A Constitution for
the United States
Topic 4 (Unit 3)
Did we create a “more perfect union” for all?
A Weak Confederation
4.1
Get out your timeline & let’s check it…
1776 Declaration of
Independence
signed
1783 – Treaty
of Paris
(officially ends
R. War) &
arguments
continue over
land, debt,
currency, &
foreign
interests
1777 – Articles
of
Confederation
created
1785 –
Land
Ordinance
of 1785
1776 – 1780 –
States created
Constitutions
1786 –
Shay’s
Rebellion
1781 - War
unofficially
ends &
Articles are
ratified
1787 –
Northwest
Ordinance
passed & calls
to revise
Articles of
Confederation
4.1 Quiz
1. Therefore, in order to form a government, most
states created a Constitution.
2. The 2 reasons for creating a Constitution were
to
a. spell out rights of the citizens &
b. limit power of the government.
3. The Continental Congress was working on a
national government. (federal, national, central)
4. The States reacted by not wanting to give up
power (in part due to tyranny).
Bell ringer
11.18/19
There are three handouts on the countertop,
please grab both.
O If you were going to make a government of
your own what 6 things would you include.
O Characteristics?
O Rights?
O Responsibilities?
O Positions/Jobs?
I can
At your table, answer the questions/statements
below…
O Why did the states put into existence a
constitution?
O Name the first constitution.
O Explain the weaknesses of the Confederation.
O Explain how the Articles of Confederation
worked in new territories.
As we go through…
O Check your notes to make sure that you have the
information needed to describe the inspirations
behind our government…
O Add to your homework if you need to!
O Highlight the items I discuss!
O IF YOU DON’T have notes…now is the perfect
moment to get out paper and begin!
NOW WHAT?
O Independence - 7.4.1776
O Revolutionary War continues
O No government in U.S., now what?
O Why do we need a government?
O From where will we get our
inspiration?
Inspiration
(4.3)
O Roman Republics (and Greek) – independence & public
servants
O Magna Carta (English) - king must follow law & rights for
people
O English Bill of Rights - parliament is more powerful than
monarch
O Parliament chosen by people = who has the power?
O Enlightenment- emphasized reason and logic
O John Locke - philosopher- social contract between government and
society (agree to rule and be ruled)
O Montesquieu – liberty = separate government powers so no one is
too powerful
O Rousseau – when a state fails to act in a moral fashion, it ceases to
function
Inspiration
O Colonial Self Government
O Town meetings
O VA House of Burgesses - law makers elected by voters
O Mayflower Compact - self government by citizens
O Declaration of Independence
O government based on rights
So, we didn’t always rely on others…we had good ideas ALL
ON OUR OWN!
State Constitutions
O Divide into 3 groups…
O Pennsylvania
O South Carolina
O Massachusetts
O http://www.ushistory.org/us/14a.asp (on my
HW page)...use your device to go here
1. How does each organize themselves?
2. What stands out – good or bad?
3. Potential flaws?
State Constitutions
O Each state had their own, varying constitutions
Examples:
O Banned slavery
O Citizens had rights
O Religious freedom
O T. Jeff: VA Statue of Religious Freedom - can’t force
religion or pay for church w/ tax money
O Suffrage - right to vote
O Hold public office - only land owners
O Imagine if we all have difficulty deciding the most important pieces
of a government, how 13 representatives must have felt to agree in
order to pass a law!
Constitutions
O States wanted to do 2 things:
1. Spell out the rights of the citizens
2. Limit the power of the
central/federal/national government
O Central/National/Federal government
wanted to do 1 thing for all states:
1. Unite them with one central government
Articles of Confederation
O 1777
O Continental Congress – plan for nation (a
central/national/federal government)
O 13 representatives - 1 from each state
O Discussed and drafted national
(1st American) constitution
HW - Article of Confederation Chart
Determine the strengths and weaknesses of
the Articles of Confederation.
Fill in the chart. Bullet points are fine.
Based on your HW…
(handout)
Write down at least 5 problems that
you predict the new “nation” will face
in the years following the American
Revolution War.
O Bullet points are fine
O 1st column ONLY!
O 95 seconds
Articles of Confederation…
Strengths
• Left states alone to make decisions
• Prevented federal govt. from gaining
too much power
• Each state = 1 vote
• Congress could declare war
• Appoint military officers
• Coin $$$
• Operate post offices
• Addressed Northwest Territories
Weaknesses
• Compared to states, had very little
power
• 9 states had to approve a law
• States had to enforce laws
• No President to execute laws
• Congress couldn’t regulate trade
• Congress had to borrow $$ (from
states)
• No system of courts
What you NEED to know about A of C…
• Attempt at compromise (considering we were
still at war) – somewhat effective
• States were weak from war, debt,
disagreements, foreign attempts at sabotage
Expanding West…
A of C (national govt)
got 1 thing right
O Congress decided to pass laws governing how
NEW territories would be established…
(remember we are in debt)
What do you get for moving West?
