A New Nation & Constitution

Chapter 2

A New Nation- Migration of British Citizens (17th- 18th Century) - The Colonies - Government System of the Colonies: 1) Royal Governor for each colony

2) Governor’s Council (House of Lords) 3) General Assembly (House of Commons)

French and Indian War (1754- 1763) - 1752, Marquis Duquesne- Treaty of Paris

British Opposition- The Sugar Act (1764) - The Stamp Act (1765), Stamp Act Congress (1765)- Declaratory Act (1765)- The Tea Act (1733), Boston Tea Party - The Intolerable (Coercive) Act (1734

The 1st Continental Congress (1774)- 56 delegates from 12 colonies- Boycott of British Goods and Storing Weapons. - Lexington and Concord (1775)- 2nd Continental Congress (1775)- appointed Washington as general of army. Declaration of Ind. – July 4, 1776 (Locke principles)

Articles of Confederation (1777) – to direct the war effort- Unicameral- 9/13 rule- No Executive or Judicial- States were sovereign, but cooperative- Congress could not collect or levy taxes- Congress could not raise an army- Unanimous approval of amendments of the state legislatures

Post 1783 – After Dependence- Huge debt across the union.- Apathy from some states- Lack of unity- Shay’s Rebellion (1787) – foreclosed farmer and vet.

Constitutional Convention (1787)- Concerns Addressed: 1) U.S. treated with contempt by other nations. 2) Economic radicalism 3) Ill-equipped to protect states from Native Americans 4) Could not address economic crisis without a strong centralized government.

The Virginia Plan (James Madison)- 3 branches of Government- Proportional representation to state populous in Lower House. - Executive, Upper House, and Judicial leaders selected by Lower House

New Jersey Plan- 1 house legislature with equal representation- Regulate commerce - Powerful Congress that was Unicameral

The Great Compromise- Bi-cameral- House representation based on population- Senate would have equal representation. - Congress would regulate commerce by majority vote- Three-Fifths Compromise

FEDERALIST vs. ANTI-FEDERALIST- 1787 the new Constitution was published in order to be voted upon and ratified by the people. Those in favor of the new constitution were known as the Federalists. Those opposed gained the title “Anti-Federalists.”

- Federalists (John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison) argued that a strong central government was needed in order to bring stability. Also, that there would be a distinct checks and balance system (federalism) that would be established between the central government and the states. - Anti-Federalists (Thomas Jefferson and Mercy Warren) argued for state’s rights and a formal Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution.

- James Madison proposed a 12-amendment Bill of Rights in 1791 and each amendment passed easily.

Amending Our Current Constitution- Since 1789, close to 10,000 amendments to the constitution have been proposed. Only 33 of those amendments received a 2/3 vote from Congress and only 27 of the 33 have been ratified by the states.

- The 27 amendments fall mostly into 3 categories: 1) Extended Civil Rights and Liberties 2) altered the selection and operation of the 3 branches of government 3) dealt with important policy issues. (Pg. 63).

Constitutional Interpretation by the Supreme Court:- Judicial Review: Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Mission of the Constitution:- by and for the people- democratic- protects individual liberties- protects from unreasonable govt. searches and seizures of property- guarantees the right of citizens to participate in govt.- election of officials- ensures fair justice system