A New Government

I. Enlightenment

A. Know definition; problems solved through reason and science( ).B. Intellectual movement that started in Europe during the 18th C.

1.stressed the power of human reason to promote progress by revealing the laws that govern both nature and society

a. example: discovery of gravityC. Enlightenment placed a premium on “useful” knowledge--

1.knowledge that could improve the condition of humanity

D. Enlightenment characterized by:1.scientific inquiries

a.medical proceduresb.Telescopec.lightning rod

2.colleges in the colonies

E. Enlightenment directly contradicts the ideas taught by religion and the Great Awakening

1.How?:F. American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution are products of the Enlightenment

II. Articles of Confederation( )

A.”thrown together” form of government that was put in place during the revolution to fight Great Britain

B.attempted to create a national government to unite 13 VERY DIFFERENT colonies

1. DIFFERENCES:

III. Guidelines of the Articles (Graphic,p. 188)

A.Congressional powers1.conduct foreign affairs2.3.4.5.

B.WEAK national government1.no executive branch( )2.no national court ( )3.4.

IV.Robert Morris and the National Treasury

A. Read about Mr. Morris in book

B. Because of weakness, states began printing own money.

Why problem?

1.

2.

3.

V. Northwest Ordinance of 1787A. Only important achievement of the A of C.B. Three-step process for territories to become states:1. For each territory, Congress appointed governor, secretary, and 3 judges

2. Population reaches 5000 FREE MALES, people elect legislature and a non-voting delegate to Congress

3. Population reaches 60000 FREE MALES, territory can apply for statehood

C. Northwest Territory1. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, & Wisconsin

2. Townships

D. Promises made by U.S. government1.utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians2.Indians’ land never be taken without their consent3.”There shall never be slavery in the territory”

E. Ordinance (p. 190-191) also set aside land in each township for schools and churches. Why?

1. Schools = 2. Churches =

1

VI. Articles of Confederation needed MUSCLE!

A. states regularly ignored laws of Congress

1. Shays’s Rebellion (pg. 196):

B.ALL states had to agree unanimously on any change of the original articles

C. Congress authorized a convention to meet in Philadelphia in May 1787 to consider all the defects of the Articles of Confederation

1. Meeting leads to…

The Constitutional Convention

I.People of the Convention:

“an assembly of demigods”

A.James Madison

1.First delegate to reach Philadelphia

2.Virginia Plan was mostly his ideas

3.very important man in getting the Constitution written and ratified

B.George Washington

1.most highly respected American of his time

2.his participation in the convention added dignity to the proceedings

3.president of the convention

C.Ben Franklin1.”elder statesman of the country”2. chair and quote from pg. 198-- “rising sun”

D.Thomas Jefferson and John Adams1.were absent during the convention2.serving as ambassadors overseas

E. George Mason1. refused to sign because lack of Bill of Rights

F. Patrick Henry ( )1.refused to attend because did not want to weaken states power by strengthening federal government

II. Proposing a new GovernmentA. Used history for guidance:B. Found they were doing something completely new: A Federal Government with power based on the consent of the governedC. The Virginia Plan: “ “

1. Two House Legislaturea.Give house seats based on total population per state

D. The New Jersey Plan: “ “1. Counter-plan proposed after Virginia Plan2. One house Legislature

a. Each state with equal representationb. Similar to A of C, but Congress could tax

E. The Connecticut Compromise

1. Settled debate over Legislature:

a. Equal vote in the upper house, proportional in the lower

2. Slaves equal 3/5ths of a person

F. Debate over the executive( )

1. Settled at 4 year terms with unlimited reelection opportunities

G. The Judiciary

1. A federal court with the ability to examine state ruling

2. Constitution would be a binding law for all states

Thoughts on the New Government

Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide. -John Adams

I wish the Constitution which is offered, had been made more perfect; but I sincerely believe I is the best that could be obtained at this time. And as a constitutional door is opened for amendment hereafter, the adoption of it, under the present circumstances of the Union, is in my opinion desirable.

-George Washington

Was Adams right? Is it only a matter of time before our democracy commits suicide? Or is Washington correct, in that our government was established to evolve and last.

Ratification Debate 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I. T-Chart

 

Anti-federalists Federalists

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II. Graphic Overview of Ratification Debate

  Federalists Anti-federalists

Power Balance

 

Finance

  

General Concerns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

III. RatificationA.Federalists needed only the support of 9 of

the 13 states1.Constitution Ratified on June 21, 1788

a. N. Hampshire

B.Even though Antifederalists lost, they won support for a bill of rights

IV.Bill of RightsSolution ResultProblem

A.Federalists added amendments to the Constitution that gained support and guaranteed a person’s rights

B.12 amendments were sent to the states, 10 were ratified

1.first 10 amendments =

V.Government created by Constitutional Convention in 1787 has worked for over 200 years

A. Longest lasting constitution in the world

B. wise authors made Constitution both strong and flexible

1.Flexible:

C.Constitution is often called a “Living Document”

1. Elastic Clause:

2.

