Constitutional Era Reading Assignment
SOL VUS.5
Saunders – VA/US History
1. After the American Revolution, Americans had to create a new plan for government. The new nation will make the
Articles of Confederation first, but because of weaknesses, it will eventually be replaced with the Constitution.
Articles of Confederation
Created by American political leaders
who were fearful of a powerful central
government like England’s.
Weaknesses:

provided for a weak national
government

no power to tax or regulate
commerce among the states

no common currency

Each state only one vote
regardless of size

no executive or judicial branch
The Constitution of the United States
Established a government that shared power between the national
government and state governments, protected rights of states, and provided
a system for orderly change through amendments to the Constitution itself.
Key Issues Resolution/Compromise
Federal
Federal system allows for two levels of government, Federal
power and
and State, each with different powers. When State laws
states’
contradict Federal laws, Federal laws wins, but States are still
rights
given many powers to govern many thing for themselves.
Large and
small states
Southern
and
Northern
states
Threat of a
toopowerful
central
government
2.
Large states wanted representation to be based on population,
small states wanted equal representation. The Great
Compromise, a/k/a Connecticut Compromise, provided for a
bicameral (or two house) legislature, the House of
Representatives is based on population and the Senate with
equal representation.
Northern states had a larger population than Southern states,
so slaves would be partially counted for purposes of
representation to make thing more equal. Slavery would not
be abolished, but the slave trade would end.
Division of the Federal government into three co-equal
branches, legislative, executive, and judicial with each branch
having “checks and balances” on the other branches would
ensure that no one branch would dominate and power would
not be centralized. Federal government powers are limited to
only those granted specifically in the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 men; two of the most important were George Washington and
James Madison. Explain the roles of these two men at the constitutional convention.
George Washington


James Madison
Chairman of the Convention (presided) but

“Father of the Constitution”
seldom participated in the debates

often led the debate

kept the best record

authored the “Virginia Plan,” which proposed
three separate branches (legislative, executive,
judicial)

later authored the Bill of Rights
lent his prestige to the proceedings
Constitutional Era Reading Assignment
SOL VUS.5
Saunders – VA/US History
3. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. James Madison was influenced by
two important Virginian statutes, or laws, in writing the Bill of Rights. Fill in the chart below to analyze the
influence of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Written by: George Mason
Section 16:
“All men are equally entitled to the free exercise of
religion”
Bill of Rights
Written by: James Madison
Amendment 1
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
Section 13
“That a well regulate militia, composed of the body of
the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and
safe defense of a free state”
Amendment II
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security
of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed.”
Section 8
“That is all capital or criminal prosecutions a man hath
a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusers
and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a
speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage…”
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of
the State and district wherein the crime shall have been
committed…”
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Written by: Thomas Jefferson
Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man
shall be compelled to:
frequent or support any religious worship, place, or
ministry whatsoever…
4. After the Constitution was written, the states needed to ratify (confirm or accept) it. Two groups began to debate
the pros and cons of the plan; the Federalist, who favored ratification and a strong central government, and AntiFederalist, who opposed ratification and favored a weak central government.
Beliefs
Virginia
leaders
Legacy
Federalists
Federalists believed that only a new government
based on the proposed Constitution could
overcome the difficulties facing the new nation.
They believed a strong central government
would build a strong economy and society.
George Washington
James Madison
Anti-federalists
Anti-Federalists believed the Constitution was a
retreat from the liberty won by the Revolution.
They believed that the Constitution promoted to
strong of a central government – one that did not
protect basic liberties or states’ rights
Patrick Henry
George Mason
The tradition lives today in those who believe
the Federal government has an important role in
solving the nation’s problems.
Today, mainly conservatives continue the belief
that a strong national government weakens the
freedoms of individuals and restricts free markets.
Constitutional Era Reading Assignment
SOL VUS.5
Saunders – VA/US History
5. John Marshall became Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and played an important role in
strengthening the Supreme Court to be an equal branch of the national government. Three of the most influential
cases are listed below. Fill in the chart by providing the issue involved in the case (What was the question the court
was asked to decide?) and the result of the decision (What was the important lasting effect of the decision?).
Case
Marbury v.
Madison
(1803)
McCulloch
v.
Maryland
(1819)
Gibbon v.
Ogden
(1824)
Issue
Result