1. Essential Question:
In what ways did the Constitution deviate from the gov’t under the Articles of Confederation?
What were the Federalist and Anti-Federalist critiques regarding the new Constitution?
Lesson Plan for Thursday, September 11, 2008: RQ 8A, Constitution Notes, Examine Federalist Papers vs. Anti-Federalist documents, & Constitution scavenger hunt

2. Constitutional Reform
American political ideology changed from the beginning of the American Revolution to the late Confederation period:
In the 1770s, American political leaders saw tyranny as the greatest threat to the USA
But…by the mid-1780s, they saw ordinary citizens who lacked virtue as the greatest threat
Thus, states created weak state governors & a weak Articles of Confederation
The problem is an excess of democracy not an excess of tyranny
Shays’ Rebellion will help prove this point to the Founding Fathers 17

3. Constitutional Reform
Congress did not have the tax funds to send an army
Merchants in MA hired their own mercenary militia to end the uprising
By 1787, the fatal flaws of the Articles of Confed were exposed:
Shays’ Rebellion broke out among desperate MA farmers who faced losing their farms or being sent to debtor’s prison
Congress called for a meeting in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles & strengthening the national gov’t
Shays’ Rebellion gave nationalists like Washington, Madison, Hamilton the urgency to call for a stronger national gov’t 18

5. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787

6. The Philadelphia Convention
Shay’s Rebellion led to increased support for a stronger central government & more attendance at the Philadelphia Convention
In May 1787, 55 delegates from all states (except RI) met to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation, but it soon became apparent that something more serious was needed
They did NOT intend to replace the Articles 19

7. The Philadelphia Convention
Is this a government of the people?
The Philadelphia Convention delegates in Philadelphia made 3 important (& illegal) decisions:
The Articles of Confederation were to be completely replaced
Nothing from the meeting was to be printed or spoken to the public
Every state got 1 vote but all decisions needed a majority vote (not 9 of 13 states) to pass
To amend the Articles, all 13 states had to agree

8. Inventing a Federal Republic
Delegates incorporated 4 major principles into this new gov’t:
Limited gov’t—even though a stronger gov’t was being created, citizens’ liberty is protected
Republicanism—the people vote for their leaders
Separation of powers—three branches with defined powers
Federalism—the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts 21

9. Three Branches of Government

10. Federalism

11. Critical Thinking Question A: Large States vs. Small States

12. Inventing a Federal Republic
James Madison presented the Virginia Plan:
Bicameral legislature
Larger states had more representatives
Create a chief executive appointed by Congress
William Paterson presented the New Jersey Plan:
Congress given power to tax
Each state had one vote in a unicameral legislature
But Articles mostly untouched
Small states objected to this large-state dominance
The large states listened politely then overwhelmingly voted against it 21

13. Also known as the “Connecticut” Compromise”
The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman helped resolve the differences between the large & small states by proposing the Great Compromise
Congress would be a bicameral legislature (House & Senate)
Each state was given 2 delegates in the Senate
House of Representatives was determined by state population
Victory for the small states
Victory for large states
Only the House of Reps could introduce tax bills 22

14. What did Congress look like after the Great Compromise?

15. Critical Thinking Question B: Southern Slave States vs
Critical Thinking Question B: Southern Slave States vs. Northern Free States

16. The 3/5 Compromise
Problems still remained between the northern & southern states regarding how to count population size (do slaves count?)
The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the issue:
Three-fifths of the slave population could be counted toward representation in the House of Representatives 22

17. Critical Thinking Question C: To End Slavery or Not

18. Compromising with Slavery
Despite the contradiction slavery posed, Southerners threatened to leave the USA anytime the slave question was discussed
As a compromise for the South, the slave trade could continue to 1808 & runaway slaves returned
“Great as the evil is, a dismemberment of the Union would be worse.”
—James Madison 23

19. The Last Details In 1787, a final draft included:
Including ideas once considered tyrannical: Presidential power to appoint judges & presidential veto power over Congress
In 1787, a final draft included:
Electoral College to vote for the president to “filter the masses”
System of checks & balances among the 3 branches of gov’t
President would serve for 4 years rather than for life
Delegates decided against a Bill of Rights because most state constitutions already had them

20. FYI: Electoral Votes (2000 Census)

22. James Madison helped broker many of the compromises that made the Constitution possible & is referred to as the “father of the Constitution”

23. Key Ideas of the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty: the people have power by voting for leaders
Limited gov’t: even though the national gov’t was stronger, citizens’ liberty was still protected
Federalism: the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts

24. The Constitution was a radical shift from the Articles of Confederation because it gave more power to the national gov’t than to the state gov’ts

25. Federalism—state gov’ts & the national gov’t both have power
The supremacy clause establishes the Constitution (not the states) as the "the supreme law of the land"
A state law cannot contradict a national law

26. Federalism

27. Key Ideas of the Constitution
Separation of powers: three branches with defined powers

28. Separation of Powers

29. Article 1: Legislative Branch30

30. House of Representatives
Senate 31

31. Key Ideas of the Constitution
Only Congress can make laws, declare war, create taxes
The “elastic clause” gives Congress implied powers to make laws seen as “necessary & proper”
The Senate ratifies treaties & confirms judicial appointments

34. Article II: Executive Branch
The president, or Chief Executive, is the head of the government.
Americans vote every 4 years for their leader of their democratic society.
After elected to serve his/her country, the president lives and works in the White House.
The president is in charge of the (Commander and Chief) armed forces.
The president works with leaders of other countries. 35

35. Key Ideas of the Constitution
The president can only recommend legislation to Congress but can veto bills
The president oversees the bureaucracy

36. Chief Agenda Setter
Chief of State
Commander-in-Chief of the military

37. Article III: Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court is the highest court is the U. S., and is the system of courts to settle questions about the laws.
The nine justices can serve for life, or wish to retire.
Each justice is chosen by the president and approved by congress 38

38. Key Ideas of the Constitution
The only court mentioned in the Constitution is the Supreme Court

40. Key Ideas of the Constitution
Checks & balances: each branch can limit the power of the others

42. The Struggle for Ratification

43. The Struggle for Ratification
The delegates in Philadelphia knew that ratification of the new Constitution would not be easy:
They had no authority to change the Articles of Confederation
They did not inform the public of their ongoing decisions
They fundamentally altered the relationships between the states & the central government

44. Federalists & Anti-Federalists
Supported ratification of the Constitution
Were well-organized & educated
Used Federalist Papers to argue for ratification
Had the support of the media
Anti-Federalists
Against ratification
Distrusted of a gov’t that removed power from the hands of the people
Claimed the new Constitution favored the upper class
Authored by Madison, Hamilton, & Jay
Anti-Federalists argued for more protection of individual liberties
“The Constitution is itself a Bill of Rights” 26

45. Ratification of the Constitution

46. Adding the Bill of Rights
To win ratification, the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights
With this protection of citizens’ liberty, all 13 states agreed to ratify the Constitution
Constitution became the official the law of the land in 1789
After bitter fight, most Americans chose to support the Constitution
If 1776 was the 1st American Revolution… 1787 was the 2nd American Revolution 27

48. Discussion Questions
Which of the following ideas was most important to the framers of the Constitution in 1787?
Federalism
Separation of powers?
Checks and balances?
Republican democracy?
Gov’t limited by the people?
Which is most important today?

49. The Constitution proved to be a successful form of government; Today, the Constitution is the oldest existing written gov’t in the world & has become a model for other nations