1. Chapter 2- The Constitution
Objective – Students will be able to answer questions regarding the development of the U.S. Constitution
SECTION
© 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

2. Declaration of Independence
American Government
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Inspired by John Locke
D of I opens with Jefferson invoking Locke philosophy… “Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”
Jefferson continues by listing grievances against George III for violating inalienable rights
declares US independence

3. British Colonial Rule
American Government
Unitary System – all power flows from one central government
Powerful British Government
Political Subunits (Colonies)

4. Articles of Confederation
American Government
1781 – 1789 – RIP
Confederate System – power concentrated in political subunits (states) with a weak central government (typically unite for a common goal)

5. Constitution
American Government
Federal System – powers are divided and/or shared between state and central governments (Current gov’t designed by framers)
Central US government
State governments

6. Articles of Confederation
American Government
Original American gov’t system
Weak central gov’t
Individual and state liberties not threatened
No executive (they hated kings)
Confederacies are usually unstable

7. A of C – Weaknesses
American Government
Article II – “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.” Gov’t has no control
Unicameral Congress (one house) with one vote per state
Supermajority (9 of 13) to pass a law
Supermajority (13 of 13) to amend
No Executive (No President), no central authority
No Federal Judiciary (No Supreme Court), no central law
No control of taxation, commerce between states or with foreign nations, money system

8. Shays’s Rebellion
American Government
Colonies were in debt after the war, central gov’t tried to raise taxes
Farmers in western Massachusetts rebelled against tax they could not afford
Rebelled against foreclosures, forced judges out of court, freed debtors from jail
Showed that national gov’t was weak, needed to seek a stronger national gov’t

9. The Constitutional Convention
American Government
1787
Revising the A of C
Demographics of Delegates
-55 delegates (none from RI)
-33 Lawyers
-half were college graduates
-7 former governors
-7 plantation owners
-8 business leaders
-age (avg. age 42)
-all male, all white

10. Two “Revision” Plans Virginia Plan Favored large states
American Government
Virginia Plan
Favored large states
Strong central government
Bicameral (two house) legislature – larger house elected by the people (House of Representatives, and a smaller house that was selected by larger house (Senate)
(This would change in the 17th Amendment)

11. Two “Revision” Plans New Jersey Plan
American Government
New Jersey Plan
Agreed with strong central government…BUT
Congress would be unicameral (one house) with states having equal votes
Did not want large population states to dominate the legislature

12. Great Compromise
American Government
A bicameral legislature in which the House of Representatives membership apportioned according to the state populations, plus 3/5 the slave population
An upper house, the Senate, which would have two members from each state, elected by the state legislature (popularly elected today)

13. Three-fifths Compromise
American Government
Agree to allow the South to count 3/5 the population in each state to balance the power of North and South

14. Madisonian Principles of Gov’t in the Constitution
American Government
Popular Sovereignty – power to govern belongs to the people, gov’t based on the consent of governed
Separation of Powers – division of gov’t between branches: executive, legislative and judicial
Checks and Balances – a system where branches have some authority over others
Limited Government – gov’t is not all-powerful, and it does only what citizens allow
Federalism – division of power between central government and individual states

15. Separation of Powers Prevents an all-powerful ruling body
American Government
Prevents an all-powerful ruling body
Legislature – passes law (Congress)
Executive – enforces law (President)
Judiciary – interprets law (Supreme Court)

16. Amending the Constitution
American Government
Meant to be difficult
Require action from national and state gov
Amendment proposed by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratified (accepted) in at least ¾ of state legislatures

17. Fed vs. Anti-Fed Ratification – formal approval
American Government
Ratification – formal approval
Federalist – in favor of adoption of US Constitution creating a federal union and strong central government
Anti-Federalist – opposed to ratification in 1787, opposed to strong central government

18. Federalist Papers Best political theory ever written in US
American Government
Best political theory ever written in US
Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Convince public for ratification

19. Federalist #10 Madison addresses biggest fear of gov’t
American Government
Madison addresses biggest fear of gov’t
Faction – a group in a legislature or political party acting together in pursuit of some special interest (think fraction – ½, 1/3, etc)
Founding fathers were concerned that our government would be ripped apart
Madison defends our national Constitution

20. Federalist #51 Separation of Powers check the growth of tyranny
American Government
Separation of Powers check the growth of tyranny
Each branch of government keeps the other two from gaining too much power
A republic guards against irresponsible direct democracy or “common passions”
Factions will always exist, but must be managed to not severe from the system.

21. Anti-Fed Response Central gov’t would threaten liberty
American Government
Central gov’t would threaten liberty
Aristocratic tyranny could happen
Demanded a guarantee of individual rights and liberty
States power was too limited

22. Bill of Rights 10 amendments to the Constitution
American Government
10 amendments to the Constitution
guaranteed individual freedoms and rights
limited power of national government, guaranteed rights to states
Ratified in 1789, Bill of Rights added 1791

23. Section 1 Assessment
Describe the Great Compromise and why it was essential to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
2. Describe the four Madisonian principles of government that are included in the U.S. Constitution.

24. Summary: In a paragraph, describe what you have learned today.