The Constitution
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Annapolis Convention (1786)
o Failure
Constitutional Convention / The Philadelphia Convention of 1787
o Delegates from all states
 Except Rhode Island
 “The Demigods”
 Fifty-Five
o May 25, 1787
o Washington
o Franklin
o James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
o Alexander Hamilton
The Legislative Branch
o The Virginia Plan
 Representation by population
o The New Jersey Plan
 Representation by State
o The Great Compromise / The Connecticut Compromise
 The Lower House - House of Representatives
 Population
 Taxation
 The Upper House – The Senate
 Two senators from each state
 Approve treaties and appointments
o Three-Fifths Compromise
 Slaves count as 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation
The Executive Branch
o The Presidency
o Commander in Chief
o Appointment of domestic offices
 Including judges
o Veto
o Must be
 Natural born citizen
 35 or older
 Living in US for a14 years
Checks & Balances
o “Mobocracy” safeguards
Judicial
o Chief Justices appointed for life
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Indirect Election
o Electoral college
o Senators & State Legislatures
Federalists
o Pro constitution
o Strong Central Government
Anti-Federalists
o Anti-Constitution
o Strong Local Governments
o Anti-Federalist Complaints
 No Bill of Rights
 No annual elections
 New Standing Army
Ratification
o December 1787
 Delaware
 Pennsylvania
 New Jersey
o January 1788
 Georgia
 Connecticut
o February 1788
 Massachusetts
 Bill of Rights
o April 1788
 Maryland
o May 1788
 South Carolina
o June 1788
 New Hampshire
 Virginia
 Debates in Virginia
o Official ratification June 21, 1788
The Federalist Papers
o Alexander Hamilton
o John Jay
o James Madison
Late Ratifications
o July 1788
 New York
o November 1789
 North Carolina
o May 1790
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 Rhode Island
President George Washington
o The First Cabinet
 Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
 Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
 Secretary of War: Henry Knox
The Bill of Rights
o Amendment 1 - Freedom of religion, speech, press, right to peaceful assemble
and petition.
o Amendment 2 - Right to bear arms.
o Amendment 3 - Protection from quartering soldiers in homes.
o Amendment 4 - Protection from searches or seizures without a warrant.
o Amendment 5 - Right to not testify against one's self and protection from double
jeopardy.
o Amendment 6 - Guarantee of a proper trial.
o Amendment 7 - Guarantee of a jury trial.
o Amendment 8 - Protection from excessive bail or fines.
o Amendment 9 - Statement that people have rights that are not even listed here.
(The People's Rights Amendment).
o Amendment 10 - Statement that any power not granted in the Constitution is
left to the states. (The State's Rights Amendment).
The Judicial Branch
o The Judiciary Act of 1789
 Supreme Court
 Federal Courts
 Circuit Courts
 Attorney General
o John Jay
 First Chief Justice