Historic
American
Documents
Blueprints for Our Nation and its People
The Standards
TOPIC: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS
Some documents in American history have
considerable importance for the development of
the nation. Students use historical thinking to
examine key documents which form the basis
for the United States of America.
Historical Thinking
TOPIC: HISTORICAL THINKING AND SKILLS
Students apply skills by utilizing a variety of resources to construct theses and support
or refute contentions made by others. Alternative explanations of historical events are
analyzed and questions of historical inevitability are explored.
CONTENT STATEMENTS:
1. Historical events provide opportunities to examine alternative courses of action.
2. The use of primary and secondary sources of information includes an examination of
the credibility of each source.
3. Historians develop theses and use evidence to support or refute positions.
4. Historians analyze cause, effect, sequence and correlation in historical events,
including multiple causation and long- and short-term causal relations.
The Standards
CONTENT STATEMENTS:
5. The Declaration of Independence reflects an application
of Enlightenment ideas to the grievances of British subjects
in the American colonies.
6. The Northwest Ordinance addressed a need for
government in the Northwest Territory and established
precedents for the future governing of
the United States.
The Standards
7. Problems facing the national government under the
Articles of Confederation led to the drafting of the
Constitution of the United States.The framers of the
Constitution applied ideas of Enlightenment in conceiving
the new government.
8. The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers
structured the national debate over the ratification of the
Constitution of the United States.
The Standards
9. The Bill of Rights is derived from English law, ideas of
the Enlightenment, the experiences of the American
colonists, early experiences of self-government and the
national debate over the ratification of the Constitution of
the United States.
The Documents
●
●
●
●
Declaration of Independence
Northwest Ordinance
Articles of Confederation
United States Constitution
o Bill of Rights
● Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
Why Study these Documents?
● To understand the laws of our country
o
past and present
● To study the history of our country
o
o
How we got to this point in time
Why our laws exist as they are
● To be successful and responsible citizens
o
o
“Freedom is not free”
Our rights and responsibilities
The Declaration of Independence
● Declaration- a formal or explicit statement or
announcement.
● Independence- condition of a country in
which its residents exercise self-government
over the territory.
The Declaration of Independence
● Colonization of North America
o
o
Columbus - 1492
Various nations follow and set up colonies
● By 1763 in North America:
o
o
o
o
13 British colonies (East Coast, Canada)
French Territory (Midwest, Northwest)
Spanish Territory (Southwest)
Native Americans live throughout
MAP
The Declaration of Independence
● Who is declaring independence from who?
o
American Colonies from Great Britain
● Why do colonies want to be independent?
o
No representation in Parliament
 Taxes, new and old
 Paying for Wars with French, Spanish, Natives
 Aggression from British military and Parliament
The Declaration of Independence
● Major events lead to Declaration:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Proclamation of 1763
New taxes on sugar, stamps, more…1763-1776
Townshend Acts of 1767
Boston Massacre of 1770
Tea taxes to save BEIC ---->Boston Tea Party 1773
“Intolerable” Acts of 1774
First Continental Congress of 1774
Lexington and Concord in April of 1775
The Declaration of Independence
● Congress moves forward
o Second Continental Congress, May 1775
● Fighting continues through 1775 and 1776
o
Battles in Canada, North Carolina, then everywhere
● Some colonists are still loyalists
● Others separate as patriots
The Declaration of Independence
● Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John
Hancock
Lead patriotic groups, Sons of Liberty
● January 1776 - Thomas Paine’s Common
Sense
o
“Give me liberty, or give me death!”
● Late June 1776 - Thomas Jefferson’s draft
o
July 4, 1776 - Declaration accepted by 13 colonies
The Declaration of Independence
● The document: 3 parts
o
o
o
Preamble: declaring independence, describing good
government
Indictments: what King George III, Parliament has
done wrong
Conclusion: consequences of actions
 Signatures
● Uses ideas and language from
Enlightenment

Locke’s ‘Natural Rights’, Hobbes' ‘Social
Declaration of Independence
● Enlightenment philosophy included:
o
o
o
Natural or “Unalienable Rights”: life, liberty, property
Government for the good of the people
Government by consent of the people
● Effects of Declaration of Independence:
o
o
o
Revolutionary War
Independence for United States at conclusion
Precedence for other national revolutions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS-tshQ9sys
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● After Declaration and beginning of war,
Continental Congress realizes that they
need a code of law
● How do you make federal laws for a group of
separate states?
