Chapter 9, Lesson 4 ACOS #9: List inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation and struggles over the ratification of the Constitution. ACOS #9a: List powers granted to Congress, the President, and those of the people. ACOS #9b: Discuss major ideas of the Constitution, including powers of the three branches of government. ACOS #9d: Describe the process by which territories achieve statehood under the Constitution.

The First President In 1789, states chose representatives for a group called the electoral college. It was the job of the electoral college to select a president. Everyone in the electoral college agreed that George Washington was the one for the job. George Washington became the first President under the Constitution.

Washington’s Government His inauguration was held in New York City. An inauguration is an official ceremony to make someone President. Congress created 3 departments to help Washington run the executive branch.

Washington’s Appointees Thomas Jefferson became Washington’s Secretary of State; Alexander Hamilton became Secretary of Treasury; General Henry Knox became Secretary of War; Edmund Randolph became Attorney General. Together these men became known as the President’s Cabinet. A cabinet is a group chosen by the President to help run the executive branch and give the President advice.

Arguments in the Cabinet Jefferson and Hamilton disagreed so often that followers of each formed political parties. A political party is a group of people who share similar ideas about government.

A National Bank Hamilton supported a National Bank. Washington agreed and set up a National Bank. The bank controlled the money of the United States. Customers could keep money in savings accounts. The bank borrows from savings accounts and makes loans. The bank earns money on the loans by charging interest. Interest is what people pay to borrow money.

The New Capital Hamilton supported Jefferson’s idea to build a new capital on the Potomac River. A capital is the city where the government meets. President Washington chose the exact location. The city was named Washington after the President. Pierre L’Enfant designed the city. After 8 years as President, Washington retired.

Bill of Rights Test The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. An amendment is an official change or addition to a law. The Bill of Rights is like a promise to the people of the United States. It lists many of the individual promises to protect. 1. Freedom of religion, speech, petition and assembly, and the press. 2. Right to bear arms. 3. People do not have to allow solders to live in their homes (quartering). 4. Police cannot search people or their homes without good reason (warrants). 5. People accused of a crime have the right to a fair trial, and cannot be charged for the same crime twice (double jeopardy). Accused people do not have to speak against themselves at a trial. 6. People have the right to a speedy, public trial by jury. You also have the right to a lawyer, and be told what crime they are accused of. 7. If people have a disagreement about something worth more than $20, they have the right to a trial by jury. 8. Accused people can remain out of jail until their trial on bail (in most cases). Bail cannot be too high and you cannot punish people in cruel ways. 9. People have other rights besides those slated in the Constitution. 10. Any powers the Constitution does not give to the federal government belong to the states or the people.

Key Vocabulary Words **An official ceremony to make someone President. inauguration **A group chosen by the President to help run the executive branch cabinet

Key Vocabulary Words **A group of people who political party share similar ideas about government. political party interest **What people pay to borrow money **City where the government meets capital