Unit 1
Cornell-B
“Why was a new Constitution written
and what compromises were
necessary? Describe the debate over
the Constitution’s ratification.”
Interactive Notebook
On a fresh piece of paper:
“Unit 1 - Cornell-B pg.67”
1. Why did Daniel Shays lead a
rebellion against Massachusetts
and what did 12 of the states
decide to do about it ?
Shays’ Rebellion
• Farmer’s income
decreased while taxes
increased.
• Farmers who could not
pay their debts had their
farms taken away by the
courts.
Massachusetts farmer
Daniel Shays and his
supporters occupy a
Massachusetts courthouse.
• The U.S., without an organized army, was powerless.
Massachusetts sent a militia to stop the rebellion.
• Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the U.S.
needed a new, stronger government.
• The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced!
Articles of Confederation
too weak to hold 13 states together
Answer in your Interactive
Notebook:
Read pg. 67
“Experimenting with
Confederation”
2. What was the “first”
constitution called? The
new USA was a republic
with which form of
government?
3. List 3 of the biggest
weaknesses of this
government.
I. What was the situation after the
Revolution?
Weak National Gov’t
No Executive or Judiciary
No Army
Cannot Tax
US Merchants boarded at
Sea
Shay’s Rebellion
Weak Economy
National War Debt
No Common Currency
States have conflicting
trade rules and laws
II. Constitutional Convention
Where: Independence Hall, Philadelphia
Who: Delegates from 12 of 13 states
When: 1787
II. Constitutional Convention:
Why did they meet:
To MODIFY the old Articles of
Confederation – but then they decided to
dump it and start from scratch;
They held SECRET meetings and
presented a finished draft to the states for
approval (ratification)
Why secret?
They didn’t want the public to panic.
III. Compromises at the
Convention
There were issues and
DISAGREEMENTS at the Convention and
delegates had to reach compromises in
order to produce a finished draft
constitution.
Compromises:
1. The “GREAT Compromise”
2. The “3/5ths Compromise”
A. Issues:
How many representatives in Congress
does each state get?
Big States (more populous) wanted
MORE. why?
They would have more control in
Congress
Little States wanted EQUAL number from
each state. why?
The big states would have more power
over the little states
Constitutional Convention
(Philadelphia, 1787)
- George Washington was elected president of the Convention.
Virginia Plan
- It called for a
bicameral
legislature, in
which the number
of representatives
in each house
would depend on
the population of
the state.
New Jersey Plan
- Both plans
called for a
strong
national
government
with 3
branches.
- It called for a
unicameral
legislature, in
which every state
received one vote.
Virginia Plan
- It called for a
bicameral legislature,
in which the number
of representatives in
each house would
depend on the
population of the
state.
New Jersey Plan
- Both plans
called for a
strong
national
government
with 3
branches.
- It called for a
unicameral
legislature, in
which every state
received one vote.
“Great Compromise”
• It provided for a bicameral Congress.
A. House of Representatives – each state is represented
according to its population (satisfied the VA Plan)
B. Senate – each state has 2 Senators (satisfied the NJ Plan)
* Both houses of Congress must pass every law.
B. Issue:
SOUTHERN states want their slaves to be
counted into their population –
NORTHERN states (that have no slaves)
object to this. why ?
The southern states would get more
representation in the House of Reps.
“ThreeFifths
Compromise
”
• In order to
determine
the
population of
a state, only 3
out of every 5
slaves would
be counted.
“Interactive Notes: Unit 1
Cornell B”—pg. 69 and 70
4. Who are the federalists? AntiFederalists?
5. Describe “The Federalist” papers. Who
were the Authors?
IV. Debate over Ratification (approval) of
new Constitution:
9 states must vote to ratify the new constitution – a debate
starts between those who favor it (FEDERALISTS) and
those who are against it (ANTI-Federalists) – why?
Federalists = New constitution / “The Constitution”
Anti-Federalists = 1st constitution / “Articles of
Confederation”
IV. Debate over Ratification of the New
Constitution
ANTI-Federalists
Arguments?
FEDERALISTS
Arguments?
Federalists vs. Anti-federalists
Anti-Federalists
Federalists
•
New Constitution makes the
national government TOO
powerful and States TOO
weak
•
New Constitution has correct
“balance” of power between
the national government and
the States
•
New Constitution fails to
protect individual rights –
people will lose their rights
•
“Checks & Balances”,
“Separation of Powers” and a
Bi-cameral Congress will
protect individual rights
(constitutional / enlightenment
idea of “limited powers”)
•
IV. Debate over Ratification of
the New Constitution
Compromise
The Federalists agree to add a
BILL OF RIGHTS to New
Constitution
V. The Ratification Compromise =
BILL OF RIGHTS (Amendments 1-10)
Purpose:
The BILL OF RIGHTS was
intended to LIMIT the power of
GOVERNMENT over
individuals and to LIMIT the
power of the MAJORITY over
individuals, too (to protect the
MINORITY).
Amendments say what
RIGHTS (natural rights) cannot
be taken away from individuals
by either the GOVERNMENT
or a MAJORITY of the people.
How:
Various Amendments
focus on certain RIGHTS.
However, one of the most
important Amendments is
the 1st Amendment
where certain CLAUSES
protect fundamental
rights.
Write some of these
clauses and explanations:
see pg. 96-97
VI. Constitutional Principles
A.
REPRESENTATIVE democracy ( a REPUBLIC)
B.
FEDERALISM (a federal form of government)
C.
3 BRANCHES with SEPARATE powers
D.
LIMITED government with RULE of LAW
E.
Checks & BALANCES
F.
MAJORITY rule & free ELECTIONS
G. Civil RIGHTS
VI. Constitutional Principles
A.
Representative democracy, a
Republic
B. Federalism
= the people are represented by
elected officials
= Form of government that
divides/shares power between
the national govt. and state
govts.
The Constitution of 1787
Federalism
Powers “shared” between States & National
Governments
VI. Constitutional Principles
C.
3 Branches with separate
powers
D.
Limited government with Rule
of Law
= Executive, Legislative and
Judicial;
each branch can do things that
other branches cannot do
= govt. power is limited;
govt. cannot violate the law—
no one is above the law
VI. Constitutional Principles
E.
Checks & Balances
F.
Majority Rule and free
elections
= each Branch of govt. can block
the power of other branches
= voters shall freely choose their
representatives —half + 1
G. Civil Rights
= citizen's ability to fully
participate in the civil and
political life of the state without
discrimination or repression
“3 branches”, “Checks & Balances” & “Separation
of Powers”—LIMITED GOVERNMENT