The Constitution of The United States

Our Plan of Government, Created in 1787Ratified in 1789Amended with Bill of Rights in 1791

The Constitution of The United States

The original Constitution is in The National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Oldest Constitution in the World

Background Vocabulary1. Articles of Confederation2. democracy3. republic4. U.S. Constitution5. federal system6. separation of powers7. checks and balances8. Federalists9. Anti-Federalists10. Bill of Rights

11. popular sovereignty 12. Founding Fathersalso called framers

13. Executive Branch 14. Legislative Branch15. Judicial BranchArticles of Confederationfirst weak form of governmentDemocracy people ruleRepublicrepresentative governmentU.S. Constitutionour plan of governmentFederal systempowers shared between states and national governmentSeparation of powerseach branch of government has different powersChecks and balanceseach branch of government has power to curb the power of other branchesFederalistsmen who believed in a strong central governmentAnti-Federalistsmen who believed in stronger state governments

Bill of Rightsfirst ten amendments of The ConstitutionPopular sovereigntyrule of the peopleFounding Fathers (framers)men who wrote The ConstitutionExecutive Branchenforces the law (President)Legislative Branchwrites the law (Congress)Judicial Branchinterprets the law (Supreme Court)

I.After the American Revolution, Americans needed to define what they stood for and what role the federal government would play with the state governments.II.The Articles of Confederation established a limited national government with a one-house legislature. States had more power than the federal government.Weaknesses of Articles of ConfederationNo army No navyNo presidentNo federal courtsStates had more power than the federal governmentIII.George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison criticized the weakness of the new American government and wanted the U.S. to provide a model of a strong democratic republic to the world.Mount Vernon, Washingtons home

IV. The Annapolis Convention of 12 delegates from 5 states discussed the issue and called for a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, summer of 1787

V.Shays Rebellion was a test of the weak government in Massachusetts

There was no army to put down the rebellion of farmers over taxesno enforcement of laws!VI. The Constitutional Convention met with 55 delegates from 12 states (RI did not attend)Founding Fathers were young, educated, idealistic and wealthy menElected G. Washington as the conventions PresidentSecrecyMany Compromises

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

James Madison put it togethercalled The Father of the Constitution

Jefferson was NOT THERE!!

Created three branches of governmentCreated a bicameral legislature (2 houses)Created a federal system with national, state, and shared powers

VII.Federalists and Anti-Federalists argued over the interpretation of the ConstitutionThe Federalist Papers urged states to ratify or accept it9 ratified in 17891788first president elected4 more states ratified in 1791

PartiesFederalistsAnti-FederalistsLed by HamiltonLoose interpretation of the Constitutionspirit of the lawPro-businessPro-NorthLed by JeffersonStrict interpretation of the Constitutionletter of the lawPro-farmingPro-SouthThe Bill of RightsAdded in 1791First 10 amendmentsList of fundamental rights of citizens

Capital Cities1. New York2. Philadelphia3. Federal City (Washington,D.C.)

Influences of The Enlightenment18th centuries philosophers and ideas of natural rights of man

Greek democracy and Roman republicinfluences on our founding fathers

Capitol City Architecture looks like ancient Greece or Rome (columns, obelisks, statues of heroes, marble temples)Neo-Classicism

Who did not attend the Constitutional Convention?Jeffersonambassador to FranceJ. Adamsambassador to EnglandP. HenrySam AdamsWho wrote The Federalist Papers?James MadisonAlexander HamiltonJohn Jay

Ratification9 out of 13 states

Laggard Stateslast to ratify in 1791

APUSH--CompromisesGreat Compromise-- created two-house legislature (New Jersey proposed two reps per state, Virginia proposed rep based on populationwe took BOTH)

Three-Fifths CompromiseSC wanted to count slaves as full populationNorthern states disagreedcompromised to count them as 3/5for every five slaves, count them as three (for representation and taxation). Also extended slavery for 20 more years

Capital CompromiseWar debts would be paid by federal government and southern states complained because they had already paidthey got the capital in the South!PartiesFederalistsAnti-FederalistsLed by HamiltonLoose interpretation of the Constitutionspirit of the lawPro-businessPro-NorthLed by JeffersonStrict interpretation of the Constitutionletter of the lawPro-farmingPro-SouthAPUSHadd to partiesFederalists

(Anti-Federalists)Democratic-RepublicansJohn Adams, MadisonCities, business, merchantsNorthern, EasternWealthy men of educationeliteelastic clause of ConstitutionSplit into High and LowPro-EnglishDied out after War of 1812Called Republicans for short (not todays party!)Added Bill of RightsMadison, P. Henry, BurrSouthern, WesternCommon menFarmers, pioneersLetter of the lawPro-French

Washingtons ChairAt the close of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin remarked that he had often stared at the George Washingtons chair at the front of the room. The chair had a sun carved into the back and he had wondered whether the sun was rising or setting. Since this was a great analogy of whether this new nation would survive with its new constitution, Franklin asserted that he believed that it was definitely a rising sun.

Land IssuesLand Ordinance of 1785Northwest Ordinance of 1787Greatest accomplishment of The Articles of ConfederationProvided for orderly creation of territorial governments and new states (Ohio was first from NW territory)Land sold would pay public debtSupported public educationEstablished townships (6 X 6)

60,000 inhabitants could lead to statehoodExcluded slavery north of the Ohio RiverGave new states same status as the original thirteenPublic education required religious indoctrinationThe American Northwest in 1780s