The American
Revolution/US Constitution
BY - MR. WAIL
Background
1. 1500’s English/French move to new land
for religious freedom, farmland, new life,
and riches.
2. 1585 – 1st English colony established @
Roanoke (lost colony)
3. Jamestown, VA 1st permanent colony 1607
4. New colonies were still owned and ruled by
the King of England. Colonists were still
considered British citizens.
5. 1757-1763 = 7 years war = (French &
Indian War) – Britain/colonists/Spanish vs.
French/Indians
Results of 7 Years War
 Britain controls most of North America.
 Britain loses a lot of $ paying for the war.
 Britain wants to control it’s N. American
colonies.
 King George III of Britain starts to tax the
colonists without letting them vote.
 Colonists protest and begin revolt.
Causes for Revolution
 Taxes and Acts





Proclamation Act
Stamp Act
Sugar Act
Quartering Act
Townshend Act
1770-Boston
Massacre
 1773-Boston
Tea Party
 1774-Intolerable
Acts, 1st
Continental
Congress meets.

Revolution begins



1775 First shot of war fired @ Lexington and
Concord(MA).
July 4th1776 Declaration of Independence
signed. Continental Congress would be the
govt. of colonies during war.
1776 2nd Continental Congress drew up
Articles of Confederation which acted as the
first constitution of the US.
War is Over

1783 Treaty of Paris is signed to end the war. It
includes:
 USA independent
 Miss River to west, Canada to North, Spanish Florida
to south
 US has right to fish off of Nova Scotia
 Each side repays debt to each other
 British return any captured soldiers
 States return property to Loyalists.
 25,700 Americans die, 1,400 missing, 8,200
wounded
Articles of Confederation
strengths
weaknesses



Governed the nation
during Revolutionary
War
Negotiated Treaty of
Paris at end of the war.



Passed Land Ordinance 1785
and Northwest Ordinance.


Lacked power to
enforce laws.
Lacked power to levy
taxes.
Lacked power to
regulate trade among
the states.
Required all 13 states
to approve changes in
articles.
No national court
system
Constitutional Convention
Summer 1787, 55 delegates gather in
Philadelphia, PA to come up with new
constitution. (George Washington, Ben
Franklin, James Madison, Robert Morris)
Main goal = govt. had to be strong enough
to protect peoples rights, but not too
strong to be controlled.
Not included–Native and African
Americans, women.
The Great Compromise
 VIRGINIA PLAN
Legislative Branch has 2
houses
 Both houses in legislation
would
assign reps. According to state
population and wealth

 THE
GREAT
COMPROMISE =
 NEW JERSEY PLAN


Legislative Branch has 1 house
Each state has 1 vote
2 HOUSES, Senate would give
each state = representation
House of Reps. Would have reps
according to state population
FEDERALISM = System of govt. where power is shared
between central, federal, or national govt. and the states.
Federalists



Supported giving more
powers to natl. govt.
Favored dividing
powers among different
branches of govt.
Proposed a single
person to lead the
executive branch.
Anti-Federalists




Felt important political
powers with states.
Legislative more power
than executive.
Feared strong
executive could
become a king.
Believed Bill of Rights
was needed to protect
peoples rights.



1787 Constitution
Ratified (passed)
1791 Passage of
the Bill of Rights
1st act of the new
government.
Main idea –
protects citizens
from govt.
interference.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Religious and political
freedom
Right to bear arms
Quartering troops
Search and seizure
Rights of accused persons
Right to speedy, public
trail
Trial by jury in civil cases
Limits of fines and
punishments
Rights of people
Powers of states and
people
7 Principles of the Constitution
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Popular Sovereignty (Who gives govt. it’s power?)
Republicanism (How peoples views represented in govt.?)
Federalism (How is power shared?)
Separation of Powers (How is power divided?)
Checks and Balances (How is power evenly distributed?)
Limited Government (How is abuse of power prevented?)
Individual Rights (How are personal freedoms protected?)
US Constitution = 3 parts (Preamble,
Articles, Amendments)
PREAMBLE
We the People of the United
States, in Order to form a
more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the
common defence,[1] promote
the general Welfare, and
secure the Blessings of Liberty
to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United
States of America.
ARTICLES
 1 – Legislative Branch
 2 – Executive Branch
 3 – Judicial Branch
 4 – Relations Among States
 5 – Amending the Constitution
 6 – Supremacy of the Natl. Govt.
 7 - Ratification
 Congress
– makes laws (bills) and passes laws.
 Congress is made up of 2 houses
• House of Representatives-435-depends on
size of state
• Senate-100-2 per state
 Representatives in congress voice the views of
the people.
Position
Term
Minimum
Age
Residency
Citizenship
Representati
ve
2 year
25
State where
elected
7 years
Senator
6 year
30
State where
elected
9 years
How a Bill becomes a Law
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Intro=House introduces the bill
Committee Action=House/Senate approves,
rewrites, or kills bill.
Floor Action=House/Senate debate and work out
differences
Final Approval=Both houses approve bill
President=signs or vetoes bill
2/3rds majority vote needed to override
Presidents veto
If Presidents approves or Congress overrides
Pres. - Bill becomes a law.