O Guaranteed basic rights
O Slavery outlawed
O Settlements of 60,000 could ask to be a state
O Trial by jury
O Freedom of religion
O Free use of waterways
O Schools (from sales of land)
Shay’s Rebellion
O Due to great debt and economic problems
(after end of Revolution), depression
occurred.
O Farmers hit hardest
O Courts tried to seize farm land
O Daniel Shays – Veteran of Bunker Hill –
organized Shays’ Rebellion
O Rebellion was a sign the Articles of
Confederation did not work…so, states called
for a REVISION OF Articles of Confederation
I can… (handout) 4.1
O understand why the states put into
existence their constitutions.
O name the first constitution.
O explain the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation.
O explain how the Articles of Confederation
worked in new territories.
I can…
4.2
O Explain why the Virginia Plan & New Jersey Plan
O
O
O
O
were proposed at the Constitutional Convention.
Explain how they both agreed upon 3 branches of
government & a legislature elected by the people.
Describe how the Great Compromise allowed both
Plans to become law.
Explain how the 3/5s Compromise dealt with the
issues of slaves counting in the vote.
Understand why it was necessary for states to
ratify a document.
Constitutional
Convention
Philadelphia: May 1787
(4.2)
Goal: Revise A.o.C.
O Delegates @ C.C.
O Ben Franklin
O George Washington
O James Madison (father of the Constitution)
O Alex Hamilton
Goal to REVISE the Art. of Co.
O Proposals for a new government
O Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan
O Turn in your text to pg. 187 (Venn diagram)
O What did they have in common?
O Great Compromise was created (Roger Sherman)
O 3 branches
O
O
O
Legislative (pass laws)
O House of Representatives – elected by popular vote
O Senate – chosen by state legislature
Executive (carry out laws)
Judicial (system of courts)
O 3/5s Compromise – dealt with
slavery/representation
O Each slave counts as 3/5 of a vote when
determining representation
O Which states do you think voted for this
change?
Drama within discussions
(creating of Constitution)
Opposing ideas (within convention)
O Popular sovereignty (political power belongs to people)
VS.
O Strong national government
O In order to replace A of C & protect people
O Balance state power with federal power?????
O They liked the sharing of power between a central
govt. and the states = a country
Solution:
O Federalism: sharing power
between state and federal
government
Federal Powers
O Power to enforce its laws in the states
O Each state mush obey the authority of the
federal govt (why FBI rules over city police)
O All state officials must obey Constitution
O Power to use military to enforce laws –
troops are under the command of President
State Powers
O Have control over governmental functions
not specifically assigned to the federal govt.
O Example –
O States control local government and
education.
O They also oversee civil & criminal laws.
O States must also protect the welfare of their
citizens.
Delicate Balance
O Legislative
O Executive
O Judicial
O Checks & Balances
Outcome
Brand new U.S.
Constitution
O September 1787 delegates sign final draft of
Constitution
O 39 of 42 delegates sign
O Constitution: set of laws
O 9 of 13 states must ENDORSE the
Constitution for it to become law
Exit Ticket 11.30.15
O Review of 4.2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What were the two plans proposed at the
Constitutional Convention? Name plans.
What 2 items did both plans have in
common (agree upon)?
How did both plans become law?
What agreement was reached that solved
the issue of the slavery population count?
What did states have to do before the
Constitution could be approved?
In two groups…
O After you have received your argument, work
together to create a RAP that supports why
the Constitution SHOULD/SHOULD NOT be
supported.
O
The Constitution has been created, but is not yet law.
Supporters
• States have too much power
• Constitution protects the rights
& powers of states
Opposees
• National government is too
strong
• More protection or rights for
citizens are needed
Constitution not yet law…
O Ratify or not ratify?
O Voters from each state elected delegates
Federalists
(supporters of Constitution)
Anti-Federalists
(opposers of Constitution)
• Too much power w/states
• Constitution protected rights &
powers of states
• Federalist papers (J. Madison, A.
