1 / 61

The Constitution

2. The Constitution. Constitution. 2. A nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can be either written or unwritten. The Origins of the Constitution. 2.1.

mara-randolph
Download Presentation

The Constitution

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 2 The Constitution

  2. Constitution 2 A nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can be either written or unwritten.

  3. The Origins of the Constitution 2.1

  4. Life was good in the colonies (Slaves excepted, of course) Self-governing Irritants New taxes to finance French and Indian War Enforcement of trade regulations No representation in Parliament 2.1 Road to Revolution

  5. Frustration came from increased levels of control from Britain. This was in response to the French and Indian war. The British felt the colonists should pay for their own protection through that war. Colonists were frustrated with not having any representation in Parliament. 2.1 Why were colonists frustrated with British rule?

  6. 2.1 FIGURE 2.1: European claims in North America

  7. Irritants New taxes to finance French and Indian War Enforcement of trade regulations No representation in Parliament Protests and boycotts First Continental Congress – Sept. 1774 2.1 Road to Revolution

  8. A meeting of delegates from each of the colonies in Philadelphia in September 1774 to discuss future relations with Britain. 2.1 What was the First Continental Congress?

  9. Reconciliation or revolution? Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Fanned revolutionary sentiments 2.1 Declaring Independence

  10. 2.1 Common Sense

  11. Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson Justified revolution Revolutionaries needed foreign assistance 2.1 Declaring Independence

  12. 2.1 Delegates in Philadelphia

  13. John Locke Natural rights Life, liberty, property Purpose of government is to protect Consent of the governed Government derives its authority by sanction of the people Limited government Certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens 2.1 English Heritage: Power of Ideas

  14. 2.1 Locke and the Declaration of Independence: Some parallels

  15. 2.1 American Creed, Winning Independence, and the “Conservative” Revolution • Individualism • Rule by the people • New ideas incubated in a unique environment • Winning independence not easy • A conservative revolution?

  16. Government That Failed: 1776-1787 2.2

  17. Articles of Confederation First constitution of the US State-dominated government League of friendship amongst states Unicameral legislature No judiciary No executive No power to tax No power to regulate commerce Feared strong central government 2.2

  18. 2.2 Key provisions of the Articles of Confederation

  19. Changes in the States Increases in liberty, democracy If you were a white male New middle class Artisans Farmers Elite power threatened Legislatures held governmental power Controlled governors 2.2

  20. 2.2 FIGURE 2.2: Power shift: Economic status of state legislators before and after the Revolutionary War

  21. Economic Turmoil and Aborted Annapolis Meeting Postwar economic depression Shays’ Rebellion (1786) Farmers attack courthouses to prevent foreclosures Neither national nor state govt. could respond Elites privately put down rebellion 2.2

  22. 2.2 Shays’ Rebellion

  23. Economic Turmoil and Aborted Annapolis Meeting Annapolis meeting leads to Constitutional Convention 2.2

  24. Making a Constitution: Philadelphia Convention 2.3

  25. Gentlemen in Philadelphia and Philosophy in Action Goal was to REVISE the Articles Who attended Constitutional Convention? 55 delegates from 12 states Wealthy planters, lawyers, merchants High principles versus self-interest Human nature Political conflict resulting from factions Purpose of government Nature of government 2.3

  26. Critical Issues at the Convention 2.4

  27. Equality Issues Equality and representation of the states New Jersey Plan Equal representation Virginia Plan Proportional representation Connecticut Compromise Senate has equal representation, House of Representatives has proportional representation Slavery 3/5ths Compromise Equality in voting Let the states decide 2.4

  28. 2.4 How the Constitution resolved three issues of equality

  29. Economic Issues State of the postwar economy Interstate tariffs Worthless paper money Congress could not raise revenue Congress given economic power Limited economic interference of states New government must repay debts of $54 million 2.4

  30. 2.4 Table 2.4: Economics in the Constitution

  31. Individual Rights Issues Preserving individual rights a priority Personal freedoms in the Constitution: Suspension of habeas corpus prohibited (jailers must explain why they are holding a prisoner in custody) Bills of attainder prohibited (laws that punish people without a judicial trial Ex post facto laws prohibited (laws that punish people for committing acts that were not illegal when the act was committed) Religious qualifications for office prohibited Strict rules for what constitutes treason Right to trial by jury 2.4

  32. Madisonian System 2.5

  33. 2.5 James Madison

  34. Thwarting Tyranny of the Majority Limiting majority control James Madison’s system Separating powers Creating checks and balances Establishing a federal system 2.5

  35. 2.5 FIGURE 2.3: The Constitution and the electoral process: Original plan

  36. Constitutional Republic and the End of the Beginning Creating a republic Direct democracy not feasible Representative democracy Separating powers and checks and balances make change slow Is policymaking inefficient? 10 states vote in favor, then dinner 2.5

  37. 2.5 FIGURE 2.4: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances in the Constitution

  38. 2.5 Signing of the Constitution

  39. Ratifying the Constitution 2.6

  40. Federalists and Anti-Federalists Federalists Supported Constitution Federalist Papers Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay Anti-Federalists Opposed Constitution No protection for civil liberties States’ power would weaken 2.6

  41. 2.6 Federalists and Anti-Federalists Compared

  42. 2.6 Bill of Rights arranged by function

  43. Ratification Ratification by special convention Got around state legislatures Delaware first to approve New Hampshire made it official New York and Virginia critical North Carolina and Rhode Island hold out 2.6

  44. Changing the Constitution 2.7

  45. Formal Amending Process Proposal Two-thirds vote in each house National convention called by Congress Ratification Legislatures of three-fourths of states Special state conventions 2.7

  46. 2.7 FIGURE 2.5: How the Constitution can be amended

  47. 2.7 Suffragettes marching

  48. Equal Rights Amendment A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three-fourths of state legislatures. 2.7

  49. Informal Processes of Constitutional Change Most changes have been informal Judicial interpretation Marbury v. Madison (1803) Changing political practice Technology Increased demands for new policy 2.7

More Related