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American Constitution: Evolution and Impact

Explore the foundational events from Jamestown to the adoption of the US Constitution, including key moments like the Boston Tea Party, Declaration of Independence, and Constitutional Convention. Learn about the struggles, compromises, and debates that shaped the American government structure. Discover the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights. Delve into the ongoing evolution and interpretations of the Constitution, including landmark Supreme Court decisions like Judicial Review and Brown v. Board. Engage in discussions about the Constitution's enduring significance and the unresolved issue of slavery during its formation.

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American Constitution: Evolution and Impact

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  1. The Constitution Chapter 2

  2. Early America • 1607- Jamestown, VA • 1620- Mayflower Plymouth, MA • 1732- GA- last colony • 1760s- Britain decides to tax colonies • 1765- Stamp act- “taxation without representation” • 1773- Boston Tea Party • 1774- 1st continental congress • 1775- 2nd Continental Congress • 1776- Payne’s common sense • 1776- July 4, Declaration of Independence • 1781- Articles of Confederation • 1783- Yorktown • 1786- Shay’s rebellion • 1787- Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia)

  3. The first colonies in America • First English settlement in America • Jamestown, Virginia (1607) - struggle to survive - between 1607 & 1623 (4,800k of 6k) • Rolfe’s “tobacco” cash crop - Jamestown survives

  4. Mayflower • Mayflower sets sail (1620) - religion disputes - Plymouth, Mass - Mayflower Compact- agreement to live under rule of law - harsh winter / famine - first thanksgiving (1621)

  5. 13 colonies • Other colonies followed suit • By 1732, Georgia, the last of 13 colonies was set up • London governed colonies indirectly

  6. Pre-Revolutionary War • 1760- British decision to tax colonies - defense & debt - 1765: Stamp Act - taxation without representation - Colonist respond with 1st & 2nd Continental Congress (1774-5) • Thomas Payne’s Common Sense (1776)

  7. Declaration of Independence • Continental Congress adopts resolution of Independence (4th of July 1776) - Jefferson & Franklin

  8. Path to Independence • American Revolution (1775-1783) - Yorktown (1781) Formation of a new gov’t • Articles of Confederation (1781) (pg 27)

  9. Constitutional Convention • Shay’s rebellion (1786) • Constitutional Convention (1787) - 55 delegates met to revise Articles

  10. U.S. Constitution • Who were the framers? • Makeup of Constitution / 3 branches • Executive Branch - Electoral College • Legislative Branch - Virginia & New Jersey Plan/ Great Compromise • Judicial Branch / courts & justices

  11. Ideas of Constitution • Final agreements / prevention of tyranny - Separation of Powers - checks & balances (p 34) • Ideas of Montequieu- Spirit of laws-1748

  12. The struggle to ratify the constitution • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists - Federalists papers- 85 essays in defense of constitution (p 389) • Promise of Bill of rights - limited powers of Nat’l gov’t over liberties of individuals • Constitution ratified- June 21, 1788 • Bill of Rights adopted- Dec. 15, 1791

  13. Bill of Rights

  14. Amending the Constitution • Constitution as a framework / 7,000 words • Why so limited?

  15. Constitutional Amendments • The Usual Process: - 2/3 Congress - ¾ state legislatures • difficult?

  16. The Changing Constitution • Interpretations - Supreme Court 1. Judicial Review (1803) 2. changes in interpretation: - Plessy v Ferguson & Brown v board

  17. Conclusion • Longest lived written constitution • Most imitated in world • Constantly changing and open to interpretation • Discussion • If the framers believed all men were created equal, why was slavery not abolished in the constitution? (p 32)

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