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The Constitution. Chapter 2. Early America. 1607- Jamestown, VA 1620- Mayflower Plymouth, MA 1732- GA- last colony 1760s- Britain decides to tax colonies 1765- Stamp act- “taxation without representation” 1773- Boston Tea Party 1774- 1st continental congress
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The Constitution Chapter 2
Early America • 1607- Jamestown, VA • 1620- Mayflower Plymouth, MA • 1732- GA- last colony • 1760s- Britain decides to tax colonies • 1765- Stamp act- “taxation without representation” • 1773- Boston Tea Party • 1774- 1st continental congress • 1775- 2nd Continental Congress • 1776- Payne’s common sense • 1776- July 4, Declaration of Independence • 1781- Articles of Confederation • 1783- Yorktown • 1786- Shay’s rebellion • 1787- Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia)
The first colonies in America • First English settlement in America • Jamestown, Virginia (1607) - struggle to survive - between 1607 & 1623 (4,800k of 6k) • Rolfe’s “tobacco” cash crop - Jamestown survives
Mayflower • Mayflower sets sail (1620) - religion disputes - Plymouth, Mass - Mayflower Compact- agreement to live under rule of law - harsh winter / famine - first thanksgiving (1621)
13 colonies • Other colonies followed suit • By 1732, Georgia, the last of 13 colonies was set up • London governed colonies indirectly
Pre-Revolutionary War • 1760- British decision to tax colonies - defense & debt - 1765: Stamp Act - taxation without representation - Colonist respond with 1st & 2nd Continental Congress (1774-5) • Thomas Payne’s Common Sense (1776)
Declaration of Independence • Continental Congress adopts resolution of Independence (4th of July 1776) - Jefferson & Franklin
Path to Independence • American Revolution (1775-1783) - Yorktown (1781) Formation of a new gov’t • Articles of Confederation (1781) (pg 27)
Constitutional Convention • Shay’s rebellion (1786) • Constitutional Convention (1787) - 55 delegates met to revise Articles
U.S. Constitution • Who were the framers? • Makeup of Constitution / 3 branches • Executive Branch - Electoral College • Legislative Branch - Virginia & New Jersey Plan/ Great Compromise • Judicial Branch / courts & justices
Ideas of Constitution • Final agreements / prevention of tyranny - Separation of Powers - checks & balances (p 34) • Ideas of Montequieu- Spirit of laws-1748
The struggle to ratify the constitution • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists - Federalists papers- 85 essays in defense of constitution (p 389) • Promise of Bill of rights - limited powers of Nat’l gov’t over liberties of individuals • Constitution ratified- June 21, 1788 • Bill of Rights adopted- Dec. 15, 1791
Amending the Constitution • Constitution as a framework / 7,000 words • Why so limited?
Constitutional Amendments • The Usual Process: - 2/3 Congress - ¾ state legislatures • difficult?
The Changing Constitution • Interpretations - Supreme Court 1. Judicial Review (1803) 2. changes in interpretation: - Plessy v Ferguson & Brown v board
Conclusion • Longest lived written constitution • Most imitated in world • Constantly changing and open to interpretation • Discussion • If the framers believed all men were created equal, why was slavery not abolished in the constitution? (p 32)