A Little More About the
Constitutional
Convention
• After agreeing on the
difficult issue of
representation, the
delegates dealt with
other issues somewhat
more easily.
• The new system of
government was a form
of federalism in which
power was divided
between the national
and state
governments.
• Power granted to the national
government by the Constitution
included control of foreign affairs,
providing national defense, and
regulating trade between the states.
• Powers reserved for the states included
providing for and supervising education,
establishing marriage laws, and trade within a
state.
• Both levels of
government
shared such
powers as the
right to tax,
borrow money,
pay debts, and
establish courts.
• The delegates
however, made
sure to limit the
authority of the
federal
government.
• First, they separated powers within the national government.
• They gave the legislative branch – the Senate and House of
Representatives – the power to make laws.
• The executive branch would carry out the laws.
• The judicial branch would interpret and settle disputes about
the laws.
• The delegates also made sure that each branch
had certain powers over the others.
• This was called a system of checks and balances.
• It ensured that no one branch became too
powerful.
• The delegates also
feared placing too
much power in the
hands of the people.
• So instead of
choosing a president
directly, each state
would choose a
group of electors
equal to the number
of senators and
representatives each
state had in
Congress.
• Together these electors were known as the
electoral college.
• They were the ones who cast ballots for the
presidential candidates.
Shaping a New Nation
Chapter 5
The Bill of Rights Leads to
Ratification
Chapter 5 Section 4
The New Quarters – It Makes
Cents…
Right now we have Wyoming
(its been out since September
3rd)
Then comes Utah (which will be out
in November…
What are these items on each coin and why were they picked?
And finally (and most important for today’s lesson) why are they minted in that order?
Great you have a Constitution –
Now what?
The
Ratification
• How many states needed to approve (or ratify) it?
(Hint: Think a little more than 2/3)
9 States
Two sides argued over the Constitution’s passage. Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Federalists consisted of many of the designers of the Constitution who went to
Philadelphia for the Convention as well as merchants and people from the larger
cities for example: James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
•Federalists wanted the Constitution to be approved. They
argued that without a strong central government we would all
return to anarchy or at least more intense arguing between
the states like with the Articles.
• Anti-Federalists consisted of farmers, laborers, and some
business leaders for example: Patrick Henry, John Hancock,
and Samuel Adams. They were against the ratification of
the Constitution
• Anti- Federalist
argued that the
document was illegal
• Because the original
purpose of the
convention in
Philadelphia was to
revise the Articles
of Confederation.
They also pointed
out that the
sessions were not
open to the public
so the people had
no input
• They claimed that the new proposed Constitution
would take away the powers of the states and they
worried that it didn’t mention God
• Anti-Federalist biggest
argument was that there
was no mention of individual
rights
• Anti-federalists said that
without something like the
English Bill of Rights the
government could abuse the
common people because the
government has all their
power
What English philosopher
said that the people should
give all their power to the
formation of the
government?
Thomas
Hobbes
The Federalists claimed that
a Bill of Rights was
unnecessary due to the fact
that individual rights were
already covered in most
state constitutions
What English philosopher
stated that the people
should give some of their
power to the government
while keeping the rest?
•
Eventually they
reached a
compromise,
the Federalists
promised to
include a Bill of
Rights as soon
as the
Constitution
was ratified.
What rights does the Bill of
Rights protect?
• Many Federalists
eventually admitted
that the Constitution
needed a Bill of
Rights to protect the
nation’s citizens.
• They promised to add
a Bill of Rights after
the states ratified the
Constitution.
• Delaware was the first state
to ratify the Constitution, in
December 1787.
• The following June, New
Hampshire became the ninth
state to ratify it.
• 5) Ratification
Delaware
• a) Which state was first?
• b) Why were they first? – because they liked the idea of
equal representation in which part of Congress?
The Senate
• The Constitution officially had been approved. However,
New York and Virginia had not voted yet. The government
needed the support of these large and influential states in
order for the Constitution to work.
• In order to convince Virginia
and New York to join the United
States, by ratifying the
Constitution, Alexander
Hamilton, John Jay and James
Madison, wrote the Federalist
Papers, in order to convince the
general public in those states.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=UxtbSt0HCNA
• By July 1788, both states ratified the Constitution. The
Constitution became the basis for the new government in
1789.
• In several states,
ratification had hinged
on the Federalists’ pledge
to add a bill of rights. In
September 1789,
Congress approved 12
ammendments.
• The government then
sent them to the state
legislatures for
approval.
• By December 1791, the
states ratified ten of
the amendments.
• As a result, they
became part of the
Constitution.
• The Bill of Rights guaranteed Americans such rights as
freedom of religion, speech, and the press. They protected
citizens against having their homes searched and property
seized without a proper reason.
• They also protected the rights of people accused of crimes.
• Finally, the Bill of Rights gave all powers not granted to the
federal government to people and the states.
• Not all Americans,
however, enjoyed
these rights.
• Women were not
mentioned in the
Constitution.
• Native Americans and slaves were excluded. A growing
number of free blacks also did not receive adequate
protection from the Constitution.
• Many states permitted free blacks the right to
vote. However the Bill of Rights offered them no
protection against discrimination and hostility from
whites.
• http://www.yo
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