From Revolution to the Constitution

The Birth of a Nation

Opener Discussion Prompts

• What could explain these figures and actions besides a system of racial prejudice still engrained in our society and criminal justice system?

• "How can conflict be resolved while ensuring the rights of individuals?"

Daily Show: Stop and Frisk Policies

Four Corners

• Go to the corner with the quote that most directly reflects your position:

A. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”B. “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”C. “If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.”D. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Practice IB Essay Outlines

• Pass Out IB Essay Rubrics• Essay Prompts

• “American Independence from Britain was not a revolution, but an evolution.” To what extent do you agree with this view? Provide specific evidence to support.

• In what ways did the Declaration of Independence of 1776 justify the United State separation from Britain? Provide specific evidence to support.

• The American war for independence was primarily caused by political grievances. To what extent do you agree with this view? Provide specific evidence to support.

Fighting the War: Advantages/Disadvantages for Colonial Army

• Advantages• Fighting For Livelihoods &

Independence• Fighting on Own Turf

• Guerrilla Warfare• Fight Inland—Minimize British Navy• Superior Marksmen• French Assistance (Gradually)

• Disadvantages• No Professional Army (militia

only)• Lack Officers• Minimal Navy• Poor Training/Morale• Lack Training• Inferior Weapons/ Supplies• No Money• Difficulty Coordinating Strategy

Among Colonies• Divided Population

Fighting the War: Advantages/Disadvantages of British• Advantages:

• Strongest Military in World• Disciplined; Well Paid; Well Fed

• Powerful Navy• Superior Weapons/Supplies• Support of Native Americans

• Why?

• Disadvantages:• Need to Control Large Expanse of

Land• Overconfidence• Unfamiliar Terrain• Fail to Adapt to Guerrilla Tactics

Washington’s Strategy…• Live to Fight Another Day

• Drag Out the War…Why?

• All The Rebels Had to Do Was Tie to Win• Guerilla Warfare

• Use of military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, elements of surprise and mobility, to attack a larger, more powerful, traditional army

• Only Engage When You Have Upper Hand• Target Officers

Battle of Lexington and Concord• British hope to prevent

bloodshed by disarming militia outside of Boston

• Also seek to arrest Hancock and Sam Adams

• What other major events happened in Massachusetts?

“Shot heard round the World”

Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)• Brits: over 1000 killed and

wounded

• Rebels run out of ammo; use alternative methods

• Utilize artillery from Ticonderoga

That’s it! It’s on America!!!

Significance of Bunker Hill (June 75)

• King proclaims colonies in rebellion (took over a month for word to reach England)

• 18,000 mercenaries hired/offers freedom to slaves who fight for Brits• How would this increase Rebels support?

• Proves to rebels they can stand up to Brit. Army

Battle of Long Island (Summer/Fall 76’)

• NY = focal point for communication

• Washington splits army between Manhattan and Long Island• Look at the following map, Knowing what we do about the British military,

why was this a poor strategy and indefensible for the Rebels?

Battle of Long Island

• 2100 Americans killed, wounded, or captured

• 8,000 men ferried noiselessly on evening of Aug. 29, covered by fog and extreme weather

• Washington’s men live to fight another day• Why does Washington get in the habit of withdrawing?

Battle of Trenton ( Dec. 25, 1776)

• 3,000 Americans lost at Battle of Fort Washington (November)

• What impact does Fort Washington have on the Colonial army?

• How did the timing of the Battle of Trenton impact the colonists success?

Battle of Trenton

Battle of Princeton (Jan. 1777)• Washington gambles at Princeton

• Ambushes overzealous Brits

• Washington within 30 feet of the front lines

Why was it critical for Washington to secure overwhelming victories?

Battle of Princeton

• Significance:• Hope; many colonists on fences turn to rebels• Revives army• Washington learns not to fight main British army—focus on frontiers• Encouraged French to release military aide• British support for war slipping

Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775)

• 247 Brits killed or wounded; 88 Patriots

• Opening battle of the Revolution

• Pats. begin siege of Boston

• 2nd Continental Congress formed—declare war; name Washington commander

Battle of Trenton ( Dec. 25, 1776)

• Over 2,000 Americans lost at Battle of Long Island

• 3,000 Americans lost at Battle of Fort Washington (November)

• What impact does Fort Washington have on the Colonial army?

