Writing the Constitution
What are we learning until
September 25, 2013?
• Unit 3 is the Writing of
the Constitution.
• We are studying this
unit until September 25,
2013 and we will test
on that day.
What is the Constitution?
• The Constitution is our
nation’s highest law.
• The constitution
explains how our
government works.
America is Free! Now What?
• Step 1
• Create a government.
• How should it look like?
• How should it work?
The Articles of Confederation
What was the Articles of
Confederation?
• America’s first
national
government
(it failed).
• The Articles lasted
from 1781-1789.
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What is a Confederation?
• Articles established a
“firm league of
friendship” among the
states where all states
were equal.
• Bills were passed on
nine of thirteen votes.
• Amending the Articles
took unanimous
consent of the states.
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How did the Articles of
Confederation Work?
• Unicameral (single house)
legislative body.
• Each state had one vote
regardless of population
size.
• Congress given sole
authority to govern the
country.
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What were the powers granted to the government
under the Articles of Confederation?
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Declare war and make peace
Make treaties with foreign countries
Establish an army and navy
Appoint high-ranking military officials
Requisition, print, and borrow money
Establish weights and measures
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What were the accomplishments
of the Articles of Confederation?
• Administered the
seven-year war effort.
• Negotiated the Treaty
of Paris with Britain in
1783.
• Established the
Northwest Ordinance of
1787.
Map of the land settled in the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
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What powers were denied to the
government?
• No power to raise funds for
an army or navy
• No power to tax, impose
tariffs, or collect duties
• No executive branch to
enforce laws
• No power to control trade
among the states
• No power to force states to
honor obligations
• No power to regulate the
value of currency
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The Influences of the
Constitution
What happened to the Articles of
Confederation?
• The Articles of
Confederation failed.
• The Articles of
Confederation could not
control the states.
• The Articles of
Confederation could not
raise taxes or an army.
What was the Magna Carta?
• Written in 1215.
• First document to challenge the
authority of the king.
• Created Habeas corpus, or the right
to due process (rights for accused
criminals)and a trial by jury.
What was the Mayflower
Compact?
• Written in 1620.
• The first agreement for
self-rule and majority
rule for Americans.
What were the English Bill of
Rights?
• Written in 1689.
• Guaranteed free elections,
Free Speech, outlawed cruel
and unusual punishments,
established representative
government where laws were
made by a group that acts for
the people .
The Constitutional Convention
What was the Constitutional
Convention?
• In 1787, delegates
(representatives) from
12/13 states met in
Philadelphia to make
changes to the Articles
of Confederation.
• They decided to create
a new government.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
• Plan by the
representatives of New
Jersey to split the
nation’s legislative
powers equally.
• The plan favored
smaller states that had
less people.
What was the Virginia Plan?
• Plan by the
representatives of
Virginia to split the
nation’s legislative
powers based on
population.
• The plan favored bigger
states with more
people.
What was the Great Compromise?
• Created two houses
(bicameral) in the
legislature.
• Each house would have
unique responsibilities.
• One house was divided
equally, the other based
on population.
What was the 3/5’s Compromise?
 The issue of slavery was
becoming a divisive issue
in America.
 The 3/5’s compromise
was a compromise
between slave
(Southern) and non-slave
states (Northern).
 Slaves were counted as
3/5’s a person.
What is Federalism?
• A stronger national
government based on
federalism was created
in the Constitutional
Convention.
• Federalism= Dividing
powers between the
national government
and the states.
Federalist v. Anti-Federalist
Who were the Federalist?
• The Federalist were
people who were in
support of the
Constitution.
• Federalists tended to
be richer, lived in the
coasts, and were in
business.
Who were some of the famous
Federalists?
• Alexander Hamilton- First
Secretary of State.
• James Madison4th President and Father of
the Constitution.
• John JayCo-author of Federalist
Papers.
Why did the Federalist support the
Constitution?
• Federalists felt the
stronger
Constitution would
make the country
work better.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
• The Anti-Federalists
were people who were
against the
Constitution.
• The Anti-Federalists
tended to be poorer,
were farmers, lived in
small towns and farms.
Who were some of the Famous
Anti-Federalists
• Patrick HenryVirginia
Representative.
• George Mason
Wrote Virginia’s
Constitution.
Why were the Anti-Federalists
against the Constitution?
• The Anti-Federalists felt the
Constitution gave the
government too much
power and that the
government could abuse the
people.
• They wanted a Bill of Rights
to protect people’s
freedoms.
What were the Federalists Papers?
• 85 newspaper articles
that explained and
promoted the
Constitution.
• Written under the
name; Publius by
Alexander Hamilton,
James Hamilton, and
John Jay.
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights
• The First 10
Amendments
(Changes) to the
Constitution.
• The Bill of Rights
contains the rights
and freedoms all
Americans enjoy.
1st Amendment
• The 1st Amendment
guarantees freedom
of religion, speech,
the press, assembly,
and petition.
2nd Amendment
• The 2nd
Amendment
protects the right to
bear arms, which
means the right to
own a gun.
3rd Amendment
• The 3rd Amendment
says that we cannot
be forced to house or
quarter soldiers.
4th Amendment
• The 4th Amendment
protects the people
from unreasonable
searches and
seizures.
5th Amendment
• The 5th Amendment
protects people from
being jailed without
being charged.
• You don’t have to testify
against yourself in court.
(Self-incrimination)
6th Amendment
• The 6th Amendment
guarantees a speedy
trial (you can’t be
kept in jail for over a
year without a trial).
7th Amendment
• The 7th Amendment
guarantees the right
to a speedy civil trial.
• A civil trial is when
someone sues
someone else about
money and property.
8th Amendment
• The 8th Amendment
guarantees that
punishments will be
fair and not cruel,
and that
extraordinarily large
fines will not be set.
9th Amendment
• The 9th
Amendment states
that the people
have more rights
than the ones
listed.
10th Amendment
• The 10th
Amendment states
that any power not
given to the federal
government belongs
to the states or to the
people.