GA History Bell Ringer(s):
• 12/10/15 Bell ringer:
• How many states were needed to ratify the
US Constitution?
• Ten amendments were added to the US
Constitution to protect the rights of the
citizens. What were they called?
• Give an example of one of the 10
amendments.
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Constitutional
Convention/United States
Constitution
Purpose of the Constitutional
Convention
ArticlesofofConfederation
Confederation
Articles
The goal was
to revise the
Articles of
Confederation
. It was
quickly
decided to
replace it.
Philadelphia
•
•
•
•
53 Delegates met in absolute secrecy in
Philadelphia during the summer of 1787.
They met in Indepedence Hall.
On average their were about 30 delegates their
every day.
James Madison was the only delegate to never
miss a day.
Delegates from Georgia: Abraham Baldwin/William Few:
BOTH MEN WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM GEORGIA
WHO HELPED CREATE AND SIGN THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION.
ABRAHAM BALDWIN PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE GREAT
COMPROMISE THAT HELPED CREATE A BI-CAMERAL
LEGISLATURE
WILLIAM FEW HELPED WRITE THE United States
CONSTITUTION
Virginia Plan
Proposed by big states
Lawmaking body:
Bicameral (2 Houses)
Elected by
the people
Based on
Population
Elected by the
1st house
# of Congressmen determined by state population
New Jersey Plan
Supported by smaller states
Lawmaking body:
Unicameral (1 House)
Based on
Equality
Each state would
have the same
number of
Representatives or
votes
The Great Compromise
This was a combination of both plans…
Lawmaking body:
Bicameral Congress (2 Houses)
House of
Representatives
# of reps. would depend
on populations
Senate
Each state gets 2
representatives
Slavery
• Slavery became an issue
with population. In the
south, slavery made up
1/3 of the population
• The south wanted them to
count in their population
so they would have more
votes. Slaves however
could not vote.
3/5 Compromise
• They decided to count
3/5 of the total number
of slaves as population.
• 5 blacks = 3 whites.
Slaves still could not vote
Separation of Powers
( How the Government will be organized )
3 Branches
Legislative
House of
Reps.
Senate
Executive
Judicial
President
Court System
Carries out laws
Interpret the laws
=
Congress Makes Laws
What document resulted from the
meeting of the Constitutional
Convention?
What started as a convention to amend the
Articles of Confederation, ended with the
establishment of an entirely new document
to present to public for ratification
(approval):
The United States Constitution
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Ratification of the Constitution
• Ratification of the United States
Constitution was not easy
• There were some who supported the newly
revised document and those that were
against the new document.
• Federalists supported the U.S. Constitution
• Anti-Federalists were against the U.S.
Constitution
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Federalists vs. Anti Federalists
... Let the Battle Begin...
Federalists: Supporters of the New Constitution
George Washington
Ben Franklin
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Anti Federalists: Opposed ratification of the new Constitution
1. Would take away liberties
2. Create a strong central government
3. Ignore the will of the people
4. Favor the wealthy
**Wanted the gov. close to
the people
Thomas Paine
Patrick Henry
Signing the Constitution
39 delegates signed
before leaving
Philadelphia.
Each state planned
to have its own
convention to vote on
the adoption.
• Nine states were
needed to ratify .
December 7, 1787
Amendments
Before any of the states
would sign the United
States Constitution, the
delegates wanted a way to
amend the Constitution in
order for it to grow with the
times and the country. Also
in order to protect the rights
of citizens.
The first 10 Amendments=
Bill of Rights
1st Amendment
2nd Amendment
3rd Amendment
4th Amendment
6th Amendment
7th Amendment
8th Amendment
9th Amendment
10th Amendment
Ratification
Georgia was the 4th state to ratify the U.S.
Constitution
New Hampshire, the 9th state signed the constitution putting
into effect the new government. (June 21, 1788)
There were still states that had not ratified. This threatened
the outcome of the new Gov.
The four remaining states signed by May of 1790!
Go USA!!
George Washington was
elected the first President
of the U.S.
John Adams was elected
the first Vice President of
the U.S.
The End
Describe the United States
Constitution. What purpose does it
serve?
Video:
Georgia and the United States Constitution:
www.gpb.org/georgiastories
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Describe the United States
Constitution. What purpose does it
serve?
• The United States constitution is the
founding and support of our federal
(national) government. It describes the
roles and functions of each branch of the
federal government and explains how power
is shared between the federal and state
level.
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