The First Attempt at Democracy VUS5a The First Attempt at Democracy “Is it better to exchange rule by one tyrant living 3,000 miles away for rule by 3,000 tyrants living one mile away?”

As you view this slide show, keep these questions in mind. How did America’s pre-Revolutionary relationship with England influence the structure of the first national government? What weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to the effort to draft a new constitution?

During the Constitutional Era, the Americans made two attempts to establish a workable government based on republican principles. The first one FAILED!

American political leaders, fearful of a powerful central government like England’s, created the Articles of Confederation, adopted at the end of the Revolutionary war.

Our First Attempt: The Articles of Confederation The leaders were fearful of a powerful government- they had seen their liberties crushed by the King. The first government was designed to be weak to prevent “tyranny”. Most power would be shared with states. The signing of the Declaration of Independence proved that Americans were opposed to a powerful government.

The Articles Were WEAK! No executive branch or judicial branch Difficult to pass laws and impossible to amend Shared too much power with states No power to tax or regulate commerce No ability to create common currency Each state had one vote- regardless of size

“What a victory for our enemy to find we can not govern ourselves!” The territory was too vast to govern with a weak government. The economy was in terrible shape. Small border fights were occurring between some states. There was no standard currency. U.S. in 1790

OOPS! Time to try again: A convention was called in 1787 to make necessary changes. All states except Rhode Island sent delegates. What they created in the room above still works today!

Our Government Through Compromise VUS5b GIVE AND TAKE: Our Government Through Compromise

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention balance competing interests? What compromises needed to be made?

Key Leaders: George Washington Washington presided at the Convention and, although seldom participating in the debates, lent his enormous prestige to the proceedings.

Key Leaders: James Madison “Father of the Constitution” Virginian and a brilliant political philosopher, often led the debate and kept copious notes of the proceedings—the best record historians have of what transpired at the Constitutional Convention.

James Madison: “Father of the Constitution” At the Convention, Madison authored the “Virginia Plan”, which proposed a federal government of three separate branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and became the foundation for the structure of the new government. He later authored much of the Bill of Rights.

The first words of the Preamble to the Constitution prove our belief that the power to govern comes from the people! The Constitution of the United States of America established a government that shared power between the national government and state governments, protected the rights of states, and provided a system for orderly change through amendments to the Constitution itself.

Key Issues and Resolutions: Made federal law the supreme law of the land (Supremacy Clause), but otherwise gave the states considerable leeway to govern themselves Balanced power between large and small states by creating a Senate - where each state gets two senators, and a House of Representatives - with membership based on population (the “Great Compromise”)

Key Issues and Resolutions: Placated the Southern states by counting the slaves as three-fifths of the population when determining representation in the U.S. House of Representatives (Three-fifths Compromise)

Key Issues and Resolutions: Avoided a too-powerful central government by establishing three co-equal branches (separation of powers) This table shows the division of governmental responsibilities. *Numerous Checks and Balances are the rules that prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful!

Key Issues and Resolutions: The Constitution limited the powers of the federal government to those identified in the Constitution. So that the government could adjust to changing times, an orderly method of changing the Constitution by adding amendments has been included.

Our Protections - Our Liberties VUS5c The Bill of Rights Our Protections - Our Liberties

The major principles of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution were based on earlier Virginia statutes!

Virginia’s Influence: The major principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights Came from the Virginia Declaration of Rights This outlined basic human rights which the government should not violate. Written by George Mason in 1776

Virginia’s Influence: The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom ended the practice of a government supported church Separation of Church and State in Virginia Written by Thomas Jefferson Separation of Church and State was very important to Jefferson

The Bill of Rights: James Madison, a Virginian, consulted the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom when drafting the amendments that eventually became the United States Bill of Rights. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution define rights that can not be taken away!

Our Essential Liberties: 1st- Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition 2nd- state militia - bare arms 3rd- quartering soldiers 4th- protections from unlawful searches and seizures 5th- grand jury indictment, double-jeopardy, self-incrimination and due process 6th- speedy and public trial, jury trial, legal counsel and confront witnesses 7th- jury trial in civil cases 8th- cruel and unusual punishment 9th- enumeration of rights 10th- Federalism (powers not delegated to U.S. or denied to states belong to states or the people)

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are the rules that the government must follow. This framework limits the power of the government- and effectively protects the liberties of the people!

Struggle for Ratification: VUS5d Struggle for Ratification: Final approval needed 9 states to approve before the new constitution would go into effect!

What were the arguments for and against the ratification of the Constitution? Who were the leading Federalists and Anti-Federalists in the pivotal ratification debate in Virginia?

Elements of Federalist and Anti-Federalist thought are reflected in contemporary political debate on issues such as the size and role of government, federalism, and the protection of individual rights.

The Federalist Position: (pro-ratification) The Federalists favored a strong national government that shared some power with the states. A strong central government could promote economic development and public improvements. Today those who see a primary role for the federal government in solving national problems are heirs to this tradition!

Key Federalists Were: George Washington- “The Man”! Alexander Hamilton- Financial wiz and first Secretary of Treasury James Madison- Father of the Constitution The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by Madison, Jay and Hamilton to explain the Constitution and urge ratification. John Jay- First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Anti-Federalists: (opposed ratification) The Anti-Federalists feared an overly powerful central government destructive of the rights of individuals and the prerogatives of the states. They demanded a bill of rights be added to the Constitution. Today more conservative thinkers echo these concerns and champion liberty, individual initiative, and free markets.

The Key Anti-Federalists: Richard Henry Lee- He proposed the resolution to declare Independence at the Second Continental Congress! George Mason- Authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights Patrick Henry- “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

A NEW GOVERNMENT The Constitution was ratified in 1788. The Federalists promised to add a bill of rights as their first order of business. Elections were held and the government was inaugurated in 1789 in the new capital, New York.

Legacies: Ratification of the Constitution did not end debate on governmental power or how to create “a more perfect union.” Economic, regional, social, ideological, religious, and political tensions spawned continuing debates over the meaning of the Constitution for generations—a debate that continues today. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights gave Americans a blueprint for successful self-government that has become a model for the rest of the world!