The Constitution
Bell Ringer
Wednesday
Please read the article
Meet the Man Who’s
Taking a Stand or
Victory At Last.
Summarize the article
in 2 sentences.
Learning Target 1
I can classify where our founding fathers
got the ideas for the Constitution.
SS-08-1.1.2
• Stations
– Assigned groups
– Do not talk to other groups
– 4 minutes to read
– Answer questions in group
Where does democracy come from?
Bell Ringer
Thursday
How did the Enlightenment
influence our democracy?
– Hint: Look up John Locke or
Montesquieu.
Learning Target 1
I can classify where our founding fathers
got the ideas for the Constitution.
SS-08-1.1.2
Greece
Direct Democracy – all citizens voted on
everything
Rome
Republic – citizens
elect government
leaders
Magna Carta
Limited the
power of the
king
English Bill of Rights
Gave citizens rights
Montesquieu
Separation of powers Power is divided among 3
branches, so that one
person does not have too
much power.
John Locke
• People have natural
rights:
– Life
– Liberty
– Property
• Checks and balances –
one branch can check
or limit the power of
another
Representative
Democracy
• Vote on officials
to represent us
• Rights are
guaranteed
+
= Representative Democracy
Index Cards
Create 4 flash cards of the following
words:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Direct Democracy
Republic
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights
Montesquieu
John Locke
Representative Democracy
Write the definition on 1 side and
draw a picture on the other.
Bell Ringer
Tuesday
Identify and describe at least 3
places where the founding fathers
got the ideas for the Constitution.
Learning Target 2
I can evaluate the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederation.
SS-08-1.3.1
SS-08-5.1.2
Articles of Confederation
• Written by 2nd Continental
Congress
• 1 branch, each state had 1 vote
• Government could settle
conflicts between states, make
coins, and borrow money
• No president or courts
• No soldiers
• No borrowing $
• State had all power
Questions
1. Why do you think
they didn’t have a
president?
2. Why did the states
get the most power
under the articles?
• How do we raise money?
• What do we do with all this new
land?
Government considered
Northwest Ordinance
• Northwest Territory
was surveyed and sold
into townships
• Divided into OH, IN, IL,
MI, and WI
• After 60,000 could join
Union
• No slavery allowed
Bell Ringer
Strengths
Wednesday
Weaknesses
List the strengths and weaknesses of the
Articles of Confederation.
Learning Target 2
I can evaluate the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederation.
SS-08-1.3.1
SS-08-5.1.2
Economic Problems
• British troop withdraw
slow
• American merchants had
to pay high tariffs
• Tariffs are taxes on
imports
Economic Problems
• Confederation
Congress could
not pass tariffs
• British supplies
were cheaper
than products
made in America.
Economic Problems
• States began printing paper money
• Inflation – prices increased on goods and
services.
Paper Plates
The American government under the
Articles of Confederation were super
weak. Divide a paper plate into sixths.
Write 3 achievements and 3 weaknesses
of the Articles of Confederation .
We the People: Citizen and The
Constitution (pgs. 97-98)
Bell Ringer
Thursday
Describe 2 economic
problems of the new
nation.
Learning Target 1
I can classify where our founding fathers
got the ideas for the Constitution.
SS-08-1.1.2
Learning Target 2
I can evaluate the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederation.
SS-08-1.3.1
SS-08-5.1.2
Jigsaw Reading
Directions: In your groups read the assigned pages. Write the top 5 things you
learned from the section.
A.
Roman Republic
o
B.
What did the Founders learn about government from the Romans? What
advantages did the Founders see in the republican government? (pgs. 2223)
English Government
o
C.
Why did the American colonists have the rights of Englishmen? (pgs. 50,
52, 54)
Articles of Confederation 1
o
D.
What are the Articles of Confederation? What problems did the Founders
face in writing the Articles of Confederation? How did the Articles of
Confederation organize the national government? (pgs. 94-96)
Articles of Confederation 2
o
E.
What did the nation government achieve under the Articles of
Confederation? What problems did the country experience under the
Articles of Confederation? (pgs. 97-99)
Shay’s Rebellion
o
Why was Shay’s Rebellion important? How did Shay’s rebellion force
people to examine the weaknesses of the national government? (pgs 99100)
Bell Ringer
Monday
Why do you think states were unwilling to
give up their powers to a large national
government?
Learning Target 2
I can evaluate the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederation.
SS-08-1.3.1
SS-08-5.1.2
Shays'
Rebellion
• States tried to pay war loans by raising taxes
• Farmers could not pay taxes
– Sent to prison
– Had to sell farms
• Daniel Shay’s a poor farmer and Revolutionary War
veteran led an uprising to close courts
• Shays protested high taxes and
heavy debt
• Pointed out the weaknesses of
the new government
• James Madison and Thomas
Jefferson called for a meeting of
the states in Philadelphia to
revise the Articles of
Confederation in May 1787
Shays' Rebellion
Shays Comics
Draw a comic strip
illustrating why
Daniel Shays
would lead a
rebellion against
Massachusetts?
