LECTURE TOPIC
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The Constitution
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
From Colonies to States
A.
The Republican Theory of Government
1.
Political authority comes from the people
2.
Elections, Conventions, and Constitutions
B.
Characteristics of State Governments
1.
Strong Legislature, Weak Executive
2.
The States’ Bills of Rights
The Articles of Confederation
A.
Our First Constitution Adopted by Delegates of Continental Congress
1.
Ratification: Mar. 1781
2.
A Loose Alliance
B.
Limitations
1.
Absence of an Executive Branch
2.
Lacked Power to Tax and an Army
3.
Ineffective and Weak
C.
Greatest Failure
1.
Lack of an Economic Policy
2.
No Banking System
D.
Greatest Success
1.
Western Land Administration
2.
The Northwest Ordinances: 1784, 1785, 1787
E.
Support for a Stronger National Government
1.
Shay’s Rebellion (1786)
2.
The Annapolis Convention (1786)
The Constitutional Convention (May, 1787)
A.
The Virginia Plan
B.
The New Jersey Plan
C.
The Great Compromise
D.
The Question of Slavery
E.
Checks and Balances
F.
Federalism
The Struggle for Ratification
A.
Federalists
B.
Anti-Federalists
The Constitution’s Accolades and Legacy
A.
A National Scripture
B.
The nation’s most important export
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