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Unit 4: The Constitution

Unit 4: The Constitution. Bell Ringer: Based on what you know of the American Revolution and its causes. What do you think the early government of the American Colonies looked like? *What Powers did they have? *Who was in charge? *What would they not be allowed to do?. Literacy Activity:.

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Unit 4: The Constitution

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  1. Unit 4: The Constitution

  2. Bell Ringer:Based on what you know of the American Revolution and its causes. What do you think the early government of the American Colonies looked like? *What Powers did they have? *Who was in charge? *What would they not be allowed to do?

  3. Literacy Activity: Read through the information on the structure of the articles of Confederation. As you read do the following: * Highlight or underline the main ideas in #’s 2-13. * On the back write down some ideas that you have about this government’s strengths and weaknesses.

  4. Activating Strategy: What are the benefits and draw backs to the Articles of Confederation? Read pages 132-137. Create a list of features of our first government that were good and those that were not so good.

  5. I. Articles of Confederation (1777-1789) A. First constitution of USA B. Written during the Revolutionary War (1777) C. Created a “firm league of friendship” among states

  6. II. Government under the Confederation Each state has ONE vote in Congress B. Congress choose a presiding officer- 1 yr term C. Congress has limited power 1. no power to enforce its own laws 2. no power to regulate trade 3. cannot collect taxes 4. no national court system 5. no army or navy

  7. Confederation diagram 1. People Vote for State Reps. 2. States make laws and choose National Reps. 3. National makes unofficial group decisions

  8. III. Problems under the Confederation A. Territorial Expansion 1. How to organize land in west? 2. Northwest Ordinance (1785 & 1787) a. divided land that later became OH, IN, IL, MI & WI b. set up a government for these territories 3. Most important act under Articles of Confederation

  9. Indian Land Cessions:1768-1799

  10. State Claims to Western Lands

  11. Northwest Ordinance of 1787

  12. The United States in 1787

  13. B. Economic problems 1. dispute over the value of money from different states 2. nation hit by an economic depression 3. farmers begin to lose land a. Shay’s Rebellion—MA farmers try to attack arsenal b. Can the new government respond?

  14. Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7

  15. There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington

  16. Bell Ringer:Turn to your partner and discuss the following:1) What was the biggest strength of the Articles of Confederation?2) What was its greatest weakness?3) How could they improve it?

  17. IV. Constitutional Convention A. Philadelphia- May 1787 B. 55 delegates from 12 states (RI—none) C. GW presides over the meeting D. Sessions held in secret E. James Madison (VA) keeps detailed notes & has many ideas “Father of the Constitution”

  18. Independence HallPhiladelphia Ben Franklin John Hancock

  19. Activity: Plans and Compromises You will be divided into 4 groups and be assigned a topic to research using your book. (Your group will only have 10 minutes to read and develop an answer.) Your group will then present this information to the rest of the class. Pages 141-143 The topics are: Virginia Plan 2) New Jersey Plan 3) The Great Compromise 4) The 3/5 Compromise

  20. V. How much power should the national government have? A. Two sides 1. strong National Government (Virginia Plan) 2. strong STATE government (New Jersey Plan)

  21. VIRGINIA PLAN James Madison (author) 3 branches • Executive • Judicial • Legislative (Congress) Congress • Divided into two houses • Representation based on population

  22. NEW JERSEY PLAN William Paterson (author) 3 branches • Executive • Judicial • Legislative (Congress) Congress • One house; equal representation for states

  23. Connecticut Compromise Roger Sherman (author) 3 Branches • Executive • Judicial • Legislative (2 houses) Congress • Senate; 2 representatives per state • House of Representatives; based on population (at least 1 per state)

  24. B. Solution 1. strong central government 2. states retain some power 3. power in government divided among three branches a. Executive b. Legislative (2 house Congress) c. Judicial

  25. federation diagram 1. People Vote for State and National Reps. 3. Nation makes official Laws and policies to be followed by all citizens 2. States make state laws and follows National laws

