1. Unit 4: A New Nation - The Constitution

2. Bell Ringer: Why did the United States need to create a Constitution?

3. Constitutional Convention
Were the Articles of Confederation providing for an effective government?
NO.
Delegates decide to meet in Philadelphia in May to revise the Articles
this becomes the Constitutional Convention
where the U.S. new gov’t is created

4. Constitutional Convention
Assembly of “Demigods”
Thomas Jefferson referring to the convention
greatest minds and most educated men in the nation
21 had fought in Revolutionary War, 7 had been state governors, most had served in Continental Congress, 8 had signed Declaration of Independence

5. Constitutional Convention
Baron de Montesquieu
French political philosopher during Enlightenment
theory of separation of powers (executive, legislative, and judicial branches)

6. Constitutional Convention
Virginia Plan
proposed by James Madison
favored by large states
strong central (federal) gov’t
bicameral legislature - representatives in BOTH houses determined by population
“Father of the
Constitution”

7. Constitutional Convention
New Jersey Plan
William Paterson
favored by small states
gave central gov’t more powers but kept basic structure of Articles
unicameral legislature based on equal representation for states

8. Constitutional Convention
The Great Compromise
proposed by Roger Sherman
combined elements of VA and NJ Plans to satisfy both large and small states
bicameral legislature
the Senate is based on equal representation (2 senators per state)
the House of Representatives is based on population

10. Constitutional Convention
Three Fifths (3/5s) Compromise
counted each slave as three fifths of a person
WHY?
southern states wanted slaves counted toward their population for representation purposes

12. Constitutional Convention
Slave Trade Compromise
many delegates wanted the federal gov’t to outlaw the slave trade from Africa
SC and GA threatened to walk out
would not outlaw the trade until but could levy a tax of $10 on every imported slave

13. Constitutional Convention
Electoral College
why?
didn’t trust common people to vote in best interests, wanted to give elite the final say
the people (us!) vote for electors who then cast a vote for president
# of electors for each state = number of representatives and senators in Congress
(current NC # of electors?)
ory.com/topics/ us- presidents/pres idential- elections/videos /ask-history- electoral-college

14. The Battle for Ratification
The Constitution was completed after 4 months but it was not yet the law of the land.
Constitution had to be ratified, or approved, by 9 out of the 13 states.

15. The Battle for Ratification
Federalists
supported the ratification of the Constitution
wanted a strong central gov’t
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

16. The Battle for Ratification
The Federalist Papers
series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
published under the name “Publius”
explained why the Constitution was necessary

17. The Battle for Ratification
If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.
Federalist Papers #51

18. The Battle for Ratification
Anti-Federalists
opposed the ratification of the Constitution
supported states’ rights
Sam Adams, Patrick Henry

19. The Battle for Ratification
Anti-federalist views:
made the central gov’t too strong
took away too much power from the states
the president had too much power
Congress was too small and could not accurately represent the people

20. The Battle for Ratification
Principles of the Constitution:
popular sovereignty
limited gov’t
federalism
separation of powers
checks and balances
representative gov’t
But as the Constitution is written in 1787, what vital part is it missing?
BILL OF RIGHTS

21. The Battle for Ratification
Bill of Rights
added to the Constitution to ensure ratification
protected the rights of the PEOPLE
first 10 amendments to the Constitution
approved in 1789
ratified in 1791

23. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Activity
Creating a “T – Chart”
Federalists & Antifederalists
With a Pencil, label each box as FED or ANTI-FED.
First group that gets it correct earns a prize..
Class review.
Pick two colored pencils, one color for Federalists and one color for Anti-Federalists and shade each box correctly with which group the statement belongs.

24. Constitution & Constitutional Convention of 1787 WebQuest
Review Virtual Day Assignment.