Unit Two: The Constitution
Basic concepts of American Government
*Ordered Government--local governments based on English version
*Limited Government--government is not all-powerful--3 English Documents
*Representative Government--people should have a voice in government
Types of English Colonies
*Charter--granted permission to settle by the king
*Royal--ruled directly by the king through a governor he chose
*Proprietary--organized by a single individual (a proprietor)
Heading Toward Independence
*English policies following French and Indian War
*Early efforts at colonial unity: New England Confederation (1643)
Albany Plan of Union
(1754)
Stamp Act Congress
(1765)
*First Continental Congress (1774)
*Second Continental Congress (1775)
Importance of Second Continental Congress
*Revolutionary War began April 1775
*Second CC convened May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia
*All 13 colonies represented
*John Hancock chosen to be president of the congress
*2nd CC acted as the US's first governing body
*June 7, 1776 Lee's Resolution called for writing a declaration of indepence
and a constitution
The Declaration of Independence
*The Committee of Five, headed by
Thomas Jefferson was set up to write it
*Two parts: the philosophy and the complaints
*Purpose: to justify the Revolution and gain support
*Officially adopted July 4, 1776
The Critical Period: the United States under the Articles of Confederation
The AoC was written in accordance with Lee's Resolution at the 2nd CC
*Into effect on November 15, 1777
*Established a "firm league of friendship" among states
*Set up a unicameral (one house) congress
*Each state had one vote in congress
*Required 9 of 13 to pass an ordinary law
*Required a unanimous vote to amend the AoC
Weaknesses of the AoC
*No power to tax; had to ask states for money
*No power to raise an army; had to ask states for troops
*No power to regulate interstate trade or commerce
*No executive nor judicial branch
The Road to the Constitutional Convention
*Trade disputes between VA & MD over use of
the Potomac River
*Mt. Vernon Conference 1785
*Annapolis Convention 1786--5 States
*SHAYS' REBELLION in Dec. 1786
*Feb. 1787 Congress gives permission for
revising the AoC
*Philadelphia meeting becomes the
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
May-September 1787
The Framers: the guys who wrote the Constitution
James Madison, the Father of the Constitution
Characteristics of the Framers
*relatively young
experienced
*well educated
*men
Prominent People Not There
*Thomas Jefferson
Henry
*John Hancock
Henry Lee
*well-to-do
*politically
*white
*John Adams
*Samuel Adams
Agreed to Work in Secret & Were Disposed to Compromise
*Patrick
*Richard
Ratification Debate: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
*Anti-Feds' biggest problem with the Constitution was the lack of a bill of rights
*Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote The Federalist Papers
*The Federalist Papers were published in NY newspapers in an effort gain support
*85 essays that explain the Constitution and the government it created
*After Madison assured Anti-Feds the First Congress could add a bill of rights,
the opponents were appeased and the Constitution was ratified
*The Constitution went into effect March 4, 1789
*The Bill of Rights was written and ushered through Congress by Madison
*The Bill of Rights were ratified and then took effect Dec. 15, 1791
Amending the Constitution
(Article V)
*Formal Amendments become part of the written Constitution
*There are 4 ways to formally amend the Constitution
Proposal Stage:
Ratification Stage:
1. 2/3 of both Houses of Congress
A. 3/4 of State legislatures
2. A national convention called
by Congress at the request of
2/3 of State legislatures
B. 3/4 of State conventions
Can be enacted by using 1A, 2A, 1B, or 2B.
26 of 27 used method 1A; the 21st used 1B