7.3

1. 7.3 A New Plan of Government

2. Key Terms to Understand • federalism • amendment • legislative branch • executive branch • judicial branch • checks and balances • Electoral College

3. Key People • Philosophers John Locke & Baron de Montesquieu • Federalists: • George Washington • Benjamin Franklin • James Madison • Alexander Hamilton • John Jay • Antifederalists: • Patrick Henry • Mercy Otis Warren • Catherine Graham

4. Key Idea #1 – The Constitution was influenced by many European and British ideas • ancient Greece – why? • British political ideas – • English Magna Carta (1215) • British Parliament • English Bill of Rights of 1689 • European Enlightenment philosophers – • John Locke • natural rights • government based on contract between rulers and the ruled • Baron de Montesquieu • separation and balance of government powers to prevent tryanny

5. Key Idea #2 – Constitutional Principles • Federal System - • The Constitution divides power between the national government & the states • Supreme Law of the Land – • The Constitution is supreme; states can not make laws going against it. • Branches of Government – • the national government’s power is divided between three branches: • legislative – makes laws • executive – carries out laws • judicial – court system

6. Key Idea # 2 – Constitutional Principles • Checks & Balances – • each branch has a way to limit the power of the other two branches • why? • National Citizens – • Officials answer to the people (citizens) as they are directly or indirectly elected by the people • In the Constitution, the government pledges to protect the citizens’ personal freedoms

7. Key Idea #3 – Constitutional Debate • Not everyone agreed with the Constitution • Nine out of thirteen states needed to ratify it for it to become law & go into effect • All thirteen states needed to ratify it for the country to be successful

8. Key Idea #3 – Constitutional Debate • The Federalists – • Supported ratification of the new Constitution • Wrote series of essays supporting it; called The Federalist Papers • Why did they support the Constitution? • The Antifederalists – • Opposed ratification of the Constitution • Also wrote essays against the Constitution • Why did they oppose it?

9. Key Idea #4 – Protecting Rights with a Bill of Rights • Many states refused to ratify the Constitution without the promise of an added bill of rights to protect individual freedoms. • What did the Federalists fear? • a bill of rights could weaken the central government • a weak central government would lead to disorder • What did the Antifederalists fear? • the government could be too strong and oppress the citizens without a bill of rights

10. Key Idea #5 – Adoption of the Constitution • The first state to ratify was Delaware, on 12/7/1787. • The Constitution became official with the ratification of New Hampshire on June 21, 1788 (9th state). • A bill of rights amendment was promised after Virginia refused to ratify without it. • Rhode Island was the last state to ratify in May 1790. • A bill of rights was added in 1791.

11. Homework & Reminders: • 7-3 Cornell Notes - due Tues. 9/23 • 7-3 GR & SR – due Wed. 9/24 • 7-3 Quiz is on Wed. 9/24 • Vocabulary sentences & symbols – due Thurs. 9/25 • Ch. 7 Test is on Fri. 9/26

12. 7.3 Cornell Cues (p. 204-210) • Constitutional Influences • The US Constitution • Federal System • Branches of Government • Checks and Balances • Federalists • Antifederalists • bill of rights