• How did the timing of the Battle of Trenton impact the colonists success?

Battle of Trenton

Battle of Saratoga (Oct. 1777)• Most important battle:

• Brit goal: seize NY, sever NE from U.S.

• Major American Victory!• 6,570 out of 6600 British forces

captured• Convinces French to support U.S. and

enter the war; Spain/Dutch soon follow = World War

Why would the French want to get involved?

Battle of Yorktown (Oct. 1781)• Why would Washington

draw Cornwallis to VA rather than fight in NY?

• Last Battle of the Revolution

• Cornwallis absent from surrender

School House Rock Video Clip

Analysis &Double Bubble

• Step 1:• Complete the Articles of Confederation Critical Analysis with a partner• Then, discuss as a group• Discuss as a class

• Step 2:• After completing an analysis of the Articles of Confederation, complete a

“Double-Bubble” Comparing the Articles of Confederation v. Constitution.• Discuss as a class

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

• First American government following the American Revolution

• Weak Central Government; Majority of power to the states.

• “States keep their sovereignty, freedom, and independence and every power, jurisdiction, and right not expressly delegated to the U.S. in Congress.”

• Why?

Articles of Confederation: Government Structure

• Unicameral Congress: Each State—One Vote

• Why?

• No Executive or Judicial Branch• Why?• Impact?

Articles of Confederation: Congress Weaknesses

• Army Dependent on State Militias…Why? Impact?• Fear of Standing Army; Quartering Act• Can’t Respond in crisis like Shay’s Rebellion

• No power to tax…why? Impact?• No Revenue…No Power• Request $16 mill…get $2 mill. (none from GA/NC)

• No power to regulate commerce (trade)…why? Impact?• Exper. Under British (Brit. E. India); Intolerable Acts; Navigation Acts• States tax each others goods; ban some trade; no credit; multiple currencies• Economy on verge of collapse

• 9/13 states needed to ratify; 13/13 to amend• Inflexible

Shays Rebellion• Shays Rebellion

• Exposes inherent weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Final straw that led to the calling for the Constitutional Convention & a stronger central government

Constitutional Convention (May 14, 1787- September 17,1787)

• Revise Articles of Confederation• I.D. Impfections; State Bill of Rights; No Rel. Requirements; Strong Legislature

• Goal: Balance need for strong central govt., to preserve order, but not threaten liberty

• AMAZING document, adaptable & flexible while providing structure & organization

• What were the big issues at the conventions?

Key Word: Compromise• Connecticut/Great Compromise: Virginia Plan + New Jersey

Plan• VA Plan: Leg. Rep. based on state population (bicameral, 3

branches)• NJ Plan: Leg. Rep. based on equality (unicameral, 3 branches)• Great Compromise: Bicameral Congress (House & Senate)

• House of Representatives: Based on population• Senate: Equal Representation• Who Benefits More?

• 3/5 Compromise: Settles Issue of Slave Population• What’s the issue?

• Commerce & Slave Trade• Restricts action on slavery for 20 years• Congress regulate trade; but can’t tax exports

5 Principles of Democracy• Popular Sovereignty• Separation of Powers• Checks & Balances• Judicial Review• Federalism

5 Principles of Democracy

• Popular Sovereignty: • “We the People”• People source of govt. power• People created the natl. govt.;

gave power st. & local gov power

• Guarantees a Republic

• Limits: Why?• Electoral College• Selection of Senators• Senators= 6 yr. terms

5 Principles of Democracy

• Separation of Powers• Division of power into 3 branches• Goal: Limit government• Can be inefficient/fragment policymaking

Separation of Powers

5 Principles of Democracy

• Checks & Balances• Each branch can limit the powers of the others• No one branch becomes to powerful; limit government

Checks & Balances

6 Principles of Democracy

• Judicial Review• Power of courts to determine the constitutionality of a law or executive action• Informal Amendment

• Marbury v. Madison

Brown v. Board of Education

5 Principles of Democracy

• Federalism:• A system of government in which power is both divided & shared between a

central government & state/regional political units.• 10th Amendment: “Those powers not delegated to the federal government,

nor prohibited to the states, are reserved for the states.”

