Unit # 4:The Founding PeriodPart 2

Ms. Jennifer L. Blank10tth Grade Global Studies

SPECIAL NOTE:

THIS POWER POINT DOES NOT CONTAIN EVERYTHING …

MANY CONTENT ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN CLASS!

Constitution and New Republic,1776-1800

Introduction to the Constitution:• Not the 1st form of US govt.• What was that? Watch the Knowmia lesson to find out!

• Not easily adopted (ratified)

• Need to understand historical timeline to understand the Constitution

• This was a brand new form of govt. – “a great experiment for the world”• Alexis de Tocqueville

A of C: 1781 - 1787• One branch (legislative)

• States had ability to ignore national directives• National directives = directions from the national government

• Could not levy taxes• Levy means assign or charge

• Could not raise or maintain an army

• Could not coin money

• Nat. govt. could not pay war debt

• Nat. govt. could not protect the new nation from foreign powers

• Nat. govt. could not enforce laws

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING …

MS. BLANK THERE IS SO MUCH ON THAT SLIDE!!

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO PUT ON MY NOTECARD??!!??

Note Cards:• Remember, you do not want to write EVERYTHING down because you

will not be able to remember all of it

• Try combine the basic idea of what you are studying into a few concepts

• Example: Articles of Confederation• Date or Date Range

• 1781 - 1787• Basic Description

• Confederal government• No strong national government • States could ignore directions from national government

• Historical Significance• 1st form of government in the U.S.• Could not effectively govern the nation• Created the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Introduction to the Constitution:• Complex structure

• Advocated limited govt.

• Based on a Federalist system (Federalism)• Division of power between a national govt. and several state govts.• We were the 1st nation to ever try this

• Founders did not trust common people to make intelligent decisions• Feared tyranny of the majority• Masses were uneducated and unprepared for the responsibilities of

governing

Constitution

3 branches

Separation of Powers

Checks &

Balances

Federalism

Each wing of chart supports &

influences the others – they are

all connected!

Start here!

Breakdown of Constitution Chart:

Constitution

3 branches

Legislative

Executive

Judiciary

Separation of Powers

Checks & Balances

Federalism

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

Each wing of chart supports &

influences the others – they are

all connected!

Start here!

Breakdown of Constitution Chart:

Constitution

3 branches

Separation of Powers

Each branch has separate

& distinct powers

Prevents concentration

of powerChecks & Balances

Each branch checks the

powers of the others

Each branch can overrule the others in

some way

Federalism

Breakdown of Constitution Chart:

Each wing of chart supports &

influences the others – they are

all connected!

Start here!

Legislative Branch

Makes laws

Bi-cameral Congress

Power of the purse: Taxing & Spending

Executive Branch

Enforces laws

President

Power of the sword: Military

Judicial Branch

Judges constitutionality of

laws

Supreme Court

Power of Judicial Review:

Can declare laws unconstitutional

3 Branches & Separation of Powers:

As we will learn later, some of these power intersect or are concurrent

Federalists vs. Anti-federalists:

Federalists

• Hamilton, Washington, Adams

• Strong central govt.

• A of C = bad times

• Feared the common man making national decisions

• No Bill of Rights needed

Anti-federalists

• Jefferson, Madison, Henry

• Limited power to central govt.

• A of C = good times if tweaked

• Had faith in the common man to make good decisions

• Bill of Rights needed

The Federalist Papers:• Basic Description• A series of 85 essays describing the new government and

explaining why it was the way to go

• Authors• John Jay• Alexander Hamilton• James Madison (Father of the Constitution)

• Date • 1787 - 1788

• Historical Significance:• Successfully convinced people to ratify the Constitution• Serves as a guide to the intent of the Founders when courts

interpret the Constitution

Federalist # 10:• What problem was Madison trying to solve?

• Why did he think that the problem was so important? Why was he trying to solve it?

• What solutions did he propose to solve it?

• Do you think those solutions work?

• Why or why not?

• Do you think this document still has meaning today?

• In other words, can we practically apply Madison’s suggestions in today’s society and does the problem he identifies still exist?

Bill of Rights:• 1st 10 amendments to the Constitution

• Anti-federalists would NOT ratify without it

• We should all thank the Anti-Federalists for this!

• Amendments 1-9 dealt with basic rights

• Amendment 10 dealt with states’ rights

• Welcome to sectionalism!!

Sectionalism:• Key problem from the start of our country

• States’ Rights vs. Federal Authority

• Still a topic of intense debate to this day!

• Major cause of the Civil War

END OF PART 2