C REATING A C ONSTITUTION ; 1777-1789
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SSUSH5: The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the U.S. Constitution.
a. Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of
Confederation and Daniel Shays’ Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government.
b. Evaluate the major arguments of the Antifederalists and Federalists.
c. Explain the key features of the Constitution d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual rights.
e. Explain the importance of the presidencies of
George Washington & John Adams

T
A
C
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First U.S. constitution
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Loose union of states under authority of
Congress
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Weak central govt.
(legislative branch only)
Powers- declare war, raise army, sign treaties
Powers deniedcould not tax, or regulate trade

1.One vote for each state
7.Only
“league of friendship” with the states
6.Amend only with approval of
13 states
Weakness in the Articles
Of
Confederation
2.Couldn’t levy
5.No national court system
4.No Judicial or
Executive branch taxes
3.Couldn’t regulate trade

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S
’
R
:
O CCURRED IN
M ASSACHUSETTS & BOOSTED THE SUPPORT
FOR THE N ATIONALISTS ’ IDEAS .
Causes
The wealthy began to demand borrowed $ back from the states
Massachusetts set high taxes to pay off debt
Farmers were hit hard
Reminded citizens of the
British taxes
Courts rejected the petitions
Daniel Shay (Am. Rev. war veteran) led a rebellion
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Effects
Many families left
Shay arrested but appealed & won his freedom
Citizens will defy authority when gov’t acts against its’ wishes
Steps had to be taken to strengthen the central gov’t
1781 Convention to revise the Articles of
Confederation

“A
” –
T
J
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Each state except Rhode Island sent delegates to
Philadelphia to fix flaws in the Articles of
Confederation.
Most of the 55 men were older white males & educated
& experienced in politics. Native Americans, African
Americans, & women were not included.

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Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate at 81. He was a diplomat, writer, inventor, and scientist. Two delegates—George
Washington and James Madison—would later become presidents.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams could not attend. They were in Europe as representatives of the United States government. Patrick Henry opposed the convention and did not attend.

E
D
C
Leader
Vote Needed
Method of
Discussion
How do we know what happened?
Original Intent
Purpose

E ARLY D ECISIONS
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Delegates chose George Washington(leader) to preside.
Decisions would be made by majority vote(vote
needed), with each state having one vote. Delegates agreed to keep all discussions secret(method of
discussion) to enable all to speak freely.
No formal records were kept. Most of what we know comes from James Madison’s personal notebook of events.(how we know what happened)
The delegates decided to discard the Articles(original
intent) of Confederation and write a new constitution.(purpose)

J AMES M ADISON
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Known as the Father of the Constitution
Member of the Virginia Assembly
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Nationalist-supported a strong central govt.
He will be president from 1809 to 1817
“Through proper government, people could control themselves”

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G
(C
)
C
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Question was over how many representatives each state would have in the federal legislative branch
Roger Sherman’s committee proposed a Senate and a
House of Representatives.
Each state would have equal representation in the
Senate. Representation in the House would be based on population.
The delegates accepted this Great Compromise.

G
(C
) C
Legislative Branch
SENATE-
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES-

G
(C
) C
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Bicameral legislature
Senate- equal representation
(2 votes per state)
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Houserepresentation based on population
Legislative Branch
New Jersey Plan
SENATEequal representation
Virginia Plan
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVESrepresentation based on population

T
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C

T
C
;
Every 5 slaves counted as 3 free people in terms of representation & taxation!

P RINCIPLES B EHIND THE
C ONSTITUTION

P
C
Principle Description/Example
3.
4.
1.
2.
5.

1. P
S
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The Framers had a common vision for the government: It should be representative
of the people & limited in scope. Power should be divided among different levels.
Article IV guarantees a republic, in which supreme power belongs to the people
(popular sovereignty). The people express their will through elected representatives. Provisions, such as those about the right to vote, ensure popular sovereignty.

2. R ULE OF L AW
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The Framers believed the government should be strong but not too strong.
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The Constitution sets limits by stating what government may & may not do. Government is also limited by the rule of law. This means that the law
applies to everyone, even those who govern.

3. S EPARATION OF P OWERS
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To keep any one person or group from becoming too powerful, the Framers divided government into
three branches with different functions.
This split of authority among the legislative, executive, & judicial branches is called the separation of powers.

