The American Revolution/US Constitution BY - MR. WAIL

Background1. 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 16074. 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 Confederationstrengths 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 ConventionSummer 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 Anti-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.

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. Religious and political freedom

2. Right to bear arms3. Quartering troops4. Search and seizure5. Rights of accused persons6. Right to speedy, public

trail7. Trial by jury in civil cases8. Limits of fines and

punishments9. Rights of people10. Powers of states and

people

7 Principles of the 7 Principles of the ConstitutionConstitution

1.1. Popular Sovereignty (Popular Sovereignty (Who gives govt. it’s Who gives govt. it’s power?)power?)

2.2. Republicanism (Republicanism (How peoples views represented in govt.?)How peoples views represented in govt.?)

3.3. Federalism (Federalism (How is power shared?)How is power shared?)

4.4. Separation of Powers (Separation of Powers (How is power divided?)How is power divided?)

5.5. Checks and Balances (Checks and Balances (How is power evenly How is power evenly distributed?)distributed?)

6.6. Limited Government (Limited Government (How is abuse of power How is abuse of power prevented?)prevented?)

7.7. Individual Rights (Individual Rights (How are personal freedoms How are personal freedoms protected?)protected?)

US Constitution = 3 parts (Preamble, Articles, Amendments)

PREAMBLEWe 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.

ARTICLES1 – Legislative Branch2 – Executive Branch3 – Judicial Branch4 – Relations Among States5 – Amending the Constitution6 – 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

AgeResidency Citizenshi

p

Representative

2 year 25 State where elected

7 years

Senator 6 year 30 State where elected

9 years

How a Bill becomes a LawHow a Bill becomes a Law

1.1. IntroIntro=House introduces the bill=House introduces the bill2.2. CommitteeCommittee ActionAction=House/Senate =House/Senate

approves, rewrites, or kills bill.approves, rewrites, or kills bill.3.3. Floor ActionFloor Action=House/Senate debate and =House/Senate debate and

work out differenceswork out differences4.4. Final ApprovalFinal Approval=Both houses approve bill=Both houses approve bill5.5. PresidentPresident=signs or vetoes bill=signs or vetoes bill6.6. 2/3rds majority vote needed to override 2/3rds majority vote needed to override

Presidents vetoPresidents veto7.7. If Presidents approves or Congress If Presidents approves or Congress

overrides Pres. - Bill becomes a law.overrides Pres. - Bill becomes a law.

The President and Vice President, The President and Vice President, Cabinet.Cabinet.

This branch enforces the law.This branch enforces the law. President commands the military and President commands the military and

makes foreign treaties.makes foreign treaties. Vice President is in charge of the Vice President is in charge of the

Senate.Senate.PositioPositionn

TermTerm MinimuMinimumm

AgeAge

ResidencResidencyy

CitizenshiCitizenshipp

PresidenPresidentt

4 years4 years 3535 Live in US 14 Live in US 14 yrsyrs

Natural born Natural born citizencitizen

VPVP samsamee

samesame samesame samesame

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=sch

oolhouse+rock+electoral+college&mid=8C4F2C61615689EF684A8C4F2C61615689EF684A&view=detail&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

ageResidency Citizenship

Supreme court Justice

Life/unless impeached

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 - Article 7Article 6 - Article 7Supremacy of Natl. Govt. RatificationSupremacy of Natl. Govt. Ratification

The constitution, The constitution, national laws, and national laws, and treaties are the treaties are the supreme law of the supreme law of the land.land.

9 out of 13 states 9 out of 13 states needed to ratify the needed to ratify the constitution.constitution.

Constitution ratified Constitution ratified September 17September 17thth, 1787, 1787

1. Religious and Political Freedom (Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Protest Govt.)

2. Right to Bear Arms (Militia for security)3. Quartering troops (No housing of soldiers)4. Search and Seizure (cant be searched or

seized w/out warrant)5. 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)

8. 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