The President and Vice President, Cabinet.
This branch enforces the law.
President commands the military and
makes foreign treaties.
Vice President is in charge of the Senate.
Position Term
President 4 years
VP
Minimum Residency Citizenship
Age
Natural born
Live in US 14
35
citizen
same same
yrs
same
same
Elections
• Primary – Selection process of each party
(Republican and Democrat) presidential
nominee.
• Electoral College – Picks the President.
• States Reps + Senators = Electors
• Presidential nominees want to win big states.
• http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=schoolh
ouse+rock+electoral+college&mid=8C4F2C6161
5689EF684A8C4F2C61615689EF684A&view=d
etail&FORM=VIRE7
Article 3 – Judicial Branch



Supreme Court Justice
Branch interprets (judge) the laws
Branch includes:



1 Supreme Court – Decide if laws are constitutional.
13 Courts of Appeals – Hear appeals from lower courts.
94 District Courts – Ordinary trial courts.
Position
Terms
Minimum
age
Residency
Citizenship
Supreme
court Justice
Life/unless
impeache
d
none
none
none
Article 4-Relations Among States
Natl. Powers
Shared Powers State powers
•Maintain Military
•Declare War
•Est. postal
system
•Set standards for
weights/measures
•Protect copyrights
and patents
•Collect taxes
•Est. courts
•Regulate
interstate
commerce
•Regulate banks
•Borrow $
•Provide for
general welfare
•Punish criminals
•Est. local govts.
•Set up schools
•Regulate state
commerce
•Make regulations
for marriage
•Est. and regulate
corporations
ARTICLE 5 – Amending the Constitution
 Constitution can be changed to adapt to modern
times.
 To propose an amendment – 2/3rds vote by both
houses in congress
 To ratify amendment – ¾ approval of state
legislature and convention
Article 6
Supremacy of Natl. Govt.
-
 The constitution,
national laws, and
treaties are the
supreme law of the
land.
Article 7
Ratification
 9 out of 13 states
needed to ratify the
constitution.
 Constitution ratified
September 17th,
1787
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Religious and Political Freedom (Religion,
Speech, Press, Assembly, Protest Govt.)
Right to Bear Arms (Militia for security)
Quartering troops (No housing of soldiers)
Search and Seizure (cant be searched or seized
w/out warrant)
Rights of Accused Persons (Fair treatment till
proven guilty-”Right to remain silent, anything you say”)
6.
Right to Speedy, Public Trial (quick & impartial
trial)
7.
Trail by Jury in Civil Cases
8. Limits of fines and punishments (no excessive
bail, fines, or punishments)
9.
Rights of the People
10.
Powers of states and people (Powers reserved to
the states)
Important Amendments
• 13th –Slavery Abolished (1865)
• 15th - Right to Vote (1870) = (Can’t be denied a
vote based on race, color or because you were a
slave)
• 19th – Women’s Suffrage (1920) = (Can’t be
denied a vote because of sex)
• 22nd – Limit of Presidential Terms (1951)=(Can’t
be elected more than twice)
• 26th – 18 year old vote (1971) = (Can’t be denied
vote if you are 18 and eligible)
Stars and Stripes
 Red = Hardiness and Valor – for blood shed to
get freedom.
 White = Purity & innocence
 Blue = the color of the chief – vigilance,
perseverance, & justice.
 50 stars = 50 states
 13 stripes = 13 original colonies