles of Confederation

40. 14. If the States have a disagreement with the Federal Government, what part of the Constitution resolves that conflict?
Supremacy Clause
15. It takes ¾ of the States to ratify a change to the Constitution which is called an :
Amendment
16. Before the Constitution was written, each state had its own Constitution with its own Bill of Rights, influenced by what old English Document?
Magna Carta

41. 17. Declaring War is power given to the Federal (National) Gov’t or the State Gov’ts?
The Federal (National)Government (Enumerated Power)
18. Establishing local gov’ts is the power of?
Each State (Reserved Power)
19. Borrowing Money is a power of both National & State gov’ts and is called what kind of power?
Concurrent Power ( Both Federal & State power)
20. Conducting or setting up how elections will be held is a power NOT given to the Federal Gov’t – but to the States. It is what kind of power?
Reserved Power ( State Power)