Creating the Constitution The Constitution’s Origins • • • • Ancient Greece and Rome The theories of the Enlightenment Evolution of English government The colonial experience 2 Historical Influences on the Constitution Classical learning of the Greeks and Romans The Greeks • Value of citizenship • Role of the people in government • Divided functions of government The Romans • Laws based on equity 3 and justice The Enlightenment • Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau • Political ideas – The people are sovereign – Government is a contract between the people and the government – People possess natural rights of life, liberty and property – If government abuses its power, the people can take it back Rousseau Locke Montesquieu 4 English Influences Magna Carta (1215) Petition of Right (1628) English Bill of Rights (1689) 5 The Magna Carta—1215 • English barons meet with King John at Runnymede • No taxation without consent • Respect property rights • Follow due process in legal matters • No unjust punishment • Abide by the rule of law King John places his seal on Magna Carta 6 Petition of Right—1628 • Origins of Parliament • Similar provisions as found in Magna Carta • Also includes – No quartering of troops in people’s homes – No martial law in peace time King Charles I 7 The English Bill of Rights • William and Mary became the monarchs of England under the English Bill of Rights • Agreed to respect the rights of citizens and rule by the laws of Parliament – Supremacy of Parliament – The king could not suspend laws without Parliament’s consent – Citizens had the right to petition the government – Members of Parliament were to be elected by the people – Sessions of Parliament were to be held frequently – Parliament would regulate the army in times of peace 8 Colonial Influences • 1619: Virginia establishes the first representative Government • 1630: Mayflower Compact sets down the principle of majority rule and voluntarily agreeing to be governed • 1639: Fundamental Orders of Connecticut establishes that political agreements are written down • Colonial charters limited the power of the government to preserve people’s rights • Cases like that of John Peter Zenger established precedents for freedom and liberty The Mayflower Compact 9 The Declaration of Independence A. The people are sovereign B. Government is a contract between the people and the government C. People possess natural rights of life, liberty and property D. If government abuses its power, the people can take it back 10 The Philadelphia Convention Delegates at the Federal Convention—1787 11 The Delegates • Delegates who attended • Qualifications and experience • Occupations George Washington Benjamin Franklin James Madison 12 The Delegates (continued) • Collective beliefs and philosophies of the delegates • Importance of those who weren’t there Not in attendance Thomas Jefferson Patrick Henry Samuel Adams 13 The Convention Begins • Delayed beginning • Proceedings conducted in secret • Delegates decide to discuss all matters of government, not just revisions to the Articles Philadelphia in 1787 14 The Virginia Plan • Proposed a strong national government • Three active branches of government – Legislative – Executive – Judicial • Two-house Congress with proportional representation Edmund Randolph Gouverneur Morris 15 The New Jersey Plan • Single-house legislature • Equal representation • Plural executive elected by Congress • Supreme Court chosen by executive • Acts by Congress and treaties superior to state law William Paterson 16 The Debate Rages On • Battle over representation and apportionment continues • Other matters debated and decided Illustration of Benjamin Franklin speaking at the convention 17 The Great Compromise • The House would have proportional representation • The Senate would have equal representation The hall of the House of Representatives The Senate building 18 Compromises between Northern and Southern States • Three-fifths of slave populations would be included in determining House representation • The South agreed to allow Congress to have the power to pass tariffs • The North agreed not to interfere with slave importation for 20 years • Compromises avoided making slavery an issue for debate • Framers ended up merely postponing a national calamity 19 Limits on Democracy • • • • Delegates wanted to limit democracy Plan to indirectly elect the president Federal judiciary made an appellate court Power to declare any law unconstitutional not stated, but implied The Philadelphia state house around the time of the Constitutional Convention 20 Major Features and Innovations • Separation of powers • Checks and balances • Limits on direct democracy 21 Major Features and Innovations (continued) • Supremacy clause • Federalism 22 Major Features and Innovations (continued) • Amendments • Ratification process 23 Signing the Constitution 24 Review Questions • Why was the Constitutional Convention called? • Why did the delegates decide not to amend the Articles of Confederation? • What was the basic organization for government proposed in the Virginia Plan? • Why was the New Jersey plan rejected by the majority of the delegates? • Why did the delegates spend so much time and energy on the apportionment for representation in the Congress? • What were the delegates’ general views on democracy for the people, and how were they reflected in some of the provisions of the Constitution? 25 The Struggle for Ratification • Congress agrees to send the Constitution to the states • Ratification procedure called for direct input from the people and not the state legislatures or Congress • Two distinct views emerged: – The Federalists – The Anti-Federalists 26 Federalists • Who were the Federalists? • Central government essential • Believed the Constitution addressed all the shortcomings of the Articles • Provisions in place to check government’s power Alexander Hamilton James Madison John Jay 27 Anti-Federalists • • • • • Who were the Anti-Federalists? Central government had too much power The “distant” government would neglect their needs The Constitution favored the wealthy and commercial classes No protection of individual liberties Richard Henry Lee Patrick Henry Samuel Adams 28 The Federalists’ “Hard Sell” • Argued that the Constitution adequately addressed the country’s problems • The Federalist Papers provided sound, reasoned arguments • Portrayed the Constitution as the best—and only—plan available 29 Early Battles for Ratification • Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut • Battles in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Cartoon satirizing events in Connecticut at the time of the state’s ratification convention 30 The Ratification Battle in Virginia • Famous figures on both sides of the debate • Maryland, South Carolina ratify by the time the Virginia convention opens • New Hampshire ratifies while the convention is going on • Virginia ratifies the Constitution by a slim margin soon afterward 31 Pro-Constitution cartoon The Final States Ratify • New York • North Carolina ratifies in November of 1789 • Rhode Island ratifies in May of 1790 32 Creation of a Bill of Rights • Initially, the Constitution had no bill of rights • Briefly mentioned during the federal convention but rejected • During the ratification conventions, it became clear a bill of rights was desired • Federalists agreed to include a bill of rights • Bill of Rights drafted and approved in the first Congress in 1789 • Approved by the people through the amendment process in 1791 33 The Promise in the Bill of Rights • Written rights don’t guarantee rights • The Bill of Rights continued the dialogue on liberty and freedom discussed at the Federal convention • 14th amendment: Federal and state governments are held accountable to not violate people’s rights • Democracy is best practiced by people defending their rights • The Supreme Court serves as the forum for continued dialogue over people’s rights and freedoms 34