The Constitution

1. The Constitution Unit 3, Lesson 1

2. Essential Idea • The Constitution was created through many compromises and faced opposition before it was ratified.

3. The Philadelphia/Constitutional Convention • The Convention: • Delegates met in secret to avoid public influence • Congress ordered REVISION of the Articles, but the Convention REPLACED them

4. Major Framers of the Constitution • Framer: • George Washington • Contribution: • Presided over and led Constitutional Convention • Framer: • James Madison • Contribution: • Wrote majority of Constitution and Bill of Rights, nicknamed “Father of the Constitution” • Framer: • Alexander Hamilton • Contribution: • Pushed hardest for creating a stronger federal government

5. Major Framers of the Constitution • Framer: • Benjamin Franklin • Contribution: • Oldest delegate, used charm and wisdom to smooth over the debates • Framer: • Roger Sherman • Contribution: • Came up with the Great Compromise • The Convention

6. Principles of the Constitution • 1. Popular Sovereignty: • Means that the people rule, and power comes from them • 2. Republicanism: • People use popular sovereignty by electing officials who represent them in government

7. Principles of the Constitution • 3. Separation of Powers: • Government is separated into three branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial

8. Principles of the Constitution • 4. Checks and Balances: • Branches of government limit each others’ power through veto, impeachment, judicial review, etc.

9. Principles of the Constitution • 5. Limited Government: • The Constitution lists certain powers and limitations for government • 6. Individual Rights: • The Constitution lists the rights and freedoms of citizens

10. Principles of the Constitution • 7. Federalism: • Government is divided into a federal and state level • States would disagree over which level should have more power • This tension would be a factor in causing the Civil War

11. Conflict and Compromise • Conflict: • Representation in Congress • Virginia Plan: • Called for state representation in Congress based on population • This plan favored bigger states • New Jersey Plan: • Called for state representation in Congress to be equal for all states • This plan favored smaller states

12. Conflict and Compromise • Compromise: • Great (Connecticut) Compromise • Details: • This plan created a bicameral (two house) legislature • House of Representatives- representation based on state populations • Senate- each state had two representatives (equal)

13. Conflict and Compromise • Conflict: • Representation of slaves • Northern States: • Did not want slaves to count toward representation in House of Representatives • Southern States: • Wanted to count slaves for representation

14. Conflict and Compromise • Compromise: • 3/5 Compromise • Terms: • Slaves would count as 3/5 of a person for representation (even though they could not vote) • Future Impact: • Southern states had “bloated” power in Congress and elections • Tension over slavery would be a factor in causing the Civil War

15. Will it Pass? • The Constitution Introduced: • The delegates announced nine of 13 states had to agree for the new Constitution to take effect • The Congress of the Articles was too weak to stop itself from being replaced • Ratification (passage) was debated across the country

16. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists • Who? • Federalists • View on Constitution: • Supported Constitution as it was • Location of supporters: • North • Types of supporters: • Urban, wealthy, businessmen • Government Power? • Strong federal government, weak states • Interpretation of Constitution: • Wanted loose interpretation • Bill of Rights? • No need for Bill of Rights

17. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists • Who? • Anti-Federalists • View on Constitution: • Opposed Constitution as it was • Location of Supporters: • South and West • Types of supporters: • Rural, less wealthy, farmers/agrarian • Government Power? • Weak federal government, strong states • Interpretation of Constitution: • Wanted strict interpretation • Bill of Rights? • Demanded Bill of Rights

19. Federalists Push the Constitution • Federalists Advantages: • Stronger leaders like George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin • Better organized, more control of the press • Published The Federalist Papers, a series of essays to argue their case

20. Federalist No. 10 • Said a large republic was the best form of government • Republics used elected representatives to make laws • Direct democracies were dangerous because factions (groups) could lead government against the rights of the rest of the people • Representatives make wiser decisions, prevent corruption, and protect rights of everyone

21. Federalist No. 51 • Explained the need for checks and balances in government • Argued that separation of powers caused each branch to limit the others • Said that limiting government this way protected peoples’ rights

22. Battle for Ratification • Debate over the Constitution • Small states: • Many small states quickly joined because the Great Compromise gave them more power than they expected • High Population States: • Massachusetts and Virginia joined only when Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution

23. Constitution Ratified • Ratification: • Constitution was ratified by the required nine states and the new government started working in 1789 • Outnumbered, the remaining states had little choice but to join or be left behind • Debate and Ratification • George Washington became the first president of the United States