3. Supreme Court reads Constitution for us legally

End of Classroom Notes in Notebook

The following slides help organize information covered on worksheets and Constitution Packet

I. Preamble to the Constitution

We the people of the United States,

in order to form a more perfect Union,establish justice,insure domestic tranquility,provide for the common defense,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.

II. Separation of Powers

A. Designed to be Deliberately Ineffective

B. Reason?

-Prevent majority from ruling with absolute power

C. Created a system called

Checks and Balances:

III. The Legislative Branch ( )

A. Requirements

1. House of Representatives

a. Must be at least 25 years old

b. citizen for 7 years

c. Serve a two year term

2. Senate

a. Must be at least 30 years old

b. citizen for 9 years

c. Serve a six year term

d. Staggered Elections so that 1/3 of the senators go up for reelection every two years

B. Job: Make laws and control government spending

1. Power to impeach President

2. Ratify treaties

3. Confirm Presidential appointments

C. Passing a Bill

IV. The Executive Branch ( )

Consists of President, VP, and Agencies ( )

A. Requirements to be President

1. Citizen of the United States by birth

2. At least 35 years old

3. Resident of the United States for at least 14 years

4. Four year term (limit of 2 terms)

B. Job of the President

1. Chief Executive:

2. Chief Diplomat:

3. Commander in Chief:

4. Chief of State:

5. Legislative Leader:

C. Job of the Vice President

1. Replacement:

2. President of the Senate:

V. The Judicial Branch ( )

A. Requirements

1. Judges serve no fixed term

B. Article III is Vague

1. Gives congress the right to decide how the court system will be set up

2. Even the number of Supreme Court Justices is left to Congress

U.S. Supreme Court

State Supreme Court

State Court of Appeals

State District Court

U.S. Court of Appeals

U.S. District Courts

VI. ARTICLE IV ( )

A. Citizens of each state are treated equally

B. Adding New States

1. Congress has the power to make new states

2. No “breakaway” states without the legitimate state agreeing

C. Every state will have a Republican ( ) form of government

VII. Article V ( )

A. Two Parts to the Amendment Process:

1.

2.

B. Four Ways to Amend the Constitution

Proposal Ratification

1. Congress state legislatures

2. Congress state conventions

3. 2/3s of states state conventions

4. 2/3s of states state legislatures

VIII. ARTICLE VI ( )

A.The Constitution is “the Supreme Law of the Land”

B.All federal and state officials take oaths to support the Constitution

C.There will be no religious test for gov’t jobs

IX. ARTICLE VII ( )

A.The Constution must be approved by a minimum of nine states

Bill of Rights:

1st Amendment

-Religion

-Speech

-Press

-Assembly

2nd Amendment

-Because a militia is necessary for security, people may bear arms ( )

4th Amendment

-No unreasonable search and seizure

5th Amendment

-Rights of Accused Persons

6th Amendment

-Fair, Speedy Trial

9th Amendment

-Says that people have additional rights that have not been listed here

10th Amendment

-Powers not listed in the Const are given to the states

Other Important Amendments

12th Amendment

-Election of President and Vice President separately

13th Amendment

-Abolition of (ended) Slavery

14th Amendment

-Protects rights of citizen of any state

15th Amendment

-Right to vote (can’t be taken away based on race)

19th Amendment

-Gave women the right to vote

18th-21st Amendments

-Prohibition started (18th) and ended (21st)

22nd Amendment

-Limit on presidential terms

26th Amendment

-All Americans 18 or older have the right to vote

What are the main topics of each of the seven Articles of the Constitution?

What branches of government are created by the Constitution?

Provide some examples of how each branch has power over another branch.

How can Congress remove the President from office?

List some of the powers that belong to the federal government only.

What is the longest time a President elected today can stay in office?

How long to members of the House of Representatives serve? Senators?

How old do you have to be to be a Representative? A Senator? A federal judge?

How old do you have to be to be a federal judge?

How old do you have to be to be President? Vice President?

Explain "habeas corpus."

Explain what an ex post facto law is.

Explain "bill of attainder."

How many states had to ratify the Constitution to put it into effect?

How many states have to ratify an amendment to make it part of the Constitution?