You must include
at least 3 frames.
Bell Ringer
Why did Daniel
Shays rebel against
the courts in
Massachusetts?
Tuesday
Learning Target 3
I can analyze the
compromises
made to create
the Constitution.
SS-08-2.3.2
SS-08-2.3.1
SS-08-1.2.2
• States sent delegates to
Philadelphia
• Revise the Articles of
Confederation
• Pennsylvania State House
• George Washington was
president of the
convention
Constitutional Convention
Virginia Plan
• Written by James Madison
• Met delegates as they arrived
• Strong central government with 3
branches
• Bicameral (2 house) Legislature
– Representation based on
population
City Tavern
James Madison –
Father of the Constitution
Write 5-7 notes about the
Constitutional
Convention.
Liberty Kids:
We the People
Bell Ringer
Describe the
Virginia Plan.
Wednesday
Learning Target 3
I can analyze the
compromises
made to create
the Constitution.
SS-08-2.3.2
SS-08-2.3.1
SS-08-1.2.2
New Jersey Plan
• Created by the small states
• Created a unicameral
legislature
• Each state had the same # of
representatives
James Paterson
Great Compromise
• Bicameral legislature
• Senate
– 2 Senators per state
• House of
Representatives
– Representation based
on population
Roger Sherman
Great Compromise Poster
Create a poster illustrating the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan,
and Great Compromise. Include at least 3 things about each.
Bell Ringer
Thursday
How did the Great Compromise solve the
dispute between big and small states?
Learning Target 3
I can analyze the
compromises
made to create
the Constitution.
SS-08-2.3.2
SS-08-2.3.1
SS-08-1.2.2
Three-Fifths Compromise
• Southerners wanted slaves to
count as part of the population
• Northern states were afraid the
South would have too much power
• 3/5 of the slaves were to be
counted in the population
Compromises on Slavery
• Southerners would
leave if slavery was not
allowed
• Importation of slaves
allowed until 1807
• Used the words, “free
Persons” and “all other
Persons”
Federalism
Federalism – some separate and some shared
powers
– National Government
• Ex. - Printing money, mail, signing treaties
– State Government
• Ex. - Driver license, speed limits, marriage
– Shared Powers
• Ex. – Make laws, collecting taxes
Venn Diagram
• Read pgs149-151 in the We The People: Citizenship
and Constitution book.
• Design a Venn Diagram that outlines the powers
given the: national government, state government,
and powers that are shared.
Bell Ringer
Friday
Create this chart. Include 2 powers in each section.
National Government
Shared Powers
State Government
Learning Target 3
I can analyze the
compromises
made to create
the Constitution.
SS-08-2.3.2
SS-08-2.3.1
SS-08-1.2.2
Puppet Show
Create a puppet show about
one of the conflicts and
compromises at the
Constitutional Convention.
Each group must write a
script. Each person must
have one puppet and speak
during the presentation.
• 3/5 Compromise
• Great Compromise
• Federalism
Bell Ringer
Explain 2 of the 3.
• Great Compromise
• 3/5 Compromise
• Federalism
Monday
Learning Target 4
I can summarize
the ratification of
the Constitution.
SS-08-2.3.2
SS-08.1.3.1
John Adams
Patrick Henry
• Anti-federalists opposed
ratification of the
Constitution
• No Bill of Rights
• Federal government had
too much power
• Capital in center of nation
Anti-Federalists
Federalists
• Supporters of the
Constitution
• Favored a strong federal
government
• Bill of Rights not needed
b/c power was limited
• Wrote “The Federalists
Papers”
Madison, Hamilton, Jay – Authors
of
The Federalist Papers
Ratification
• 9 of 13 had to
ratify or agree to
the Constitution
• By May 1790 all
had agreed
Join or Die
Bell Ringer
Tuesday
Would you have
supported ratification
of the Constitution?
Explain!
Learning Target 4
I can summarize
the ratification of
the Constitution.
SS-08-2.3.2
SS-08.1.3.1
We the People of the United States
According to the song, what is the
purpose of the Constitution? The
Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
The Preamble
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Form a more perfect union
Establish justice (laws)
Insure domestic tranquility (peace)
Provide for the common defense (security)
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty
Bell Ringer
Monday
According to the Preamble, what was the
purpose of the Constitution?
Bell Ringer
Tuesday
Write 2 questions
you think will be on
the test.
Test
• Level 0
– Break Detention
– Retake Test 
• Circle Form
• Cover Sheet
• Book as barrier