The Founding of the American Democratic System What led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution?

Articles of Confederation: The Government They Created No executive branch No judicial branch Unicameral legislature Equal representation (one vote per state) Nine votes necessary for legislation Unanimity necessary for amendments or abolition

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation Congress did not have power to tax Congress could not regulate commerce States could issue their own currency Executive not independent of Congress No national judicial system Needed unanimous decision to amend All laws needed 9/13 states to approve

The New Nation 1789-1800 The Constitution Political Parties Central Question: What major issues faced the new country and how were those issues debated and addressed? 1789-1800 The Constitution Political Parties George Washington’s Presidency Westward Expansion

Central Dilemmas How will states share power in the new government? What about slavery? How will the new government be strong enough to work but not so strong that it becomes tyrannical? How much Power to the People? How will the new Constitution be ratified?

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Federalists=For a new Constitution Anti=Against Why might some be for it and why might some be against it? Federalists wanted one central government and tended to be wealthy and powerful Poor, in debt, and state’s rights people tended to be anti-Federalists

I. Constitutional Convention 1787, Philadelphia Rich and famous Failures of the Articles of Confederation Constitution more or less democratic?

IV. Consensus and Conflict A. Consensus Almost all agreed that Articles were inept and needed to be replaced Support for strengthened national government Dangers of factions Belief in republican form of government

IV. Conflict and Compromise Representation of states in legislature Connecticut Compromise Status of slavery 3/5 Compromise End of Slave Trade Selection of the President Electoral College

Slavery: Story of Political Power of South 3/5 Compromise: 3/5's of state's slave population would be counted in states population and taxation ** contributes to the count of representatives in the House of Reps b. Prohibited enactment against slave trade until 1808 (ending slave importation) c. Required non-slave states to return runaways

DBQ Questions Clarifying questions/discussion On a separate piece of paper (half sheet) 1. Create a topic sentence that addresses the first part of the prompt. Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the US Constitution… 2. Define Point of View. 3. Identify the Point of View in Document B. 4. How does the Point of View in Document B influence what is being said in Document B.

Key Components 1. Federalism Complete the Venn Diagram using the handouts Expressed or Implied=National/Federal Gov’t Reserved=State Gov’ts Concurrent=Shared 2. Checks and balances and separation of powers Complete reading and the handouts from pp. 3 and 4

Constitution as a Living Document Jefferson – “The real friends of the Constitution in its federal form, if they wish it to be immortal, should be attentive, by amendments, to make it keep pace with the advance of the age in science and experience” Two ways to change: By amendment By interpretation Strict vs. Loose

2013 DBQ Prompt: Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the United States Constitution (1787–1788) and analyze how those issues continued to divide the nation during the two decades following ratification (1789–1809).