Unit 2- The Constitution and the New RepublicSet 1: The Young Nation

New State Constitutions (pg. 125)• In the new U.S. a republic was formed - in

a republic power resides with citizens who are entitled to vote and elected leaders must govern according to laws or a constitution

The Revolution Changes Society (pg. 125)

• A concern for individual liberty led to a greater separation of church and state where states no longer had an official church and taxes could not be collected to support the church

• Voting rights also expanded in the post-war years - many states allowed any white male taxpayer to vote whether he owned property or not

can you think of an example of separation of church and

state?

A Weak National Government (pg. 126)• In 1781, the U.S. adopted the plan for a central

government known as the Articles of Confederation

• The states did not want to create a new government that might become tyrannical

• One of the Articles greatest achievements was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 which was a plan for selling and governing new lands

Articles of Confederation

Powers of National Government-declare war-negotiate treaties-manage foreign affairs-coin money-establish postal system-establish military

Limits of National Government-no power to enforce laws-no power to tax-no national court system to settle disputes between the states-no power to regulate trade or put tariffs on foreign goods

Structure of National Government-one branch of government; a one house legislature called Congress-each state had one vote in Congress

• In 1787, Daniel Shays led a rebellion in Massachusetts in protest of new taxes - this rebellion was put down by the state militia but raised fear over the powers of the new government and could they handle problems in the future

Unit 2- The Constitution and the New RepublicSet 2: A New Constitution

A New Constitution (pg. 126)

• In 1787, every state except Rhode Island met to revise the Articles of Confederation - instead of changing the Articles they decided that they should write a brand new framework of government

• This meeting was known as the Constitutional Convention

Debate and Compromise (pg. 127)• All the delegates wanted a stronger

national government - they also accepted the idea of dividing the government into the executive, legislative, and judicial branches (Montesquieu)

• The smaller states proposed the New Jersey Plan where each state would have one vote in a unicameral congress, but the larger states insisted upon the Virginia Plan where representation would be based on population

• The solution was resolved by the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise

• The Congress would be divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives (bicameral)

• The Senate would have equal representation and the House would be based on population

• The framers decided upon the 3/5 Compromise where every five enslaved people in a state would count as three free persons for determining both representation and taxation

A Framework for Limited Government (pg. 128)

• The new Constitution was based on the principle of popular sovereignty - rule by the people

• The new Constitution created a representative government in which elected officials speak for the people

How is voting an example of popular sovereignty?

• To strengthen the federal government but still preserve the rights of the states, the Constitution created a system known as federalism - the power is divided between the federal and state governments

• The Constitution has three types of powers: delegated (or enumerated), reserved, and concurrent

• The Constitution also provided for a separation of powers among the three branches of the federal government

• The two houses of Congress make up the legislative branch and make the laws

• The executive branch, headed up by a president, would implement and enforce the laws Congress passed amongst other responsibilities

• The judicial branch (a system of national courts) would interpret federal laws and render judgment cases involving those laws

Checks and Balances (pg. 128)• The framers also created a system of checks

and balances • For example, the president could veto

Congress, and the Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote

• The president can nominate judges including a chief justice of the Supreme Court but the Senate has to confirm or reject such nominations

Unit 2- The Constitution and the New RepublicSet 3: The Fight for Ratification

Debating the Constitution (pg. 129)• For the Constitution to go into effect it

needed to be ratified by 9 of the 13 states

• Supporters of the Constitution were known as Federalists

• Many of the Federalists were large landowners, artisans, and merchants in large coastal cities who believed a strong national government was necessary to regulate the economy

• The Antifederalists were concerned about state rights - many Antifederalists believed the Constitution needed a bill of rights to protect individual liberty

• Those in favor of the Constitution wrote The Federalist Papers - a collection of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

Ratification in Massachusetts (pg. 130)• To try and win ratification in

Massachusetts, the Federalists promised to attach a bill of rights once it was ratified - they also agreed to give the states or the people all powers not specifically granted to the federal government - Massachusetts ratified

• In 1791 the promises led to the addition of the Bill of Rights which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution

• After Massachusetts, many states ratified the Constitution

Bill of Rights video

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Amendment 1 Guarantees freedom or religion, speech, petition, assembly, and press

Amendment 2 Right to bear arms

Amendment 3 Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes in peacetime

Amendment 4 No unreasonable search and seizure

Amendment 5 Rights of the accused (double jeopardy, due process, prohibiting government from taking private property without just compensation

Amendment 6 Right to a fair and speedy trial

Amendment 7 Guarantees a jury trial in most civil cases

Amendment 8 No cruel and unusual punishment; no excessive bail

Amendment 9 Powers reserved to the people

Amendment 10 Powers reserved to the states

BILL OF RIGHTS