The Constitution

1. The Constitution 1787-1789

2. Ga. Standard Addressed in this Power Point SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution. b. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the Constitution as put forth in The Federalists Papers concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances, and the power of the executive, including the roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. c. Explain the key features of the Constitution, specifically the Great Compromise, separation of powers, limited government, and the issue of slavery. d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual and states’ rights.

3. Essential questions: • Who developed the Constitution? • How was the Constitution developed? • What are the major compromises that wer made in order to complete a document that the states would ratify? • What were the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the Constitution as put forth in the Federalists Papers and concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances, and the power of the executive, • What were the roles of roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in developing the Constitution?. • What are the key features of the Constitution, specifically the Great Compromise, separation of powers, limited government, and the issue of slavery? • How does the Bill of Rights serve as a protector of individual and states’ rights. • Why is the American Constitution one of the most enduring constitutions in the western world?

4. Separation of Powers, Social Contract, Checks/Balances, Bill of Rights, Great Compromise, Individual Rights, States Rights, Common Sense, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution The Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, 3/5th Compromise, Federalists, Anti-federalists, Vocabulary

5. Delegates • May 25, 1787 • 55 delegates sent by the states to write a new constitution. • Many were in state government. • Many educated in history and political philosophy. • ½ had been members of the Continental Congress. • 8 had signed the Declaration of Independence. • All had been involved in the American Revolution. • Several had been diplomats to Europe.

6. Connecticut • William Samuel Johnson • Lawyer and Politician • Patriot with pro-British tendencies. • Roger Sherman • Lawyer/Judge • Helped draft the Declaration of Independence. • Oliver Ellsworth • Lawyer • Pro-state control of government.

7. Delaware • George Read • Signer of the Declaration of Independence. • President of Delaware Assembly. • Gunning Bedford • Lawyer • Pro-small states rights • Roommate to James Madison at Princeton. • John Dickinson • Refused to sign the Declaration of Independence. • State President of Delaware • Richard Bassett • Farmer and soldier • Jacob Broom • Politician

8. Georgia • William Few • Frontiersman • Revolutionary war hero • Abraham Baldwin • Developed an educational system for Georgia. • Irregular attendant to the Convention. • William Pierce • Aid to General Nathaniel Greene • Left early. • William Houstoun • Plantation owner • Stayed at the convention from June 1-July 23.

9. Maryland • James McHenry • Physician • Deeply religious • Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer • Plantation owner • Older delegate(64 yrs) • Humorous • Daniel Carroll • Wealthy colonial American • Concerned with economics • John Francis Mercer • Lawyer, planter, politician • Left before signing • Luther Martin • Maryland Attorney General • Opposed a strong central government

10. Massachusetts • Elbridge Gerry • Signer of the Declaration • Refused to sign the Constitution. • Nathaniel Gorham • Filled in for George Washington as Chairman of the Convention • Rufus King • Fought at Lexington and Concord • Studied law • Worked with Alexander Hamilton • Caleb Strong • politician

11. New Hampshire • John Langdon • Merchant sailor • Politician • Nicholas Gilman • Combat captain in the Revolutionary War. • Served with George Washington.

12. New Jersey • David Brearley • Lt. Colonel in the Revolutionary War • New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice • William Houston • Professor of Mathematics at Princeton • Served at the Convention for 1 week, but left due to illness. • William Paterson • Prominent New Jersey lawyer and Attorney General • William Livingston • Governor of New Jersey • Jonathan Dayton • Land speculator

13. New York • Robert Yates • Strongly against creating a new Constitution. • Leaves early. • Alexander Hamilton • Strongly in favor of a new Constitution with a strong central government. • John Lansing, Jr. • Strongly opposed to any central government in America.

14. North Carolina • Alexander Martin • Fought at Brandywine and Germantown. • Governor of North Carolina. • William Richardson Davie • Major in the militia. • Richard Dobbs Spaight • Orphaned at age 8. • Politician • William Blount • Chief paymaster during the Revolution. • Hugh Williamson • Frontier physician • Faithful attendee of the Convention.