Key Federalism Clauses• Full Faith & Credit Clause:

• Each State has to honor the civil rulings and laws from other states; doesn’t apply to criminal matters.

• Supremacy Clause: • Constitution: Supreme Law of the Land• Sets up the hierarchy w/ the U.S. Constitution at the top.

• Necessary & Proper Clause: • Congress shall have power to make all laws necessary and proper to carry

out all other powers vested by Constitution in the government.

• Commerce Clause• Congress’ power to regulate “interstate commerce”

Double Bubble

• Federalist v. Anti-Federalist

Ratification

• Requires 9/13 States…Really Need 13, Why?

• The Great Debate: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists• Those who favored ratifying the new

constitution• Anti-Federalists

• Against ratification; want strong state govt.; fear big govt…loss of civil liberties

The Federalists• The Federalist Papers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay

• Articles in support of the Constitution

• Federalist #10• A Republic is best form of govt: efficient, gives people a voice while allowing

for a filter• Large Republics…

• Check unworthy candidates…larger number of voters• Smaller the # in a majority…more likely to have oppression

• Federalism is best (over unitary & confederate)• Factions may kindle flames in states…but not at nat’l. level• States: A laboratory for different policies

• Federalist 51• Separation of Power & Checks and Balances will prevent government from

becoming abusive

The Anti-Federalists• Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Patrick

Henry• Main Anti-Federalist Arguments

• No Bill of Rights• Federal Government/Congress too strong

• Elastic Clause/Necessary and Proper Clause• Supremacy Clause

• Elitist Rule• Senate Selection, Electoral College

• Small Republics are best…

Ratifying the Constitution

• 9/13 states ratified the Constitution…but then came the battle for the final 4 states… NY, VA, NC, RI

• What convinced these states to ratify the Constitution?• Inclusion of a Bill of Rights

• 1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution• Protect individual rights from government abuse• What is included in this list of Civil Liberties?

The Bill of Rights

• Step 1: • Each group should take their assigned amendment and put it into their own

words.• Also, give a specific example of what that amendment protects against

• 1st Amendment: prevents newspapers from being censored by the government

• Step 2:• Go around the classroom. Each group reports out to the class

• Step 3:• Bill of Rights Scenarios: Race to be first

• Step 4: • Daily Show Clip

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/iiculo/weak-constitution

George Washington’s Presidency• 1st President

• Signed NW Ordinance• Estbl. Navy• Put down Whiskey Rebellion• Org. 1st U.S. Cabinet• Oversaw ratification of Bill of Rights

• Washington’s Farewell Address• Warns of the danger of political parties• Warns the nation not to get involved in entangling alliances

Expanding the Power of the Government• Marbury v. Madison (1803)

• Established Judicial Review

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)• Supremacy Clause• Necessary & Proper Clause

• Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)• Commerce Clause

Place the Following Events in Chronological Order

1. Battle of Yorktown2. Shay’s Rebellion3. Constitutional Convention4. Last of 13 British Colonies (Georgia) Estbl.5. French & Indian War6. Stamp Act7. Battle of Lexington & Concord8. Declaration of Independence9. Slaves Arrive in America10. Proclamation Act of 176311. Boston Tea Party12. Jamestown Established13. Constitution Ratified14. Articles of Confederation Adopted

Place the following events in Chronological Order

1. Jamestown (1607)2. Slaves in America (1619)3. Last of 13 British Colonies Estbl. (1733)4. French & Indian War5. Proclamation Act of 17636. Stamp Act7. Boston Tea Party8. Battle of Lexington & Concord9. Declaration of Independence10. Battle of Yorktown11. Articles of Confederation Adopted12. Shay’s Rebellion13. Constitutional Convention14. Constitution Ratified