4. C HECKS & B ALANCES
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Checks & balances keep any one branch from
becoming too powerful. Each branch can check, or restrain, the power of the others.
For example, the president can veto laws, Congress can block presidential appointments, & the
Supreme Court can overturn laws it finds are conflicting with the Constitution.

5. F EDERALISM
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Under federalism, power is shared by the national government & states.
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Enumerated or expressed powersspecifically granted to the national government.
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Powers not given to the national government are reserved powers kept by the states.
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Powers that both levels of government can exercise are concurrent powers.

A SSIGNMENT
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Write a paragraph about the framework of our system of government using the following terms:
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Checks and balances
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Separation of powers
Executive branch
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty

R

A G REAT D EBATE
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Delegates rushed home to campaign for ratification
9 of 13 states had to vote in favor of the
Constitution
Americans argued over whether or not to approve it
2 groups emerged in the ratification debate:
Federalists & the Anti-Federalists

F EDERALISTS
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Federalists- supported Constitution
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Name emphasized federal system
Included:
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Large landowners
Merchants and artisans
Farmers who depended on interstate or foreign trade
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Prominent Federalists:
1.
2.
3.
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
All wanted a strong central government; all wrote the Federalist
Papers

A NTI -F EDERALISTS (AF)
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Anti-Federalists: against the Constitution
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Name misleading-not against federalism
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Wanted the states to have more power
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Wanted a Bill of Rights
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Mostly western farmers (self-sufficient)
Prominent Anti-Federalists:
1.
John Hancock
2.
3.
Patrick Henry
Samuel Adams

W INNING T HE D EBATE
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Factors that worked against the Anti-
Federalists
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Negative campaign- had no other plan to replace
Constitution
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Not very organized
Factors that helped the Federalists
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Positive campaign-solution to problems
Well organized
The Federalist Papers- 85 essays written by
Madison, Hamilton, & Jay . All were signed
Publius published in New York newspapers.
Written to support a strong central government & the to tell the public the reasons why the
Constitution should be ratified

T
F
P
- #10 -
G
F
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Federalist Number 10
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An essay by James Madison in a series arguing for the ratification of the United States Constitution. It was published on November 22, 1787, under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all the
Federalist Papers were published. The essay is the most famous of the Federalist Papers, No. 10 addresses the question of how to guard against
"factions," groups of citizens with interests contrary to the rights of others or the interests of the whole community. Madison argued that a strong central government would be better than the individual states. No. 10 was written to show that the
Founding Fathers did not intend the United States government to be divided among political parties.

F EDERALIST #51 – S EPARATION OF
P OWERS
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Federalist No. 51
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An essay by James Madison. The title is
"The Structure of the Government Must
Furnish the Proper Checks and
Balances Between the Different
Departments." One of the most famous of the Federalist Papers, No. 51 is about how the appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government.
One of its most important ideas and often quoted phrase, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."

F
#68 – P
E
(P
)
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Alexander Hamilton, author of Federalist No. 68
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Entitled "The Mode of Electing the President," it describes Hamilton's view of the process for selecting the Chief Executive (President) of the
United States of America. Hamilton sought to influence the discussion on the powers and limitations of the Executive branch. Federalist
No. 68 is the continuation of Hamilton's analysis of the Presidency, in this case concerned with the mode of selecting the United States President. He argues for our modern conception of the Electoral
College. The essay discusses the powers and limitations of the Executive Branch.

B ILL OF R IGHTS
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Anti-Federalist’s refused to ratify the Constitution without protection of individual rights.
First 10 amendments were added to appease the
Anti-Federalists
Constitution then went to the states for ratification
All states but Rhode Island ratified the
Constitution (12 out of 13)

S
C
Purpose of
Constitution
Three Main Parts
Framework for government
1. Preamble
2. Articles
3. Amendments

T HE A RTICLES
4
5
2
3
6
Article
1
7
Purpose
Legislative branch
Executive branch
Judicial branch
Cooperation among states
Amendment procedures
Supremacy clause
Ratification

B
R
–
Bill of Rights
•1 st 10 amendments to the Constitution
• Promised to Anti-Federalists
•1791- went into effect
•1-8 rights of individuals.
•9- rights not listed. Just because a right is not listed in the
Constitution does not mean we don’t have that right.
•10- reserved powers to states and people (any powers not granted to the National Government are RESERVED for the
States- this amendment is a protector of State’s Rights

ROM W ASHINGTON : T HE
I NDISPENSABLE M AN
On April 6, 1789, the ballots of the presidential electors were officially counted in the new United States Senate. As expected,
George Washington became the first president of the United States under the new
Constitution. Calling his election “the event which I have dreaded,” Washington described his feelings as “not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.”
Although Washington had high hopes for the new Constitution, he did not know if it would work as intended.

