DO NOW:
Look at the “Making
Comparisons” chart on
p. 206 and answer the 5
questions
DO NOW:
Make a Frayer Diagram to show the
meaning of the word “Constitution”
Define
What are the parts of the
Constitution? (p. 233-253)
Constitution
Examples
(can be drawings)
How does it divide power?
7-3 Guided Reading
Notes
We will learn…


How the federal government divides
powers
Why different groups objected to the
new Constitution
Rising Sun chair,
Constitutional Convention
Click the Speaker button
to replay the audio.
I. Roots of the
Constitution
A.
British System of Government
1. What British document provided an
important model for the Americans?
The English Bill of Rights of 1689
2. What idea did the Enlightenment
promote?
Knowledge, reason, and science could
improve society
II. The Federal System
Shared Powers – What is federalism?
Sharing of powers between federal and
state governments
B. The Constitution Becomes Supreme Law of
the Land – Under the new system, what
became the final and supreme authority in
disputes between the federal government
and state governments?
The Constitution
A.
Review: Look at the following diagram and answer the
questions
1. Where do the powers shown in the Venn diagram come from?
2. Does it look like the way the powers are divided makes sense? (In
other words, list one national power it wouldn’t make sense for a
state to have and one state power it wouldn’t make sense for the
national government to have – explain why.)
3. Why are there “shared powers”? Does that make sense? Why or
why not?
4. What is the constitutional principle that is represented by the Venn
diagram?
III. The Organization of
Government
A.
The Legislative Branch – What are
the powers of Congress?
collect taxes, coining money, regulating
trade
B. The Executive Branch – Who or what
indirectly elects the president and vice
president?
The Electoral College
C. The Judicial Branch – Which courts are
included in the judicial branch?
Supreme Court and lower federal courts
III. The Organization of
Government
D. System of Checks and Balances – What
does the separation of powers prevent?
It prevents any one branch of government
from gaining too much power
E. National Citizens – What did the new
government pledge?
to protect the personal freedoms of its
citizens
IV. The Constitutional
Debate
A.
Federalists –
What are the
names of two
highly respected
men who were
federalists?
George
Washington
and Benjamin
Franklin
IV. The Constitutional
Debate
B. Antifederalists – Why did the Antifederalists
fear an energetic central government?
They thought it would be government by a
small, educated group of people
C. Protecting Rights – What was the strongest
criticism against the new Constitution?
It lacked a Bill of Rights
V. Adopting the
Constitution
What two states were important to
the future of the new government?
New York and Virginia
2. When would a bill of rights be added?
1791
1.
Review
Work with your partner to list the
differences between
Federalists and AntiFederalists.
(Use the worksheet provided)
Federalists




Better organized
Supported by Benjamin Franklin and George
Washington
Supported the new Constitution
Backed by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton,
and John Jay – all wrote series of essays
defending the Constitution that appeared in The
Federalists Papers


Feared there would be disorder without a strong
constitution
Wanted the national government to be stronger
Antifederalists








Opposed ratification of the Constitution
Said new constitution would take away liberties
Didn’t want a strong national government, preferred
local governments close to the people
Thought the Constitution ignored the will of the
people and states
Thought it favored the wealthy few over common
people
Feared the government would be run by a small
educated group
Wanted a Bill of Rights
Feared oppression more than disorder