1. The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
Vs.

2. Now we need a government to run this new country
The first attempt at a government was the Articles of Confederation.
Problems with the Articles of Confederation...
All the power is with the states
No ability to tax
No higher court system
No executive branch
Poor opinion
No regulation of trade
The only good thing from the Articles of Confederation is the Northwest Ordinance which established a plan for to add new states.
This was an awful government

3. The Constitutional Convention
The Articles were so bad that we threw it out and started over. Our next attempt was The Constitution. This has worked for us for over 200 years.
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787.
James Madison in known as the Father of the Constitution because he wrote most of it.

4. What was our first Constitution called in the United States?
Articles of Confederation
The Constitution
Mayflower Compact
House of Burgesses

5. Ideas for the Constitution
Our Founding Fathers looked to several places for ideas to add to the Constitution.
Rome – Republic form of government
England’s History – Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights
Colonial Governments – House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Enlightenment Thinkers – Charles Montesquieu (Separation of Powers/3 Branches) and John Locke (Natural Rights)

6. What year was the Constitution written, signed, and ratified?
1787

7. Which of these were places we looked when writing the Constitution
Which of these were places we looked when writing the Constitution? (choose all that apply!)
Declaration of Independence
Rome
Mayflower Compact
Enlightenment Thinkers

8. The Great Compromise
Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan – Representation in the legislature will be based on population. Bigger states get more representatives than small states.
The New Jersey Plan – All states should have equal representation in the legistlature.
The Great Compromise combined these two plans. The result is Congress with the House of Representatives following the Virginia plan and the Senate using the New Jersey plan.
New Jersey Plan

9. Great Compromise Virginia Plan Strong National Government
3 branches
Legislative branch would have 2 houses where big states get more votes
New Jersey Plan
Strong National Government
3 Branches
Legislative branch with 1 house and each state gets only one vote

10. Strong National Government
The Great
Compromise
Strong National Government
3 branches
2 house legislature
One house based on population (The House of Representatives)
One house based on equal representation (Senate)
New Jersey Plan
Strong National Government
3 Branches
Legislative branch with 1 house and each state gets one vote
Virginia Plan
Strong National Government
3 branches
Legislative branch would have 2 houses with states with more people getting more votes.

11. Which house in Congress gives equal representation to each state
Which house in Congress gives equal representation to each state? (write the first 3 letters, all lower case.)
senate

12. 3/5 Compromise Missouri Compromise Great Compromise Enlightenment
What did we call the combining of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to create the two houses of Congress?
3/5 Compromise
Missouri Compromise
Great Compromise
Enlightenment

13. What do I need to know in the Constitution?
Three-fifths compromise – said that three-fifths of all slaves would be counted in the population.
Remember the more people in a state, the more representatives they get in Congress.

14. The Three Parts The Constitution is divided into three main parts:
Amendments
(Dessert)
Preamble
(Appetizer)
The Constitution is divided into three main parts:
1. The Preamble – Sets up the 6 goals
2. The Articles – Explains how our government will work
3. The Amendments – The changes made to the Constitution.
Articles
(Main Course)

15. What else?
There are three branches of government. The executive (the president), the Legislative (Congress) and the Judicial (the court system

16. Which 3 below are the 3 parts of the Constitution?
Articles
Amendments
Bill of Rights
Preamble
Adendums
Declaration of Independence

17. The Seven Principles of the Constitution
-  The Constitution rests on seven basic principles:
Popular Sovereignty – Government gets its authority from the people.
Limited Government – The government can only do what the constitution says. Also, everyone (including the president) has to follow all laws.
Separation of Powers – the dividing of powers among the three branches so that no one branch has too much power. This was Montesquieu’s idea.
Checks and Balances – safeguards against abuses of power.

18. What are the first 3 letters (all lower case) of the principal that says that the people are ultimately the rulers in this country?
Popular Sovereignty

19. The president’s power to veto a law is an example of which principle
The president’s power to veto a law is an example of which principle? (first 3 letters, lower case only.)
Checks and Balances

20. The Seven Principles of the Constitution
5. Federalism – division of power between the state and federal government. The federal government has certain powers and the states have certain powers.
6.  Republicanism – this establishes our government as a republic. We elect people to do most of our voting for us.
7.  Individual Rights – The constitution protects individual rights like freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to a trial by jury. 

21. This principle splits power between the state and federal governments
This principle splits power between the state and federal governments. (first 3 letters, lower case only)
Federalism

22. Amending the Constitution
The Amendment Process is a two step process.
Proposal – 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress or in a National Convention called by 2/3 of the state legislatures.
Ratification – Approval in 3/4 of the state legislatures or a 3/4 vote in a National Convention.

23. Which 2 below are the two steps of the amendment process?
Proposal – 2/3 vote in both houses of congress
Proposal – ¾ vote in the senate
Ratification – ¾ of state legislatures
Ratification – 2/3 of state legislatures

24. Getting the Constitution Approved
Federalists
Approved of the Constitution because it set up a strong federal government.
James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay
They published “The Federalist Papers” to get support for the Constitution.
Antifederalists
They did not like the Constitution because it made the federal government too strong and did not protect individual rights.
Thomas Jefferson George Mason Patrick Henry
They agreed to ratify the Constitution if we added a Bill of Rights

25. Bill of Rights
George Mason is known as the Father of the Bill of Rights
First Amendment – Freedom of speech, press, petition, assembly and religion
Second Amendment – Right to bare Arms
Third Amendment – We don’t have to house soldiers in our homes
Fourth Amendment – Protects you from illegal searches and seizures of your property
Fifth Amendment – Protects you from self incrimination and also double jeopardy meaning you can’t be tried twice for the same crime.

26. What amendment says that we don’t have to quarter troops?3

27. What amendment gives us freedom of speech?1

28. The Bill of Rights
Sixth Amendment – Guarantees a speedy trial by a fair jury
Seventh Amendment – Guarantees a jury in a civil trial
Eighth Amendment – Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment
Ninth Amendment – Not all rights are listed in the Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment – Any power not given to the federal government will be handled by the states.

29. What amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment?8

30. What amendment says gives you a speedy trial by a fair jury?6

32. Other Important Amendments?
The 13th amendment freed the slaves after the civil war.
The 14th amendment made former slaves citizens.
The 15th amendment gave African American men the right to vote.

33. What amendment says that former male slaves have the right to vote?15

34. What amendment officially abolished slavery?13

35. What amendment made former slaves citizens?14