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Published byLucas Ward Modified over 8 years ago
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The Constitution: Chapter 2
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1. Independent Judiciary 2. No Quartering Troops in Private Homes 3. Freedom of Trade
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4.No Taxation without Representation 5.Loss of Trust in English Law Protecting Colonial Rights and Liberties
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POWER AMBITION CORRUPTION GREED
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LIFE LIBERTY PROPERTY Pursuit of Happiness RIGHTS Natural Law Natural Rights
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Government Based on the Consent of the Governed Limits on Government by a Written Constitution
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Dominant Branch The Only Branch (Partially) Elected by the People
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Could not raise revenue via taxes Could not control commerce ◦ Between states ◦ International The United States was NOT sovereign ◦ Each state was sovereign ◦ The central government was subordinate to the states
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Voting Rules ◦ One for each state – no matter how populated ◦ 9 out of the 13 (~70%) for basic laws ◦ 13 out of the 13 (100%) for any amendments Selection of Delegates ◦ By state legislatures ◦ NOT by the people!
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Tiny National Army ◦State Militias Conflict between States Yankee -Pennamite Wars Resolved: 1799 Virginia-Pennsylvania Border Disputes Land Reorganized: 1788
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Fix The Articles Can’t be Fixed Scrap Them! 1.Not what the convention was called to do 2.A power grab? 3.Revolution?
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A Balancing Act! STRENGTH to preserve ORDER WEAKNESS to preserve LIBERTY
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The New Jersey Plan 1. From fear of Large State domination in legislature 2. Amend Articles; not replace them 3. Keep representation equal for all states, big or small
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The nation is too big for PURE democracy Beware popular passions A REPUBLIC would be better!
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Reign in the Masses ◦ Senate = elected by state legislators ◦ President = elected by electors ◦ Bicameral Legislature eases (placates?) public tensions House allows for popular sovereignty while Senate allows for control ◦ Judicial Review Later established Rule of Law, not knee jerk reactions of the people ◦ Slow Legislative Process = THINK TIME Laws Amendments
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How to keep the government from getting too strong? Separation of Powers Federalism + with checks and balances!
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Powers ◦ Enumerated National Government ONLY CLEARLY stated in The Constitution ◦ Reserved State Governments ONLY If not given to the National Government, it’s the State Governments’ responsibilities 10 th Amendment ◦ Concurrent Shared between states and national governments
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Ratification ◦ By state conventions ◦ Only need 9 states to ratify ◦ ILLEGAL! Articles of Confederation was still the supreme law of the national government Articles of Confederation call for ALL states to ratify
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For the cause of LIBERTY! ◦ Did this document provide enough protection? Anti-Federalists ◦ Small republics ALONE can secure individual liberties ◦ History shows that strong central governments attack individual liberties Federalists ◦ Large extended republics COULD secure liberties ◦ They create coalitions from all over Link diverse interests for short periods Alliances will shift based on topics ◦ Distances power from the passions of the people
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Let’s put in a BILL OF RIGHTS! ◦ NO Rights are in the Constitution States have their own bills of rights The government can not do more than what is IN the Constitution ◦ YES Anti-Federalists are demanding it No Bill; No Constitution!
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Slavery ◦ Only mentioned THREE TIMES Counting Population ◦ For Representatives in the House ◦ 3/5 Compromise Slave trade guaranteed until 1808 (at least) Fugitive Slave Clause ◦ If not included South would not have ratified The Constitution would be D.O.A. ◦ Civil War is inevitable
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At the CONVENTION ◦ Economic Interests Diverse backgrounds of Founding Fathers ◦ Farmers ◦ Merchants No evidence of personal interests in final document State interests outweighed personal interests Slave holders ◦ The exception to the rule ◦ Protect slavery ◦ Minimize federal interference with the practice
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At the STATE CONVENTIONS Much greater role ◦ Pro-ratification Merchants Urban Large western land holders Those owed money by the government Non-slave holders ◦ Anti-ratification Farmers Slave holders Those not owed money by the government
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The government is TOO WEAK to protect social equality Modern view ◦ Cannot resist pressures of special interests ◦ Monday Morning Quarterbacking Founders’ goal ◦ Concerned with POLITICAL equality ◦ Less concerned about ECONOMIC equality
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Strengthen Office of the President While Making It MORE Accountable to the Voters Allow Congressmen in Cabinet Allow President to Dissolve Congress and Call for Special Elections Allow Congress to Call for Special Presidential Recall Election Require President and Congressmen to Run as a Team in Each District Extend Presidential Term ◦ 6 years ◦ No Re-election Extend Representative Terms to Match Presidential Term (Sounds more like a parliamentarian system rather than like a presidential system to me)
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