LEARNING TARGETS

Identify the problems with the Articles of Confederation

Define the concepts that are influential to the ratification of the Constitution

Explain the need for compromises between: Large states and small states Slave states and free states

Analyze the arguments for and against a new Constitution

Summarize the need for a government that would strike a balance between protecting rights of the citizens and maintaining order

Evaluate the reasoning of the framers of the Constitution

Explain and justify how issues raised since the Declaration of Independence are still debated today

TERMS TO KNOW

New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan

Great Compromise Unalienable (Natural) Rights

Bicameral Legislature Checks and Balances

Constitutional Convention Federalism

Articles of Confederation Declaration of Independence

The Magna Carta

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WHAT WERE SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF COLONIAL AMERICA?-Vast size

-England and Scotland combined were smaller than New York and Pennsylvania

-More than 1000 miles separated northern MA and southern GA

-Significant reduction in indigenous population along the Atlantic coast

-due to colonial settlements, disease and warfare

-Diverse backgrounds

-differences in social structure and language

-relocated for religious v. economic reasons

-Different social and political cultures

-Ex: South Carolina v. New England

-Slavery

-practiced in all colonies

-Rural communities/Farming

-New England-crops and livestock

-Virginia-tobacco

SELF RELIANCE

WHAT DID THE FOUNDERS LEARN ABOUT GOVERNMENT?-Historical and Philosophical Studies

-Plato (Greek philosopher)

-Those who rule must be wise

-Enlightenment Thinkers

-Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Voltaire

-Historical Documents

-The Magna Carta

-Conclusions about government

-Government should be the servant, not the master of the people

-A fundamental higher law, or constitution should limit government

THE MAGNA CARTA-Much of American colonial law was based on the rights of

Englishmen

-The Magna Carta is the oldest document in British/American history of government

-Written in 1215

-England’s King John promised many rights that are included in the U.S. Bill of Rights

-Preserve freedom of the church (1st amendment)

-Not take away life/liberty without due process of law (5th amendment)

-No extreme punishments (8th amendment)

JOHN LOCKE

-Humans are born free and equal

-Self Government-the people should govern themselves

-Natural (Unalienable) Rights

-Life, Liberty and Property

-The people have a right to overthrow an unjust government

WHAT IS A CONSTITUTION?

-A plan that sets forth the structure and powers of government , specifically:

-the main institutions of government

-the powers of each institutions

-Constitutions mean limited government, meaning that there are restraints on power

CRITICAL THINKING EXERCISEGive all power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all

power to the few, they will oppress the many.

-Alexander Hamilton

There are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men…the love of power and the love of money.

-Benjamin Franklin

From the nature of man, we may be sure that those who have power in their hands…will always, when they can, increase it.

-George Mason

What view of human nature is expressed in these statements? What evidence of these views is found in the American government?

WHY DID COLONISTS RESIST BRITISH CONTROL

-Colonists felt they were not being represented in British government

-Taxation without Representation!

-New trade restrictions and taxes meant many colonists would lose money

-Boston Tea Party

-Five colonists were killed by British soldiers in the Boston Massacre

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?

-After battles broke out between colonists and British soldiers, the king withdrew his protection

-Rejected the sovereignty (authority) of the Crown

-Founders felt that it was important to justify this action to other nations

-win support from other nations

WHAT WERE THE MAIN IDEAS AND ARGUMENTS BEHIND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?

-Natural (Unalienable) Rights

-The rights of people are based on a higher law than laws made by humans. They are self-evident

-Human equality

-Humans are equal: God nor nature has appointed some at birth to rule over others

Government by Consent

-The colonists had consented to be governed by the British law as long as the central authority protected their rights to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”

CONT’D

-“A long Train of Abuses”-King George III violated the compact repeatedly reducing

government of the colonies to “absolute Tyranny” by accusing him of:

-Keeping standing armies among the people in time of peace without the approval of the colonial legislation

-Quartering soldiers among the civilian population-Imposing taxes without consent of those taxed

-Rights of Revolution-”Whenever any Form of Government becomes

destructive of those Ends” for which government is created, it is the right of the people to “alter or to abolish it” and to create a new government