Constitution Notes
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Transcript Constitution Notes
The Constitution
2
Video: The Big Picture
2
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Learning Objectives
2.1
2.2
2
Trace the historical developments
that led to the colonists’ break with
Great Britain and the emergence of
the new American nation
Identify the key components of the
Articles of Confederation and the
reasons why it failed
Learning Objectives
2.3
2.4
2
Outline the issues and compromises
that were central to the writing of
the Constitution
Analyze the underlying principles of
the Constitution
Learning Objectives
2.5
2.6
2
Explain the conflicts that
characterized the drive for
ratification of the Constitution
Distinguish between the methods for
proposing and ratifying amendments
to the Constitution
Video: The Basics
2
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Roots of the New American
Nation
Trade and Taxation
First Steps Toward Independence
First Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
Declaration of Independence
2.1
Trade and Taxation
Mercantilism
Strict import/export controls
Widely ignored
Costly French and Indian War
New taxes on sugar (Sugar Act) and paper items
(Stamp Act)
“No taxation without representation”
2.1
First Steps Toward
Independence
Stamp Act Congress formed to address
grievances
Boston Massacre
2.1
What really happened at the Boston Massacre?
2.1
First Steps Toward
Independence
Committees of Correspondence build
public opinion against Britain
Boston Tea Party
Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
Quartering of British troops
2.1
First and Second Continental
Congresses
First Continental Congress (Sept. 1774)
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Second Continental Congress (May1775)
Olive Branch Petition (July 5, 1775)
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
2.1
Declaration of Independence
Committee of Five
Thomas Jefferson – principal author
John Locke
Social contract theory
Life, liberty, and property
2.1
2.1 What was the main grievance of
2.1
the Stamp Act Congress?
a. The Stamp Act barred the colonists from
using their own stamps
b. The Stamp Act included the taxing of books
and playing cards
c. The taxes imposed by the British had a
religious context and therefore conflicted
with the separation of church and state
d. The British Parliament had no authority to
tax the colonists without colonial
representation in that body
First Attempt at Government:
The Articles of Confederation
Problems Under the Articles of
Confederation
Shays’s Rebellion
2.2
Problems Under the Articles of
Confederation
No power to tax
No power to regulate commerce
No executive to implement laws
No judicial system
No coercive power over states
2.2
Shays’s Rebellion
Farmers protest farm foreclosures
Shays and followers shut down court
No state militia to quell the uprising
2.2
What was the result of Shays’s Rebellion?
2.2
2.2 What type of government did the
Articles of Confederation create?
a. Direct democracy
b. Confederacy
c. Republic
d. Federal government
2.2
Miracle at Philadelphia:
Writing the U.S. Constitution
Characteristics and Motives of the
Framers
Virginia and New Jersey Plans
Constitutional Compromises
Unfinished Business: Executive Branch
2.3
Characteristics and Motives of
the Framers
All wealthy white males
Mostly young
Some slave owners
Relatively educated
Social motives
Maintain social order which benefited them
Economic motives
Maintain property rights which benefited them
2.3
Virginia and New Jersey Plans
Virginia Plan
Large states
Powerful central government
Representation based on population
New Jersey Plan
Small states
Weak central government
Representation by state
2.3
Constitutional Compromises
Great Compromise
Bicameral legislature
Number of representatives based on population
Representatives directly elected
States given equal votes in Senate
Senators elected by state legislatures
National power supreme
2.3
Constitutional Compromises
Issue of Slavery
No limits for 20 years
Three-Fifths Compromise
Representation determined by counting slaves as
three-fifths of a person
Gave southern states more representatives
2.3
Unfinished Business: Executive
Branch
One-person executive
4-year term
Electoral College
Impeachment
2.3
2.3 How was the disagreement over
the Virginia and New Jersey Plans
resolved?
a. The Three-Fifths Compromise
b. Checks and balances
c. Creation of a bicameral legislature
d. Electoral College
2.3
U.S. Constitution
Basic Principles of the Constitution
Articles of the Constitution
2.4
Basic Principles of the
Constitution
2.4
Federalism
Power divided between national and state governments
National government considered supreme
Power derived from the people
Basic Principles of the
Constitution
2.4
Separation of Powers
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
Checks and Balances
Each branch has powers to check the other two branches
What are the separation of powers and
checks and balances under the U.S.
Constitution?
2.4
How do the Articles of Confederation and the
U.S. Constitution compare to one another?
2.4
Articles of the Constitution
Article I: Legislative branch
Article II: Executive branch
Article III: Judiciary branch
Articles IV through VII
2.4
Articles of the Constitution
Article I: Legislative branch
Enumerated powers
Necessary and proper clause
Also called the Elastic clause
Implied powers
2.4
Articles of the Constitution
Article II: Executive branch
commander in chief
authority to make treaties and federal appointments
execute the laws faithfully
2.4
Why does the president deliver a State of
the Union Address?
2.4
Articles of the Constitution
Article III: Judiciary branch
Articles IV through VII
Full faith and credit
Supremacy clause
Amendment process
2.4
2.4 Which clause makes federal laws
supersede conflicting state laws?
a. Necessary and proper clause
b. Full faith and credit clause
c. Elastic clause
d. Supremacy clause
2.4
Drive for Ratification of the
Constitution
Federalists versus Anti-Federalists
The Federalist Papers
Ratifying the Constitution
Bill of Rights
2.5
Federalists Versus AntiFederalists
Federalists favoured strong national
government
Anti-Federalists favoured strong state
governments
Ratification process was contentious
2.5
The Federalist Papers
85 essays by Federalists
Alexander Hamilton (51)
James Madison(26)
John Jay(3)
Appeared in New York newspapers
Theoretical, scholarly
Anti-Federalists responded with critique
of Constitution
2.5
Ratifying the Constitution
Delaware first state
Small states first
New Hampshire 9th state
New York and Virginia
2.5
The Bill of Rights
Condition of ratification
Sought by Anti-Federalists to protect civil liberties
First ten amendments to Constitution
2.5
TABLE 2.2: What were the differences
Between the Federalists and the
Anti-Federalists?
2.5
2.5 What did the Anti-Federalists
fear?
a. A strong national government
b. A weak national government
c. Strong state governments
d. Limited taxing power
2.5
Toward Reform: Methods of
Amending the Constitution
Formal Methods of Amending the
Constitution
Informal Methods of Amending the
Constitution
2.6
Formal Methods of Amending
the Constitution
Proposal
Two-thirds members of both houses
Two-thirds of state legislatures
Never used
Ratification
Vote in state legislature
Vote in ratifying convention
2.6
FIGURE 2.2: How can the U.S. Constitution be
amended?
2.6
Which is the only constitutional amendment
to be repealed?
2.6
Informal Methods of
Amending the Constitution
Judicial interpretation
Supreme Court can decide if laws are unconstitutional
Social and cultural change
Legislation can alter balance of power between
government and states
Technological change
Media is redefining free speech
2.6
2.6 Which of the following is an
informal method of amending the
Constitution?
a. Ratification by two-thirds of states
b. Presidential decree
c. Legislative oversight
d. Judicial interpretation
2.6