Delegates wrote a constitution that has lasted for over 220 yearsWanted freedoms and a government that was strong, but not too strong
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Magna Carta• Means “Great Charter”• No one is above the law,
not even a king or queen• Right to a trial by a jury of
your peers
English Bill of Rights• Right to petition the gov’t
to make changes• Fair punishment according
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Parliamentary Government• Parliament – British law-making body
It is bicameral – two houses• Prime Minister is the Chief Executive
The United States chose a government similar to parliamentary government, but also different in many ways
“Mayflower Compact”• Written by the Pilgrims• Social Contract – people gave up certain
freedoms for the benefit of everyone else• Direct Democracy – Every citizen (male church
members) voted on laws for the colony
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Delegates had secret meetings because they wanted to discuss their ideas freely
They did not want to be pressured by the public We know what happened because James Madison
kept a private journal http
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Agreed on federalism – divides government powers between a national government and state governments
FEDERALISM
http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/Federalism_cake600g50.gif
To settle many arguments, the delegates had to compromise – each side gives up part of its demands in order to reach a solution
The Great CompromiseThe Presidential Compromise (Electoral College)3/5 Compromise
Compromises Chart - Word Doc.doc
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Every 5 slaves would count as 3 free persons Ex) Normal Count
• 15,000 Whites
+ 5,000 Slaves 20,000 – Total Population
Ex) Under the 3/5 Compromise• 15,000 Whites + 5,000 Slaves 18,000 – Total Population***3/5 of 5,000 is 3,000; therefore, only 3,000 slaves count
in the total population
Electoral College – group of electors who choose the president and vice president
# of representatives + # of senatorsTotal # of Electoral votes in a state
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9 of the 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to become law
Two factions (early political parties) formed in support of / opposition to the Constitution…
Alexander Hamilton
(Federalist)
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Thomas Jefferson (Anti-Federalist)
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FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS
Alexander Hamilton Strong national
government Wrote The Federalist
Papers Supported the new
Constitution
Thomas Jefferson Strong state governments Opposed the new
Constitution Believed the Constitution
would not protect states’ rights or personal freedoms
WANTED A BILL OF RIGHTS ADDED TO PROTECT FREEDOMS!!!
• Constitution is ratified in June 1788• NC ratified the Constitution after is was already in effect
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