1. Creating A Constitution
Constitution = a document stating the rules under which a government will operate
Leaders of the new nation remembered what they had hated about British rule
Americans sought to create a republic in which the states had more power than the central government
Explain different levels of government…state and national
As the Continental Congress began moving towards independence in 1776, leaders in the individual states began creating governments
11 of 13 states created new constitutions

2. Creating a Constitution Targets
I can determine the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
I can evaluate and debate why the Constitutional Convention decided to create an entirely new framework of government.
I can describe what shaped the outcome of the Constitutional Convention in 1787
I can explain how compromises solved crises in the Constitutional Convention.

3. Chart Who proposed the plan? What was included in the plan?
Who supported the plan?
Virginia Plan page (read through The Great Compromise)
New Jersey Plan page 214
Great Compromise page (Terms of Compromise)

4. Federalists versus Anti-Federalists
Chapter 7 Section 3
Federalists versus Anti-Federalists
Federalists
Leaders:
John Jay
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Position on the new Constitution: supported it
Main argument for position: need for a strong central government

5. Federalists versus Anti-Federalists
Leaders:
Patrick Henry
George Mason
Position on the new Constitution: against it
Arguments for position:
It weakened state power
It had no bill of rights
The President could become like a king by being repeatedly reelected

6. The Ratification Debate
Approval needed from 9 states before the Constitution could go into effect
Importance of Massachusetts: Anti-federalists hoped it would reject the Constitution because opposition was strong where Shay’s Rebellion had occurred. It was approved after a major campaign by the Federalists
Importance of Virginia: Virginia was large and powerful. If it rejected the Constitution, New York and other states might do so, too.

7. The Bill of Rights
Many states believed that a bill of rights was essential to protect basic liberties and to protect against abuses by the federal government.
First Amendment: guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and press
Second Amendment: deals with the right to bear arms
Third Amendment: bars Congress from forcing citizens to keep troops in their homes

8. The Bill of Rights
Fourth Amendment: protects citizens from unreasonable searches of their homes or seizure of their property
Fifth through Eighth Amendments: protect citizens who are accused of crimes and brought to trial
Ninth and Tenth Amendments: limit the powers of the federal government to those granted in the Constitution.