1. Key U.S Documents

2. 3 key U.S. Documents The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitution

3. The Declaration of Independence
What is it?
the proclamation made by the second American Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which asserted the freedom and independence of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain

4. The Declaration of Independence
Why was it written?
The Declaration of Independence was written to explain why the colonists had a right to revolt against and become independent from England.

5. The Declaration of Independence
Why was it written?
The colonists largest complaint was that rules were being passed in England that affected their life in the colonies, but the colonists had no representation in England to voice their opinions of the colonists when the laws were being passed.

6. The Declaration of Independence
What did it say?
The declaration states that the people have the right to overthrow a government that is not protecting their liberties and that governments and kings are not held in place by God, but by the people who serve them.

7. The Declaration of Independence
Why is it important?
The Declaration of Independence is important because it states that a government exists for the benefit of the people and that "all men are created equal."

8. The Articles of Confederation
What are they?
The Articles of Confederation was the original binding document of the United States and served as the supreme law of the land from March 1, 1781 until the ratification of the United States Constitution (on June 21, 1788).

9. The Articles of Confederation
What are the weakness of the them?
Lack of Power and Money in Government
Cant collect taxes, regulate trade, or enforce laws
Lack of central power
No single leader or group to create policy
No national court system
Rules are to rigid
To hard to pass laws or amend the Articles

10. The Constitution How was it created?
Written by the Constitutional Convention
Selected group who meets in secret to revise the Articles of Confederation.
No women or African Americans

11. The Constitution What did it create?
Creates the structure of Congress into a Bicameral, or 2 house system, through the “GREAT COMPROMISE”.

12. The Constitution What did it create? The Great Compromise combined the
the Virginia Plan- designed to give representation based on population (House of Representatives)
The New Jersey Plan – designed to give EQUAL representation to all the states (Senate)

14. The Constitution What did it create?
Electoral college – a group of people who would be named by each state to select the president and vice president

15. The Constitution
Once completed the document still had to be ratified by 9 of the 13 states to become official.
Unfortunately not everyone was willing to sign

16. The Constitution There were two groups
The Federalists – for the Constitution
Anti Federalists- against the Constitution
Federalism – a form of government in which power is divided between the federal (national) and the States

17. The Constitution
The Anti federalists fear the new constitution would take away the liberties Americans had fought to win from Great Britain.
They agree to sign if there is a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution
They sign on June 21, 1788