Unit Two: The Constitution
Basic concepts of American Government*Ordered Government--local governments based on English version*Limited Government--government is not all-powerful--3 English Documents*Representative Government--people should have a voice in government
Types of English Colonies*Charter--granted permission to settle by the king*Royal--ruled directly by the king through a governor he chose*Proprietary--organized by a single individual (a proprietor)
Heading Toward Independence*English policies following French and Indian War*Early efforts at colonial unity: New England Confederation (1643)
Albany Plan of Union (1754)
Stamp Act Congress (1765)*First Continental Congress (1774)*Second Continental Congress (1775)
Importance of Second Continental Congress
*Revolutionary War began April 1775*Second CC convened May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia*All 13 colonies represented*John Hancock chosen to be president of the congress*2nd CC acted as the US's first governing body*June 7, 1776 Lee's Resolution called for writing a declaration of indepence
and a constitution
The Declaration of Independence
*The Committee of Five, headed by Thomas Jefferson was set up to write it
*Two parts: the philosophy and the complaints*Purpose: to justify the Revolution and gain support*Officially adopted July 4, 1776
The Critical Period: the United States under the Articles of Confederation
The AoC was written in accordance with Lee's Resolution at the 2nd CC*Into effect on November 15, 1777*Established a "firm league of friendship" among states*Set up a unicameral (one house) congress*Each state had one vote in congress*Required 9 of 13 to pass an ordinary law*Required a unanimous vote to amend the AoC
Weaknesses of the AoC*No power to tax; had to ask states for money*No power to raise an army; had to ask states for troops*No power to regulate interstate trade or commerce*No executive nor judicial branch
The Road to the Constitutional Convention
*Trade disputes between VA & MD over use ofthe Potomac River
*Mt. Vernon Conference 1785*Annapolis Convention 1786--5 States *SHAYS' REBELLION in Dec. 1786*Feb. 1787 Congress gives permission for
revising the AoC*Philadelphia meeting becomes the
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONMay-September 1787
The Framers: the guys who wrote the Constitution
James Madison, the Father of the Constitution
Characteristics of the Framers*relatively young *well-to-do
*politically experienced*well educated *white
*men
Prominent People Not There*Thomas Jefferson *John Adams *Patrick Henry*John Hancock *Samuel Adams *Richard Henry Lee
Agreed to Work in Secret & Were Disposed to Compromise
Ratification Debate: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
*Anti-Feds' biggest problem with the Constitution was the lack of a bill of rights*Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote The Federalist Papers *The Federalist Papers were published in NY newspapers in an effort gain support*85 essays that explain the Constitution and the government it created
*After Madison assured Anti-Feds the First Congress could add a bill of rights,the opponents were appeased and the Constitution was ratified
*The Constitution went into effect March 4, 1789*The Bill of Rights was written and ushered through Congress by Madison*The Bill of Rights were ratified and then took effect Dec. 15, 1791
Amending the Constitution (Article V)
*Formal Amendments become part of the written Constitution*There are 4 ways to formally amend the Constitution
Proposal Stage:
1. 2/3 of both Houses of Congress
2. A national convention calledby Congress at the request
of2/3 of State legislatures
Ratification Stage:
A. 3/4 of State legislatures
B. 3/4 of State conventions
Can be enacted by using 1A, 2A, 1B, or 2B. 26 of 27 used method 1A; the 21st used 1B