The Constitution Lecture Notes

With the articles of Confederation Where did they go wrong? With the articles of Confederation

1. State Autonomy States had different currency Printing money Inflation States had individual debts States had different taxes States made trade agreements with each other Some states did not recognize the currency of others

2. No Common Defense Congress could not afford to pay soldiers Soldiers were not paid for service during American Revolution Soldiers were equipping themselves

3. Agreement between colonies Different colonies had different perspectives and priorities Large colonies had more money and wanted privilege Small colonies were poor and wanted charity

4. Taxes Larger states were able to levy more taxes, thus making them wealthy Smaller states were not able to levy as much taxes, them making them less wealthy The National Government was not able to levy taxes There was no requirement of how much each state gives in taxes. Percentage or Raw Number

5. National Government is a statue 13 of 13 colonies needed to change Articles 9 of 13 needed to make laws Treaties Trade International diplomacy

It all comes down to money National Gov’t can’t raise taxes No money to pay debt, other countries mad No money to pay soldier, soldier leave No way to coerce money from states States have different economies Different priorities Balance of power

The Constitutional Convention: May – Sept. 1787 Key conflicts: Strong central government v. strong states Large states v. small states North v. South Slavery?

The Constitution Establishes government structure, as well rules and laws. Strong central government Three Branches: Legislative –make laws Executive –enforce laws Judicial – interprets laws

Ratifying the Constitution Federalists Anti-Federalists Ratify (approve) the Constitution as it was decided at the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution protects the people as written. The Constitution is flawed and needs to be fixed before it can be ratified. More protection for the people!

The Bill of Rights -1791 Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, assembly The right to bear arms (own a weapon) Do not have to house a soldier Unreasonable search and seizure No double jeopardy (tried for the same crime twice) Fair and speedy trial –criminal Trial by jury –common law Cruel and unusual punishment People retain certain rights not written in the Constitution Powers not assigned to the US are reserved to the states and/or the people

Limitations to Freedom of Speech –what is not protected Incite violence (Fire!!!) To make or distribute obscene materials To burn draft cards as an anti-war protest Permitting students to print articles in a school newspaper against the school administration Students making an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event Students advocating illegal drug use at a school-sponsored event.

Checks and Balances The Constitution gives each branch of government the power to check, or limit, certain actions of the other branches. It also balances each branch’s powers with the powers of the other branches. Checks and balances ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful. 2nd period

Hand out practice sheet