15. Pennsylvania • Thomas Mifflin • Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. • Robert Morris • Signer of the Declaration of Independence • Secured finances for the Revolutionary War. • George Clymer • President of the Philadelphia Bank • Jared Ingersoll • Lawyer • Thomas Fitzsimons • Merchant

16. Pennsylvania (cont.) • James Wilson • Student of government and law • Believed in dual sovereignty between the nation and the states. • Gouverneur Morris • Author of the Preamble and many other parts of the Constitution. • Benjamin Franklin • 81 years old • Ambassador to France during the Revolutionary War. • Held in great respect among the other delegates.

17. Rhode Island • Sent no delegates!!

18. South Carolina • John Rutledge • Politician • Attended every session of the Convention. • Charles Pinckney • Revolutionary War prisoner of war. • Youngest member at the Convention (30 yrs. Old) • Great speaker. • Charles Cotesworth Pinckney • 2nd cousin to Charles Pinckney • Brigadier General of the Continental Army. • Pro-slavery. • Pierce Butler • A member of the British Army and American militia. • Proud slave owner.

19. Virginia • George Washington • Former Revolutionary War Commander-in-Chief • Elected to be the presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention. • 55 years old. • Edmund Randolph • Lawyer to George Washington. • Governor of Virginia. • John Blair • Devoted to the idea of a permanent Union of the states.

20. Virginia (cont.) • James Madison • “The Father of the Constitution” • 36 year old delegate from Virginia. • Took notes of every discussion made about the Constitution. • First delegate to arrive with a “plan” for a federal system of government.

21. Virginia (cont.) • George Mason • “Father of the Bill of Rights” • George Wythe • Signer of the Declaration. • Slaveholder. • Left early. • James McClurg • Physician. • Never signed the Constitution.

22. Held in secrecy to avoid public arguments and debates. Windows and doors shut at all times. Only “official” note taking was allowed. Voting was by state w/ majority rule. All agreed a strong central government was necessary. It should have these powers: Able to tax Able to raise an army Able to regulate commerce or trade. Should not have unlimited power. Goal- A Republican form of government Power rests in the voters who elect representatives to run the government. Rules of the Convention

23. The Virginia Plan • Introduced by Edmund Randolph • Delegate from Virginia. • Written by James Madison • Virginia Plan proposed • 2 house legislature • First house elected by the people. • Second house elected by the first house. • # of representatives in the Congress would be determined by state population. • Favored the larger states.

24. The New Jersey Plan • William Paterson • Delegate from New Jersey. • New Jersey Plan Proposed • One-house legislature. • Each state would have equal # of representatives. • One state- one vote. • Favored the smaller states. • Resoundingly rejected by the delegates.

25. James Wilson • Delegate from Pennsylvania. • Challenges both plans. • Wants a strong federal government with equal representation. • Threatens to walk out of the convention.

26. The Great Compromise • Presented by Roger Sherman of Connecticut. • Two houses of Congress. • Senate- each state gets 2 Senators. • House of Representative- # determined by the population of the state. • All “money” bills must come from the House.

27. The Chief Executive • What kind of a chief executive to have puzzles the delegates. • Single individual as an elective king? • NO!- Edmund Randolph and Benjamin Franklin • Vigorous executive elected by the people? • Proposed by James Wilson of Pennsylvania. • Presidential advisors? • An appointed cabinet is proposed by James Wilson • Term? • Life? • 7 year term?

28. Presidential Executive • Proposed by Alexander Hamilton. • Elected indirectly by the people. • Leads to the creation of the Electoral College. • Proposed to serve for life. • Absolute veto of Congressional legislation. • Be given enough power to exercise initiative and assume responsibility. • Did not want powers to be specific. • Power to pardon. • A civilian Commander-in-chief of the military.

29. President of the United States • A single, strong, independent chief executive is chosen. • President could appoint own advisors w/ consent of the Senate. • Could veto legislation. • Congress could override with a 2/3rds vote. • Commander-in-chief of the military. • Could make war. • Congress would declare war. • Serve for 4 year terms with unlimited reelection. • Electoral College created to allow electors (chosen by state legislature or by the people) to cast the final vote. • The unanimous choice to be the first President of the United States is George Washington.

