Chapter 3 The Constitution The Longevity of Constitutions U. S. has world’s second oldest...
38
Chapter 3 The Constitution
Chapter 3 The Constitution The Longevity of Constitutions U. S. has world’s second oldest constitution – ratified in 1789 – Average duration is 17 years
The Longevity of Constitutions U. S. has worlds second oldest
constitution ratified in 1789 Average duration is 17 years
Constitutional durability comes from: An open, participatory
process A tendency to be specific ***A tendency to be FLEXIBLE
through interpretation and amendment 2
Slide 4
Uniquely American Protest 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWZ925z K0A
Slide 5
First Continental Congress Met in Philadelphia in September
1774 All colonies except Georgia sent delegates Objective was to
restore harmony with Great Britain Delegates adopted a statement of
rights and principles in October Later formed basis for Declaration
of Independence and Constitution 4
Slide 6
Second Continental Congress May, 1775 Established an army Made
Washington the general in chief and pursued the Revolutionary War 5
Members of the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration
of Independence. Painting by John Trumbull, 1819, Library of
Congress
Slide 7
NO MORE KINGS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-
9pDZMRCpQ&feature=related Listen to This Aint Working Rap
Slide 8
Second Continental Congress War of Independence began April 19,
1775 and ended on October 19, 1781 Was Declaring our Independence
an easy choice? A Case for Independence John Adams HBO clip I have
looked for our Rights click picture or link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDzwtl5Z2cA 7
Slide 9
Colonies vs. Great Britain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ikO6LMxF4 Too Late to
Apologize----- Click photo Click Photo
Slide 10
The Declaration of Independence Influences: John Locke Natural
Rights Social Contract Thomas Jefferson Father of the Declaration
of Independence 9 Bettmann /Corbis Archivo Iconografico S.A.
/Corbis Reading of the Declaration HBO John Adams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrvpZxMfKaU
Slide 11
The Declaration of Independence Principles rooted in writings
of John Locke Government there to protect God-given, inalienable
rights (rights that cant be taken away) Social contract theory
consent of governed People have right to revolt if government is
denying them basic rights 10
Slide 12
Second Continental Congress Approved Declaration of
Independence on July 4, 1776 Britain at a disadvantage because of
distance from conflict and because Americans fighting for defense
of their liberty
Slide 13
The Articles of Confederation: Our First Form of Government
Voluntary association States retained most of the power Citizens
loyal to their state (not country) 12 Library of Congress
Slide 14
Articles of Confederation The authors of the Articles of
Confederation did not create a nation, but a firm league of
friendship **1)firm league of friendship between the 13 states
Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation created a
Congress with 2-7 delegates from each state- each state only had
one vote. **2) BUT each state only had one vote. notcreate an
executive branch **3) did not create an executive branch ** 4) did
not create a judicial branch The Articles of Confederation,
ratified in 1781. This was the format for the United States
government until the Constitution
Slide 15
Articles of Confederation Under the Articles of Confederation
Congress could 1.maintain the military 2.conduct foreign policy
3.declare war 4.make peace 5.coin money NOT ** 5) The Congress
could NOT regulate trade between the states or between states and
foreign nations. askStates for money Congress had to ask States for
money to keep the federal government going- could not ** 6) they
could not force them to contribute (TAX).
Slide 16
**7) I n order to pass laws, 9 of the 13 states 9 of the 13
states had to vote in favor. Articles of Confederation Summary of
the Articles of Confederation: loose alliance between states. 1.
created a loose alliance between states. did not provide for a
president 2. did not provide for a president (no executive branch)
and laws had to be enforced by the states. did not create a
courtsystem 3. did not create a court system (no judicial branch)
and the government could not resolve differences between the
states. CREDIT: Tholey, Augustus, artist. "Leaders of the
Continental Congress." Wm. Finley & Co., copyright 1894. Prints
and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
Slide 17
Accomplishments Under the Articles Articles established to:
Organize states so they could defeat the British forces Gain
independence from Britain Once independence granted, less pressure
on states to organize for collective good. 16
Slide 18
**Shays Rebellion proved one thing: The federal government was
much too weak and a stronger national government was needed! Shays'
Rebellion is considered one of the leading causes of the formation
of the United States Constitution. Bettmann/Corbis
Slide 19
Many Americans feared that Shays Rebellion was proof that the
Articles of Confederation were too weak. 1)a convention to improve
the Articles of Confederation will be held in ANNAPOLIS, MD but
only 5/13 states show up. 2) They decided to meet in May of 1787 in
Philadelphia, PA but they ended up doing a lot more than just
improving the Articles of Confederation!
