The Constitution of the United States of America
description
Transcript of The Constitution of the United States of America
![Page 1: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Constitution of the United States
of America
The Conventionand a
Basic Introduction toConstitutional Principles
![Page 2: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
SWBAT1) Describe the two compromises regarding the branches of
government and the issue of slavery. 2) Describe and explain the role of each of the Three Branches of
the US government.3) Explain principles of Checks and Balances and give examples of
how each branch is effected by the others.4) Discuss how the Constitution
a) Prevents a Tyrannyb) Restrains a Mob
![Page 3: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Articles of Confederation – Epic Fail!
• Proved unable to handle the affairs of a new nation
• Insufficient power to prevent “mob-ocracy.” – Shay’s rebellion
• Federal or even other states couldn’t prevent a tyranny in any particular state
![Page 4: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Convention to discuss changes to the Articles of Confederation
• Philadelphia, May 25, 1787, the convention began.
• George Washington was elected to be President of the convention.
• Quickly decided that the AoC could not be fixed and a new constitution was to be written.
• Decided the talks would be held in secret to allow for open discussion and prevent arguments against it.
![Page 5: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Guiding Principles of the Convention
• Prevent a tyrant.• Restrain the mob.Write: Why are tyrants (political or economic) and mobs bad?
![Page 6: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Main Points of Discussion
• The states were too strong and a weak federal government might allow a state tyranny to arise.
• The national government needed more power, especially to tax.
• Disagreements about:– Representation: Big states vs. Small
states• Do it by population or by state?
– Slavery – its very existence
![Page 7: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
The First Suggested Plan
Virginia Plan:• Create Three Branches:Bicameral (Two House) Legislature
States represented in two houses, per populationLower House elected by the people according to populationUpper House to be elected by Lower House.
Give the houses power to tax, regulate trade (commerce), make laws
Executive – president and his advisors Judiciary – national court system
![Page 8: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
The Second Plan
New Jersey Plan:• Three branches of Government• Unicameral (One House) Legislature• Each state gets one vote – limits power of
large states against small states• Give the house the power to tax and regulate
trade
![Page 9: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Compare VA & NJ Plans
![Page 10: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
The Great Compromise
• After weeks of debate and small states threatening to quit, a compromise was reached
• The Legislature would be Bicameral• House of Representatives: each state gets 1
Representative per 40,000 residents.• Senate: each state gets two Senators, elected by
the state governments (this will change). This satisfies the small state concern of being out-voted due to population
![Page 11: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Slavery• How would slaves be represented?• Southern states wanted them
counted for representation but not for taxing (they certainly could not vote)
• Northern states wanted them counted for taxing but not representation (since they were not free).
• Southern states threatened to drop out of the USA if slavery or the slave trade were outlawed.
![Page 12: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Compromises over Slavery• The Three-Fifths Compromise: 3/5ths of the
slave population would be counted for both taxing purposes and for representation in the House of Representatives.
![Page 13: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Compromises over Slavery• The importation of slaves into the USA would not
be interfered with by the national government for 20 years, which ended up being 1808.
• In 1808, it was ended, but continued within the boundaries of the United States until the Civil War
![Page 14: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Three Branches
![Page 15: The Constitution of the United States of America](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816292550346895dd3019b/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)