30. 3/5th Compromise • Issue over counting of slaves for representation and taxation. • South wanted slaves counted as a full person for representation, but not taxation. • Slaves would be counted as 3/5th of a person for both representation and taxation.

31. Commerce Compromise • South does not want tariffs (taxes) on exports. • Congress would regulate commerce w/ foreign nations and not levy taxes on exports.

32. Slave Issue • States may continue to import slaves until 1808, but after that, they must decide how to handle the issue.

33. Adoption of the Constitution • September 17, 1787 • 39 delegates sign the constitution.

34. Ratification of the Constitution • 9 of the 13 states must ratify to make the Constitution, “the supreme law of the land.”

35. Federalists • Favored a strong federal government (national government) rather than the separate governments of individual states.

36. Anti-Federalists • Opposed strengthening the powers of a central (national) government. • 4 things wrong with the new constitution: • Surrendering too much power. • Not enough voter control. • Not enough freedom for slaves. • Lack of a bill of rights.

37. The Federalist Papers • Alexander Hamilton • James Madison • John Jay • Series of brilliant essays defending the Constitution.

38. Delaware December, 1787- first to ratify New Jersey Pennsylvania Georgia Connecticut Massachusetts February, 1788 by a margin of 19 votes. Maryland South Carolina New Hampshire Virginia Madison’s home state by a margin of 11 votes. New York By a margin of 3 votes. North Carolina Rhode Island Ratification

39. George Washington • Elected President by a unanimous vote of Congress. • John Adams elected Vice-President. • New York City made the temporary capital.

40. The Constitution

41. The Federal Union • Each state gives some of its powers over to the federal government. • All laws passed by the federal govt. apply equally to every individual in the union. • The federal govt. has the authority to “reach” into each state and punish violators of the federal laws. • States could still pass and enforce their own laws, as long as they do not come into conflict with the federal laws.

42. The Separation of Powers Checks and Balances-Each branch of government is given certain powers that can restrain or “place a check” on another branch of government to create a balance.

43. Override veto Impeach Confirm appointments Ratify treaties Impeach and remove Declare a law unconstitutional Veto Appoints members to the Supreme Court Declare executive action unconstitutional LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Makes Laws JUDICIAL BRANCH Interprets Laws EXECUTIVEBRANCH Enforces Laws

44. House of Representatives 2 year terms 25 years old 7 year citizen of the United States Live in the state being elected from. Number of Representatives determined by the states population. Each state is guaranteed at least 1. Senate 6 year terms 30 years old 9 year citizen of the United States Live in the state being elected from. Each state gets two (2) Senators. Article 1Legislative Branch

45. Article 1Legislative Branch • Elections • Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. • Meetings • Congress shall convene on January 3. • Passing Laws • All revenue bills come from the House of Representatives.

46. Article 1Legislative Branch • Delegated Powers • Powers given to Congress that are specifically listed in the Constitution. • Power to tax. • Power to regulate commerce. • Power to raise an army. • Reserved Powers • Powers not listed in the Constitution are given to the states. • Control over roads, marriages, public education. • Shared Powers • Powers that both the federal and the state governments share. • Taxes • Police force • Courts

47. Article 2Executive Branch • President of the United States of America • 4 year terms • 35 years old • Native born citizen. • Resident of the United States for 14 years.

48. Article 2Executive Branch • Electoral College • Used to elect the President. • The candidate must win the popular vote of each state to receive the electoral votes. • Electoral votes are determined by the # of representatives in Congress. • Elections • Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

49. Article 2Executive Branch • Powers • Commander-in-Chief of the military. • Make treaties with foreign nations. • Senate must approve. • Government appointments • Senate must approve. • Must give a State of the Union message to Congress every year. • Impeachment • Can be removed from office by the Congress for treason, bribery, or other high crimes.

50. Article 3Judicial Branch • Created the Supreme Court and the Federal Courts • Federal Courts can only extend into two types of cases. • Violations of the Constitution. • United States v. a foreign nation.