Slide 20
secret It was decided that the meetings during the
Constitutional Convention would be kept secret so delegates could
feel free to speak their minds without outside pressure. Guards
were posted at the doors and all of the windows were closed. Some
resented the secret meetings, believing that government meetings
should be open to the public in a free society. Independence Hall
Philadelphia, PA
Slide 21
Factions Among Delegates The beliefs of the delegates ranged
from the near-monarchism of Hamilton to definite decentralized
republicanism. 20 Alexander Hamilton Archivo Iconografico,
S.A./Corbis
Slide 22
Framers of the Constitution Anti-Federalists opposed any
centralization of power. Federalists favored a stronger national
government. However, there was no agreement among the Federalists
concerning structure and division of power for this new government.
21
Slide 23
Edmund Randolph and James Madison put together a plan for
government early on known as the **Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph
James Madison
Slide 24
Virginia Plan The **Virginia Plan created a strong national
government and called for the following: 1.**3_ branches of
Government Legislative ExecutiveJudicial bicameral 2 houses
2.Legislative Branch would be **bicameral or have 2 houses.
membership upon the population of States (House) Both houses would
base membership upon the population of States (House) and equality
(Senate) 3.Creation of a FEDERAL Government
Slide 25
The Virginia Plan Father of the Constitution JAMES MADISON Plan
original basis for debate regarding need for and design of a strong
central government National government would be able to override
state laws 24
Slide 26
Smaller states objected to the Virginia Plan, believing that it
was unfair to States with smaller populations. As a result, William
Paterson introduced the ***New Jersey plan to counter the Virginia
Plan. William Paterson
Slide 27
New Jersey Plan The New Jersey Plan created strong national
government and called for the following: 3 branches of Government
Legislative ExecutiveJudicial **Unicameral Congress 2.Legislative
Branch would be unicameral one house *** unicameral Congress or
have only one house. allow The single house would allow each State
to have ****one vote only each State to have ****one vote only.
Population was not an issue. elected by legislature 3. Chief
Executive (President) would be elected by legislature could be
multi-person.New Jersey Plan
Slide 28
Roger Sherman proposed a compromise Finally, a delegate from
Connecticut named Roger Sherman, proposed a compromise which came
to be known as the Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise).
bits and pieces from both Taking bits and pieces from both the New
Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan, Sherman created a government
which has changed very little. Roger Sherman Source: National Park
Service
Slide 29
The question asked most in the convention: **How should the
states be represented in Congress? The Connecticut Compromise:
Large States wanted to Dominate Congress and Small states wanted
equality The Compromise: Each State would be equally represented in
the Senate with 2 senators Each state would be given a number of
House members based on their states population Small states have
more power in Senate; large states more power in House Politicking
and Compromises
Slide 30
Great Compromise The Great Compromise proposed a strong
national government with: 1. 3 Branches of Government Legislative
Branch (pass laws) Executive Branch (carry out/ enforce laws)
Judicial Branch (interpret laws- see if laws are fair and carried
out fairly) The Great Compromise
Slide 31
issue of slavery questions of representation The issue of
slavery became a problem for Northerners and Southerners not due to
moral differences, but because of questions of representation.
Southerners wanted to count their entire population Southerners
wanted to count their entire population of slaves to boost their
numbers in Congress. Northerners objected citing that slaves were
not considered citizens Northerners objected citing that slaves
were not considered citizens and could not vote. Library of
Congress
Slide 32
Now, the problem with population.. The South obviously has many
citizens, but many are unfortunately not considered to be
important. The Three-Fifths Compromise: for every five slaves they
would count as three people in the population count The Commerce
& Slave Trade Compromise: Congress was forbidden the power to
tax the export of goods from any state and forbidden to act on
slave trade for a period of at least 20 years.
Slide 33
Working Toward the Final Agreement The Madisonian Model
Separation of powers Checks and balances 32 James Madison
(1751-1836) Library of Congress
Slide 34
Working Toward the Final Agreement Electoral College Election
of president independent of Congress AND popular vote Insulates
president from direct, popular control Can be cumbersome system
33
Slide 35
Compromise on the Presidency One executive chosen by an
electoral college A states electors equal total members in Congress
President is candidate with most electoral votes; Vice President
has second most votes If no majority, House to choose President and
Senate Vice President Procedure changed in 1804 with 12 th
Amendment President to serve for four years, no term limits
Two-term limitation set by 22 nd Amendment 34
Slide 36
Removal of the President House of Representatives can charge a
president with Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and
Misdemeanors Senate then holds trial on charges; 2/3 majority to
convict Chief Justice to preside over trial Two presidents
impeached (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton); none convicted and
removed from office 35
Slide 37
The Final Product In preamble, the FOUR elements forming the
American political tradition listed: Creation of a people
Explanation of the reasons for the Constitution Outline of goals
for the government Establishment of the government 36
Slide 38
School House Rocks- The Preamble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLP_HGKq- jg
Slide 39
The Basic Principles 1)Republicanism ---Popular sovereignty
--people elect representatives to make laws 2)Federalism A federal
system where both the national and the state governments each had
their own sphere of influence 3) Separation of Powers see chart in
book pg. 80 4) Checks and Balances 38