The United States Constitution Linda Peeler Jesse Boyd Elementary Fall 2003

The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution by Howard Chandler Christy

What is the Constitution?  It is the supreme law of the land.  It established our form of government.  It guarantees the rights and liberties of the American people.  It made the United States a nation.

The Constitution contains……  The Preamble  7 articles  The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments)  17 additional amendments

The Preamble We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Seven Articles  Established the legislative branch: the Senate and the House of Representatives  Established the executive branch: the President and the Vice-President  Established the judicial branch: the Supreme Court and lesser courts

The Bill of Rights  Freedom of speech  Freedom of religion  Freedom of the press  Freedom of assembly  Right to a jury trial  Right to keep and bear arms

Important Personalities George Washington was voted unanimously as president of the Constitutional Convention.

James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, pushed for a bill of rights to be included.

Even though ill, Benjamin Franklin helped the members of the Constitutional Convention work together for the good of the country. Even though ill, Benjamin Franklin helped the members of the Constitutional Convention work together for the good of the country.

South Carolina Signers  John Rutledge  Charles Cotesworth Pinckney  Charles Pinckney  Pierce Butler Biographies of South Carolina Signers Biographies of South Carolina Signers

The Constitution

Image and Photo Credits  Slide 2 – Painting – National Archives  Slide 8 – Picture of George Washington – courtesy of Library of Congress from the collection “Presidents and First Ladies-Portraits”  Slide 9 – Picture of James Madison – courtesy of the Library of Congress from the collection “Presidents and First Ladies-Portraits”  Slide 10 – Picture of Ben Franklin – courtesy of Library of Congress from the collection “Touring Turn-of-the- Century America: Photographs from the Detroit Publishing Company, ”  Slides 7 and 11 – free clip art