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● November 1776 - Continental Congress
adopts Articles in order to have a code of
law
● 1781 - during last years of war, all 13
colonies adopt Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● Good parts of Articles:
o
United the states during war
 Even though Doi describes them as separate
o
Helped establish the Treaty of Paris
 treaty that ends Rev. War. in 1783
o
Helped settle peaceful settlement of Western lands
 Northwest Ordinance and other laws
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● Problems with AoC
land claims w/ pioneers and between states
 led to Northwest Ordinance of 1787
o Trade problems not addressed
 British and Spanish boycotts
o Difficult to pass or change legislation
 9 states needed to pass laws, 13 to amend
o No power to tax, print money, regulate trade
 different state currency, trade laws
o
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● More Problems
o
States demand changes
 Economics hurt by lack of government support
●
o
Shay’s Rebellion
 Farmers in Massachusetts rebel
●
o
Between states and with other countries’ laws
Shows weakness of military and state relations
National government too weak to enforce law, order
 No national courts, agencies, military
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● Need for new Constitution:
o
1787 - Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
 55 American leaders, choose Washington to lead
o
First, they wanted to “adjust” Articles
 too many changes needed to be made
 instead decided to make a brand new document
 different states had different ideas
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● Different Plans
o
o
New Jersey Plan (Small State Plan)
 each state gets one vote in congress
 much more state-friendly, separate needs
 one large Congress with less power
Virginia Plan (Large State Plan)
 states get votes based on population
 stronger central, federal government
 various branches including national courts
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
● Compromises and New Ideas:
o
o
o
Two houses of Congress - “Great Compromise”
 Senate - 2 reps. from each state
 House of Reps. - reps. based on population
Three-Fifths Compromise
 South wanted slaves to count for reps., not taxes
 North said that it was unfair
Executive and Judicial Branches
 Executive - President, enforcement of laws
 Judicial - Supreme Court, circuit courts
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● Ordinance - an authoritative order or decree
● Where is the Northwest?
o
o
Today
In 1787
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● Why did they need the NwO?
o
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
 Who can settle in NW Territory?
 Protection from native americans
 two states fight over same lands
 Spanish had claim to much of southern territory
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● Land developing companies asked for help
o
o
wanted to sell land to pioneers moving west
Confederation Congress saw way to make $$$
● Thomas Jefferson makes a plan
o
o
first draft of NWO in 1784
Congress passes his new plan in 1787
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● What did it do?
No fewer than three, or more than five, states would
be formed
o Admission to the Union would be available when the
number of free inhabitants reached 60,000
o Civil rights and liberties be guaranteed
o Education be encouraged
o Slavery and involuntary servitude be prohibited
o
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● What new states were created?
o
o
o
o
o
Ohio - 1803
Indiana - 1816
Illinois - 1818
Michigan - 1837
Wisconsin - 1848
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● Why else was the NwO important?
Voting rights and office-holding
o Slavery forbidden in the Northwest Territory
o Individual rights preserved
o Surveying and division of the land
o Public land sales
o
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
● Effects of NwO:
Northwest Indian War
o massive estates came to dominate south and east
o increased tension between slave/non-slave states
 helped fuel Civil War in 1860s
o
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
http://www.americanhistoryusa.com/northwest-ordinance-1787-effects/
The wisdom of abolition was clearly seen in the relative prosperity of the Midwest. On his tour of the United States -- nearly fifty years
after the Ordinance -- Alexis de Tocqueville discoursed at length about the differences between Ohio and Kentucky. This article
concludes with his prescient words:
"The State of Ohio is separated from Kentucky just by one river; on either side of it the soil is equally fertile, and the situation equally
favorable, and yet everything is different.
Here (in Ohio) a population devoured by feverish activity, trying every means to make its fortune; the population seems poor to look
at, for they work with their hands, but that work is the source of riches. There (in Kentucky) is a people which makes others work for
it and shows little compassion, a people without energy, mettle or the spirit of enterprise...
The population of Kentucky, which has been peopled for nearly a century, grows slowly. Ohio only joined the Confederation thirty
years ago and has a million inhabitants. Within those thirty years Ohio has become the entrepot for the wealth that goes up and down
the Mississippi; it has opened two canals and joined the Gulf of Mexico to the North Coast; meanwhile Kentucky, older and perhaps
better placed, stood still.
These differences cannot be attributed to any other cause but slavery. It degrades the black population and enervates the white. Its
fatal effects are recognized, and yet it is preserved and will be preserved for a long time more..."