  26. VI. How should the states be represented in the new Congress? A. Two sides; 1. large states—base on population! 2. small states—equal per state B. Solution-The Great Compromise 1. Senate—each state 2 reps. 2. House of Representatives--# based on population (min. of 1 rep)

  27. VII. Problem #2– How should slaves be counted? A. Two sides 1. Southern states—count all slaves 2. Northern states—do not count ANY B. Solution—3/5 COMPROMISE 3/5 of slaves would count to determine each state’s representatives

  28. Constitution Guided Reading Activity Preamble and Article 1: 2.2 3.3 3.4 6.1 6.2 5.2 7.3 9.3 10.2 5.1 7.2 10.3 Articles 4-7: 4.1 4.2.2 4.3.1 4.4 5 5 6.2 6.3 6.3 7 7

  29. Bell Ringer:What are the three branches in the United States government?What are the powers (jobs) of each?

  30. VIII. How can the power of the • government be limited? A. Give each of the three branches a different function 1. Executive Branch – carry out laws SEPARATION OF POWERS 2. Judicial Branch – interprets laws 3. Legislative Branch – makes laws

  31. Delivery Roads Crime Health

  32. Branches of U.S. Constitution Executive Judicial Legislative Supreme Court President Congress Enforce the Laws Interprets the Laws Make the Laws • Agriculture • Commerce • Defense • Education • Energy • Health & Human Services • Homeland Security • Housing and Urban Development • Interior • Justice • Labor • State • Transportation • Treasury • Veteran’s Affairs Lower Federal Courts House Of Representatives Senate

  33. Bell Ringer:With a partner, brainstorm a list of concerns that the Americans had about the British government.How are these addressed by the U.S. Constitution?

  34. B. Set up a system of CHECKS AND • BALANCES so that each branch can • control what the other two • branches do

  35. Checks and Balances of the Constitution Executive Branch Checks on Judicial Checks on Legislative • Grant Pardons • Appoint Judges • Veto Bills • Propose Bills • Negotiate Treaties • Nominate • Officials

  36. Checks and Balances of the Constitution Legislative Branch Checks on Judicial Checks on Executive • Impeach Judges • Make • Amendments • Approve Judge • Nominees • Change # of • Supreme Court • Judges • Impeach President • Over Ride Veto • Reject Treaties • Reject Nominees • Appropriate • Money

  37. Checks and Balances of the Constitution Judicial Branch Checks on Executive Checks on Legislative • Interpret Laws • and Treaties • Declare Acts and • Laws • Unconstitutional • Interpret Laws • and Treaties • Declare Acts and • Laws • Unconstitutional

  38. How a Law Gets Made 2 1 3

  39. Requirements/Terms of Office

  40. News Article on the Branches of Gov. You need to search the internet or newspapers for an article dealing with one of the branches of the National Government. You need to cut out the article or post the web address into your edmodo assignment, summarize the article in 1-2 sentences, tell what branch it deals with, and why you think that. Due Date: 3-25-11

  41. Preamble: We the people of the United States , in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

  42. IX. Ratifying the Constitution • A. Nine of the 13 states had to • approve before the Constitution • could go into effect • B. Federalists – support the • Constitution • 1. a strong government is needed • to protect the people 2. James Madison & Alexander Hamilton write “The Federalist Papers” to defend the Constitution

  43. C. Anti-Federalists – oppose the Constitution 1. a strong government is a threat to the people 2. Bill of Rights needed to protect individual rights

  44. Federalist vs. Anti-federalist

  45. D. Constitution is ratified by all thirteen states

  46. E. The Bill of Rights (first ten • amendments to the Constitution) • is added quickly

  47. Critical Thinking:Imagine that you are a delegate of the Congress and are writing a Bill of Rights for the new country. What rights would you try to get into these amendments. *Remember the rights can not effect the rights, safety, health, or livelihood of other citizens, and they need to be moral and just.

  48. What does The Bill of Rights protect? Open you textbooks to pages 166-167.

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