Delegates wrote a constitution that has lasted for over 220 yearsWanted freedoms and a government that was strong, but not too strong

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Magna Carta• Means “Great Charter”• No one is above the law,

not even a king or queen• Right to a trial by a jury of

your peers

English Bill of Rights• Right to petition the gov’t

to make changes• Fair punishment according

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Parliamentary Government• Parliament – British law-making body

It is bicameral – two houses• Prime Minister is the Chief Executive

The United States chose a government similar to parliamentary government, but also different in many ways

“Mayflower Compact”• Written by the Pilgrims• Social Contract – people gave up certain

freedoms for the benefit of everyone else• Direct Democracy – Every citizen (male church

members) voted on laws for the colony

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Delegates had secret meetings because they wanted to discuss their ideas freely

They did not want to be pressured by the public We know what happened because James Madison

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Agreed on federalism – divides government powers between a national government and state governments

FEDERALISM

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To settle many arguments, the delegates had to compromise – each side gives up part of its demands in order to reach a solution

The Great CompromiseThe Presidential Compromise (Electoral College)3/5 Compromise

Compromises Chart - Word Doc.doc

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Every 5 slaves would count as 3 free persons Ex) Normal Count

• 15,000 Whites

+ 5,000 Slaves 20,000 – Total Population

Ex) Under the 3/5 Compromise• 15,000 Whites + 5,000 Slaves 18,000 – Total Population***3/5 of 5,000 is 3,000; therefore, only 3,000 slaves count

in the total population

Electoral College – group of electors who choose the president and vice president

# of representatives + # of senatorsTotal # of Electoral votes in a state

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9 of the 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to become law

Two factions (early political parties) formed in support of / opposition to the Constitution…

Alexander Hamilton

(Federalist)

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Thomas Jefferson (Anti-Federalist)

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FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS

Alexander Hamilton Strong national

government Wrote The Federalist

Papers Supported the new

Constitution

Thomas Jefferson Strong state governments Opposed the new

Constitution Believed the Constitution

would not protect states’ rights or personal freedoms

WANTED A BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO PROTECT FREEDOMS!!!

• Constitution is ratified in June 1788• NC ratified the Constitution after is was already in effect

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