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● The Constitutional Convention of 1787 in
Philadelphia submitted a draft of the
Constitution for each state to review
● Major issues were brought up between large
and small states
o
***federalists and anti-federalists***
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● Federal = system of government in which sovereignty
is constitutionally divided between a central governing
authority and constituent political units
● Federalists - Those who supported the Constitution
● Anti-Federalists - Those who did not support the
Constitution
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● Who was on each side? (Just a few):
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Alexander Hamilton
Henry
James Madison
Samuel Adams
Patrick
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● The Federalists:
wealthy, well-educated
desire for a powerful, centralized government
leaders were George Washington and Benjamin
Franklin.
o orderly, efficient government that could protect their
economic status
o controlled elections of ratifying conventions with their
power and influence
o
o
o
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● The Anti-Federalists:
o
o
o
o
o
o
were farmers, debtors, and other middle class
people
were loyal to their state governments
leaders included Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry
wanted Bill of Rights, basic liberties for public
feared the powerful central government, especially
powers of taxation
believed a republican government could not rule a
nation as large as America
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● Why the federalists were successful:
o
o
o
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay worked together
 Anti-federalists did not
Federalists had money and influence
 $$$ makes people agree
Celebrity leadership
 Washington won the Rev. War, will be Pres.
 Franklin was THE celebrity of his day because
he was THE Renaissance man
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● Constitution passes:
needed 9 states to be ratified - June 1788
 needed support of big states
 Virginia, New York ratify in June, July 1788
o ratified by all 13 (May of 1790)
o
● Bill of Rights added in 1791
o
Amendments 1-10, made small states happy
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
● Effects of F/AF Papers:
o
o
o
o
o
compromise in Constitution
continued debate about federal/state governments
Bill of Rights added to Constitution
future amendments
formation of first political parties
● Ratification of Constitution
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Constitution explains structure of
government
● What about rights/responsibilities for
citizens?
● Bill of Rights suggested in 1789 and added
in 1791 to explain individual freedoms
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Bill of Rights is not a new concept:
● English Bill of Rights (1689)
o Magna Carta (1215)
o Petition of Right (1628)
● The English Bill of Rights limited the power of the
English monarchy, was written as an act of Parliament
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Who wanted Bill of Rights?
Federalists came up with the idea to help Anti-feds
trust and ratify the Constitution
o People who wanted the guarantee of a number of
personal freedoms
o People who wanted to limit the government's power
in judicial and other proceedings
o People who wanted to reserve some powers to the
states and the public
o
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● What is the Bill of Rights?
o
10 amendments to the original Constitution
 there are now 27 amendments, 1-10 only in BoR
● 10 of the most important rights of Americans
o
without Bill of Rights, America would not be America
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Where did idea of Bill of Rights come from?
o
English Bill of Rights
 Most Americans of English descent at this time
o
Enlightenment philosophers
 Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire
o
Experiences during British rule and Rev. War
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Amendments 1-5
1st - Individual freedoms of expression, religion, etc.
o 2nd - Right to bear arms
o 3rd - Protection from housing soldiers
o 4th - Protection from unlawful search
o 5th - Due process of law if accused of crime
o
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Amendments 6-10
6th - Right to a fair trial
o 7th - Rules for civil lawsuits
o 8th - Right to fair punishment if convicted of crime
o 9th - Allowance of rights not specified in Constitution
o 10th - Rights given and maintained by states, people
o
Bill of Right and US Constitution
● Effects of Bill of Rights
Made Anti-feds happy
 They did not like the Constitution but lived with it
because Bill of Rights
o Precedence for more amendments
 There are now 27 amendments to Constitution
o Constitution is a “living document”***
 Citizens, states, federal government know the
laws/rights of each entity
o
Declaration of Independence
Document on Library of Congress Website
Homework:
Read: Chapter 6, sections 1 and 3 in the United States history
textbook (p.108-110, 114-116)
Do: #1-5: p.110 and 116
Declaration of Independence
● Document on Library of Congress Website
● http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=2
Homework:
Read: Chapter 7, sections 1 and 2 in the United States history
textbook (p.130-138)
Do: #1-5: p. 134, 138
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NorthAmerica1763-A.png
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsSlpZX8DOQ
The document on ourdocuments.org
Homework
Read: chapter 7, section 3 and 4 in the United States history
textbook (p. 139-144)
Do: # 1-5, p. 140, 144
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_United_States
The
Northwest
Today
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/the-northwest-ordinance
The
Northwest
Territory
1787
Northwest Ordinance
Document on Library of Congress Website
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgS2Ar4QBxE
Homework:
Read: Chapter 7, section 5 in the United States history textbook
(p.145-149)
Do: #1-5: p. 149
Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
Federalist Papers #10 and #51 on ourdocuments.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsSlpZX8DOQ
Homework:
Read: Document-Based Reading “The Northwest Ordinance” on
p. 150
Do: #1-5: p. 150
Bill of Rights and US Constitution
Bill of Rights on ourdocuments.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmLosRzNRqA
Homework:
Do: #1-20 on p.152-153
Due: Wednesday, 2/11 (No late points)