TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Constitution and Bill of Rights
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Objectives
• Summarize the arguments for and against
ratification of the Constitution.
• Describe how the Constitution was ratified.
• Explain the principles of the Constitution.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Terms and People
•
ratification – official approval
•
Federalist – a person who favored ratification of
the new Constitution of 1787
•
Antifederalist – a person who opposed
ratification of the new Constitution
•
The Federalist – a series of 85 essays, written
primarily by Alexander Hamilton and James
Madison, which supported ratification
(The Federalist Papers)
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Terms and People (continued)
•
John Jay – wrote five essays to The Federalist
arguing for a strong federal government
•
Bill of Rights – the first ten amendments to the
Constitution guaranteeing individual rights
•
popular sovereignty – the principle that all
government power comes from the people
•
limited government – where the powers of the
government are specifically described, and officials
may not act above the law
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Terms and People (continued)
•
separation of powers – political power
specifically defined and divided between three
branches of government
•
checks and balances – a system in which
each branch of government has the power to
monitor and limit the actions of the other two
•
electoral college – a group of persons
chosen from each state who then indirectly
elect the president
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
How did Americans ratify the
Constitution, and what are its
basic principles?
Although many delegates to the Constitutional
Convention felt the Constitution was imperfect,
all but three delegates signed it.
Would the states accept the proposed plan?
If not, what would become of the new nation?
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
By drafting a new Constitution, the
delegates had exceeded their mandate
to amend the Articles.
Not expecting passage
in all 13 states, they
changed the rules for
ratification
• to be by special
•
conventions in each
state, not by state
legislatures
required approval
of only nine states
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
• They stressed the weaknesses of
the Articles.
Federalists
favored the
Constitution.
• They argued that only the proposed
Constitution could remedy these
weaknesses.
• They were led by James Madison
and Alexander Hamilton who, along
with John Jay, published a series of
essays called The Federalist.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
In Federalist, No. 10, and
Federalist, No. 51, Madison
argued that a strong national
government and the
Constitution’s system of
checks and balances would
strengthen liberty.
In Federalist No. 78, Hamilton
wrote of the importance of a
judicial branch to protect liberty.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
The two most trusted Americans, George Washington
and Benjamin Franklin, favored ratification.
Frontiersmen felt a stronger government provided
protection against the Native Americans and the
British in the Northwest.
Artisans in the cities and most newspapers
supported ratification as well.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
• They feared a loss of
liberties and distrusted
the absence of a bill
of rights.
Antifederalists
were opponents
of ratification.
• They feared concentration
of power in a distant elite,
believing instead that
power should remain in
democratically elected
state governments.
• Leading Antifederalists
included Samuel Adams,
John Hancock, and
Patrick Henry.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Antifederalists included many farmers.
• They feared the Constitution threatened
state debtor relief laws, which rescued
many from foreclosure.
• Farmers also distrusted lawyers, merchants,
and the wealthy, who were largely
Federalists.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
The Federalists pushed for fast approval.
By mid-January
1788, five
states had
ratified, but
nine states
were needed.
Federalists
gained the
support of
Massachusetts
Governor John
Hancock by
hinting he
might be picked
as the first vice
president.
When the
Federalists
agreed to
add a bill of
rights, four
more states
quickly
ratified.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
While nine states were the minimum, the two
largest states, Virginia and New York, were
necessary for the nation to survive.
Virginia finally
ratified, despite
Patrick Henry’s
opposition.
New York ratified
after New York City
threatened to secede
from the state.
New York City celebrated ratification
with a parade.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Congress convened in New York’s
Federal Hall on March 4, 1789 to
• Elect a first president (George Washington)
and vice president (John Adams)
• Add a Bill of Rights
The last two states, Rhode Island and North Carolina,
now reconsidered earlier rejections and ratified as well,
bringing the total to 13 states.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
• Madison used Virginia’s
Bill of Rights as a model.
James Madison was
assigned to create a
Bill of Rights.
• Madison avoided any
statements about equality
that might offend the
slave states.
• Ten amendments
guaranteed individual
freedoms.
• To prevent future abuse
or limitations on freedom,
any unmentioned rights
were retained by the
people.
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
The Bill of Rights
TEKS 8C: Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
The Constitution established a representative
government based on six principles.