Hamilton, J. Jay) – political theory
& lasting influence
• Natl. govt. too strong (President
too much power)
• Needs more protection or rights
for citizens – no list of rights (no
bill of rights)
Need to Knows…
O (after much debate and changes…) Constitution
approved with amendments (additions) – Bill of
Rights (1st 10)
O First election under Constitution – 1789
O George Washington – President
O John Adams – Vice-President
O New York City – nation’s first capital
O Amending Constitution was a process and 10
amendments became known as Bill of Rights
O Delaware was first state to ratify
O Rhode Island was last
Bill of Rights
O Pg. 538-539 in textbook
Amendments 1-10
1st - Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, &
petition
My definition: I can practice any religion, say anything,
gather to protest, create a petition, write my beliefs in a
newspaper
Real world: RFRA being passed by Indiana Gov. Pence to
allow citizens to have religious freedom
O As a group work to complete 2 -10
U.S. Constitution
Use the following terms and create a “map” (that
makes sense to you) of how these parts not only fit
together, but also how they flow and create a
WHOLE document. You may work together, by
sharing ideas within your “states” (table group):
O 7 basic principles
O Preamble (state 6 goals)
O Articles (state each’s purpose)
O Amendments (identify first 10)
Overview of the structure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EfnNUt_nwY
7 basic principles
O Popular sovereignty – people have the right to alter/abolish
their government
O Limited government – government has powers that
Constitution gives it
O Separation of Powers – government divided into 3
branches
O Checks & Balances – each branch has the power to check
or limit actions of other two
O Federalism – division of power between federal & state
O Republicanism – Constitution provides basis for citizens
who elect representatives to carry out their wishes
O Individual Rights - protection of freedoms/rights
Checks and Balances
O Power of the government divided 3 ways to
ensure no one becomes too powerful
O Legislature- write the laws
O Executive –execute (carry out) the laws
O Judicial-interpret the laws
O Checks:
O Veto power-cancel
O Override- overrule
O Review laws
Pg. 184
Pg. 183
Preamble
Introduction that sets up the purpose of the
document.
O 6 goals:
O To Form a More Perfect Union
O To Establish Justice
O To Insure Domestic Tranquility
O To Provide for the Common Defense
O To Promote the General Welfare
O To Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Articles
O Framework of our government:
O Article 1 – Legislative (makes the laws)
O Establishes powers & limits on Congress
O Article 2 – Executive (carries out the laws)
O Establishes powers & limits on President
O Article 3 – Judicial (judges actions that violate laws)
O Establishes powers & limits on Courts
O Article 4 – relations among states
O Article 5 – process to amend Constitution
O Article 6 – “supreme law of land” – federal over state
O Article 7 – procedure to ratify Constitution
Amendments
O To amend = to make a
change
O Only 27 have been made
since birth
O First 10 known as = Bill of
Rights
Understanding Amendments
4.6
O I can identify the rights that the Bill of Rights
protects.
O I can summarize how later amendments
expanded democratic rights.
Amend = to make change
O The Bill of Rights doesn’t GIVE Americans
rights because…
O It was created to prevent the government
from taking these rights away (natural
rights).
Basic Freedoms
1st Amendment
O Keeps basic individual liberties safe…
O Freedom of religion
O Freedom of speech
O Freedom of press
O Right to peacefully assemble
O Right to petition the government to change
policies
Protection Against Abuse of
Power
O Amendment 2 – maintained military & right
to have guns – Which is it? Which is more
important?
O Red – State military is important
O Blue – Individuals rights to have guns
O Amendment 3 – do not have to house
military
O Amendment 4 – search of home/property
must abide by rules of law
Protecting Rights of Accused
O Amendment 5 – cannot incriminate yourself
O Amendment 6 – right to a quick, fair, public
trial (also states right to know charge of
crime & ability to confront accuser)
O Amendment 7 – juries in civil trials (non-criminal)
O Amendment 8 – keeps judges from giving
“cruel or unusual punishments”
Individual Rights
O Amendment 9 – covers all rights NOT stated
in Constitution (by stating the Constitution is
not limited to what is written)
O Amendment 10 – balances federal power
Civil War Amendments
O Some might say the 13, 14, and 15th
Amendments are only important to a
specific group of people.
O What group might be referred to?
O Why?
O Why are these Amendments important to ALL
people?
Expansion of Rights
O What is significant about the 19th
Amendment?
O Why do you suppose the age restriction
within the 26th Amendment was lowered? Is
it important?
Exit Ticket
1. How can the Constitution can be
amended?
2. What rights does the Bill of Rights protects
(go deeper than “humans”)?
3. Summarize how later Amendments
expanded democratic rights. Give at least
2 specific Amendments as examples.