 The Revolution was taking place during a time called the Enlightenment. › Challenge traditional ideals › Took root in US colonies and became dominant political and philosophical thought  Reason  Natural Law  Progress  Liberty  Toleration

 “Firm league of friendship” with each state retaining “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.”  Main problems: › No power to levy taxes › No executive or judicial branch › Could not regulate trade or promote commerce; no central currency (no central economy) › Amendments had to be unanimous

 Shays’s Rebellion › Massachusetts farmers were losing land because they could not pay their debts with hard currency › Demanded relief and wider circulation of paper money but were denied › Farmers forced judges to close their courts › Scared leaders into calling for a meeting to correct some fundamental problems

 12 states sent delegation to Philadelphia › Rhode Island refused  55 delegates  “sole and express purpose” of revising the Articles of Confederation › One week in they started a whole new Constitution  Shared Ideas › Human Nature › Political Conflict › Purpose of Government › Nature of Government

 Biggest debate was over representation (surprise!) › Gave us bicameral legislature › House = population representation › Senate = equal represenatation  Virginia Plan › Bicameral legislature based on representation › The House selected the Senate. Both houses selected the President and Judges  New Jersey Plan › Unicameral – each state had equal representatives

 “free persons” and “3/5 th of all other persons” should be counted for representation AND taxation  13 th amendment eliminated the compromise  Southern Position › Owned 90% of slaves, making up 30% of population  Northern Position › Some had moral opposition to slavery › Most saw slaves as property – why not count cattle and horses?

1. Fix problems with Articles while maintaining purpose of Declaration 2. Includes six goals of government: “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.”

-Congress is given leaders, organization, and 17 duties Contains the Elastic Clause Congress is given instructions to “make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper”

Article I is lengthy, and Congress has adopted many practices that are not contained in the Article. Ex. Committee systems Section 9: Writ of Habeas Corpus - People cannot be held without being able to answer to charges, unless public safety requires it.

Article describes the process known as the Electoral College ** Most of this section was amended by the 12 th Amendment Discusses the Powers of the President (3) A. Command the military B. Deal with Foreign Nations C. Pick Heads of Departments

Federal Court system is established with lower courts if needed. Judges’ salaries are guaranteed. Carefully defines treason.

States must give various laws of other states “Full Faith and Credit.” Ex. Gay Marriage; Extradition for the Death Penalty States are guaranteed protection by Congress, but President can step in if Legislature cannot be convened. Ex. Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus in Maryland

States that amendments may be proposed in two ways A. 2/3 votes by each house of Congress B. 2/3 of states legislatures can request that Congress can call for a national convention *** No amendments have been passed by the second method.

“The Supremacy Clause” Meaning: Establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land Government must also: - Honor prior debts of the nation - Government leaders don’t have to make religious oaths

9 of the 13 states ratified the Constitution in 1788 Waited for Virginia and New York to hold state elections. Once ratified it went into effect. North Carolina reversed its decision and ratified in Rhode Island, the one state that did not ratify, finally did in 1791.

Anti-Federalists fought the ratification of the Constitution – the major sticking point was the lack of clear limits to federal power. Federalist agreed to the Bill of Rights once the new Congress was formed in 1789.

Amendment #1: Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition, and Religion Amendment #2: Right to Bare Arms Amendment #3: Protection from Quartering Troops Amendment #4: Protection from Unreasonable Search and Seizure

Amendment #5: Due Process, Self- Incrimination, and Double Jeopardy Amendment #6: Right to a Speedy and Public Trial Amendment #7: Right to a Trial by Jury Amendment #8: Protection against Cruel and Unusual Punishment/Excessive Bail

Amendment #9: Rights Protected by the Constitution Amendment #10: States Rights over Federal Rights (Reserved Powers)