1. The Constitution
Lecture Notes

2. With the articles of Confederation
Where did they go wrong?
With the articles of Confederation

3. 1. State Autonomy States had different currency
Printing money
Inflation
States had individual debts
States had different taxes
States made trade agreements with each other
Some states did not recognize the currency of others

4. 2. No Common Defense Congress could not afford to pay soldiers
Soldiers were not paid for service during American Revolution
Soldiers were equipping themselves

5. 3. Agreement between colonies
Different colonies had different perspectives and priorities
Large colonies had more money and wanted privilege
Small colonies were poor and wanted charity

6. 4. Taxes
Larger states were able to levy more taxes, thus making them wealthy
Smaller states were not able to levy as much taxes, them making them less wealthy
The National Government was not able to levy taxes
There was no requirement of how much each state gives in taxes.
Percentage or Raw Number

7. 5. National Government is a statue
13 of 13 colonies needed to change Articles
9 of 13 needed to make laws
Treaties
Trade
International diplomacy

8. It all comes down to money
National Gov’t can’t raise taxes
No money to pay debt, other countries mad
No money to pay soldier, soldier leave
No way to coerce money from states
States have different economies
Different priorities
Balance of power

9. The Constitutional Convention: May – Sept. 1787
Key conflicts:
Strong central government v. strong states
Large states v. small states
North v. South
Slavery?

10. The Constitution
Establishes government structure, as well rules and laws.
Strong central government
Three Branches:
Legislative –make laws
Executive –enforce laws
Judicial – interprets laws

11. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Ratify (approve) the Constitution as it was decided at the Constitutional Convention.
The Constitution protects the people as written.
The Constitution is flawed and needs to be fixed before it can be ratified.
More protection for the people!

12. The Bill of Rights -1791
Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, assembly
The right to bear arms (own a weapon)
Do not have to house a soldier
Unreasonable search and seizure
No double jeopardy (tried for the same crime twice)
Fair and speedy trial –criminal
Trial by jury –common law
Cruel and unusual punishment
People retain certain rights not written in the Constitution
Powers not assigned to the US are reserved to the states and/or the people

13. Limitations to Freedom of Speech –what is not protected
Incite violence (Fire!!!)
To make or distribute obscene materials
To burn draft cards as an anti-war protest
Permitting students to print articles in a school newspaper against the school administration
Students making an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event
Students advocating illegal drug use at a school-sponsored event.

14. Checks and Balances
The Constitution gives each branch of government the power to check, or limit, certain actions of the other branches.
It also balances each branch’s powers with the powers of the other branches.
Checks and balances ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful.
2nd period

15. Hand out practice sheet