The Road to the Constitution (3.2)

1. The Road to the Constitution (3.2) • 2a: Describe the origins, purposes and limitations of government and include the contribution of key philosophers and documents. • 2c. Analyze and explain the importance of the principles of democracy and the inherent competition among values to include but not be limited to freedom and security, individual rights and common good, and rights and responsibilities. • 2d: Analyze the role of the founding documents and the evolution of their interpretation through governmental action and court cases.

2. The Constitutional Convention • 1787: delegates from each state sent to Philly to • 1) discuss how to strengthen national gov’t • 2) fix flaws of AoC

3. The Delegates • 55 total @ convention • All had some level of political experience • Variety of professions: • Lawyers • Generals • Planters w/ political experience • All were white men (women & minorities not allowed to attend)

5. George Washington • Chosen to preside over convention • Widely respected for his leadership during Rev War • Warned delegates: unless an acceptable plan agreed upon, high possibility of another conflict

6. Early Agreements • 1) Each state would have 1 vote regardless of population • 2) Simple majority vote (7 of 13 states) would decide an issue

7. Shhh! Top Secret - allowed delegates to talk freely (no pressure from outside) - public not allowed to attend meetings, doors were guarded, and windows kept shut - delegates had to promise not to tell outsiders what was going on inside Result: no written record exists of meeting topics

8. Diadem #1 • The U.S. Constitution states that “the people” possess the true power of the government and thus, control the government. If this is true, then did the delegates violate the Constitution at Philadelphia in 1787 by preventing “the people” from participating? Why/why not?

9. And the verdict is… • Agreement • 1) AoC doesn’t work and cannot be revised • 2) cancel AoC and write brand new Constitution

10. Diadem #2 • What do you think would have happened if “the people” found out that the delegates had decided to scratch the AoC and write a brand new Constitution?

11. The new Constitution… • Created in less than 4 months • While signed by 39 of 55 delegates, final approval required ok from “the people” • 9 of 13 states needed to ratify Constitution to make it official

12. Federalists • Supported ratification of Constitution • Federalism: form of gov’t in which power is divided b/t the Federal, or national gov’t & the states • Reminded “the people” of the flaws of the AoC

13. Federalists • Argued that: 1) the US would not survive w/o a strong national gov’t 2) Only a strong national gov’t could protect the new US from foreign enemies & solve the countries internal problems • Supporters: large land owners who wanted property protection

14. Federalist Papers • Defended the Constitution & urged ratification • Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay • Federalist #10: only a strong national gov’t can provide what we all need

15. Anti-Federalists • Opposed ratification of Constitution • argued that: • 1) new Constitution would take away the liberties Americans had fought to win from G.B. 2) no Bill of Rights included to protect individual freedoms

16. Anti-Federalists Believed that new Constitution would create a strong national gov’t that would: • ignore the will of the states and the people 2. favor the wealthy few over the common people

17. Result • Federalists agreed to include Bill of Rights if Anti-Federalists ratified Constitution • Deciding vote: NH (1788) • Last state to ratify: RI (1790)