1.
2.
3.
INANCING THE
OVERNMENT UNDER
ASHINGTON
VS
Madison’s Plan
Should raise $ by taxes
Tariffs on imports & exports to relieve the National Debt- Southern
Farmers against tariffs
Madison believed creating a bank was against the government’s enumerated powers
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
Hamilton’s Plan
Should be able to borrow $
Wanted a national bank to manage debt & issue money
He believed a National Bank was part of the Constitution's implied powers (1 st time used)
Wanted a high tariff
Led Federalist Party

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A ND THE WINNER IS …
Compromise again:
1.
2.
3.
Madison & Jefferson convinced Southern
Congressmen to vote for Hamilton’s plan in return……
Capital of U.S. would be moved from NY to DC
Bank of the U.S. established-Washington signed bill. Hamilton gets his National Bank!
Madison & Jefferson’s supporters= became known as Democratic-Republicans
Hamilton’s supporters= became known as
Federalists

L OCATION OF D ISTRICT OF C OLUMBIA
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Area: 68.3 mi²
Population:
658,893
D.C. was approved in
1790 &
Maryland &
Virginia donated land for the capital

T HE R ISE OF P OLITICAL P ARTIES
Supreme govt.
Ruling power
FEDERALISTS—
John Adams
National
DEMOCRATIC-
REPUBLICANS—
Thomas Jefferson
State
Wealthy, educated All landowners
Government should promote
Manufacturing Agriculture
Interpretation of the Constitution
Tariffs
Loose
Protect domestic industries
Strict
Burden farmers

W HISKEY R EBELLION -1794
REBELLION CAUSES
•Congress taxed corn
•Western farmers enraged
(Pennsylvania)
•Money not available in the west- so they used corn whiskey as money
•W. Penn. farmers terrorized tax collectors, robbed the mail, stopped courts
•Hamilton convinced
Washington to send 15,000 troops
EFFECTS
•Farmers gave up without a fight
• Citizens concerned about willingness to use troops against U.S. citizens
•Federalists make their case for a strong central gov’t

W
’
F
P
French Revolution : War broke out in France. Americans sympathized at first. But the Radicals in France took over, executed King, and declared war on Britain.
Because the U.S. traded with France and Britain, the U.S. was thrown in the middle of the conflict.
American Response : Federalists opposed the French Rev. Dem-Republicans supported it. To avoid conflict, Washington declared the U.S. “friendly and impartial.” He chose not to get involved in the French Revolution

W ASHINGTON L EAVES O FFICE
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1.
2.
3.
After 2 terms and fighting among political parties, Washington retired.
Farewell Address
Warned against sectionalism
Cautioned Americans about political parties
Warned against becoming involved in foreign affairs
1.
1796- 1 st contested election
Federalists- John Adams
2.
3.
Dem.-Republican- Thomas Jefferson
John Adams won the election

J OHN A DAMS -2 ND P RESIDENT
Q UASI -W AR WITH F RANCE ; 2 MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS
DURING HIS PRESIDENCY
XYZ Affair Quasi-War
French:
•stopped American ships
•seized goods going to Britain
Federalists:
•called for war
•Adams sent negotiators to France, known as XYZ:
•France demanded bribes before they would negotiate ($250,000)
•Referred to French agents as X, Y and Z
1798:
•Congress suspended trade with France
•ordered the navy to capture
French ships
•undeclared war at sea called
Quasi-War
•Ended two years later with after new trade negations

W ASHINGTON /A DAMS P RESIDENCY V ENN
D IAGRAM
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You will create a Venn Diagram comparing
George Washington & John Adams
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You need to include in your diagram:
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Political views of each man
Presidencies of each man
The group(s) they believed should govern the nation
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What type of interpretation did each have of the
Constitution?
Development of political parties
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Should have at least 2 similarities
Finally: Write a paragraph analyzing the state of the country at the beginning of the 19 th century.