Essential Question Question In what ways did the

• Essential Question: 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?

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

Congress did not Merchants in MA hired Constitutional Reform have the tax funds their own mercenary • By 1787, the fatal flaws of the Articles of to send an army militia to end the uprising 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 Rebellion nationalists & Shays’ strengthening thegave national gov’t like Washington, Madison, Hamilton the urgency to call for a stronger national gov’t

The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787

The Philadelphia Convention • Shay’s Rebellion led to increased support for a stronger central They did NOT intend to government & more attendance at the replace the Articles 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

The Philadelphia Is this a government. Convention of the people? • The Philadelphia Convention delegates in Philadelphia made 3 important (&all To amend the Articles, illegal) decisions: 13 states had to agree – 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

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

Three Branches of Government

Federalism

Critical Thinking Question A: Large States vs. Small States

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

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

What did Congress look like after the Great Compromise?

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

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

Critical Thinking Question C: To End Slavery or Not

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

The Last Details Including ideas once considered tyrannical: tyrannical • In 1787, a finalpower drafttoincluded: Presidential appoint judges & presidential vetotopower overthe Congress – Electoral College vote for 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

FYI: Electoral Votes (2000 Census)

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

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 n. Federalism: the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts

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

Federalism—state gov’ts & Federalism 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

Federalism

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

Separation of Powers

Article 1: Legislative Branch

Senate House of Representatives

Only Congress canof make Key Ideas thelaws, Constitution 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

The Struggle for Ratification

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

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

Ratification of the Constitution

Adding the Bill of Rights • If. To win ratification, the Federalists 1776 was the 1 st American Revolution… nd American Revolution 1787 was the 2 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

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?

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