1. Bellringer
How did the development of the U.S. Constitution represent a response to the political problems Americans faced prior to independence?
The states were granted more authority and protections than they had previously enjoyed.
The ratification of the plan of government required unanimous approval by the states.
The powers of the national government were reduced, and majority rule was enshrined as the supreme law.
The economic powers of the national government were strengthened, and the rights of individuals were guaranteed.

2. Constitution and Bill of Rights
QC Standards
B.1.i. Interpret the ideas and principles expressed in the U.S. Constitution
B.1.j. Explain the development of the Bill of Rights, and assess various debates of the day
Learning Targets
U1T14 - I can compare/contrast the views of Federalists and Anti-federalists
U1T15 - I can identify the basic structure of the Constitution and principles/themes it includes.
U1T16 - I can explain the addition of the Bill of Rights and describe its protections.

3. Introduction - lists 6 goals for American government:
Form a more perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure domestic tranquility (Peace)
Provide for the common Defense
Promote the general Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty.
7 articles create 3 branches and describe how each will work.
Changes made to the Constitution.
First ten = Bill of Rights (1791); list individual freedoms and protections.

4. Popular Sovereignty.
Separation of Powers.
Checks & Balances.
Limited Government.
Federalism.

5. Basic Principles: Popular Sovereignty
Power belongs to the people and government must be based on the “consent of the governed”.
Expanded by amendments 15, 19, and 26 (gave the right to vote to non-whites, women, and 18 year olds)

6. Basic Principles: Separation of Powers
3 branches divide powers to:
make laws (congress/legislative)
manage laws (president/executive)
interpret laws (courts/judicial)

7. Basic Principles: Checks and Balances
Each branch of government has some control over the others.
Example: Congress passes laws and the President may veto those laws. In turn, Congress may refuse to provide funds the President requests for implementing programs.

8. Basic Principles: Limited Government
Government does not hold all the power and that it does only those things that people allow it to do.
Examples: Presidents can be impeached, representatives voted out of office, judges denied confirmation by the Senate.

9. Basic Principles: Federalism
Power between the national level and the states is divided.
Federal (National) Power Only = Delegated Powers
State Power Only = Reserved Powers
Both Federal and State = Concurrent Powers

11. Ratification of the Constitution

12. Historical Context
Even after the Constitution was written, 9 of 13 state legislatures still had to ratify (approve) the new law of the land.
Ratification was closely contested nationally during and 1788.
Rejection by any of the four most prominent states - MA, NY, PA, or VA would have doomed the Constitution

13. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

14. Federalists Anti-Federalists
Favored a strong nat’l gov’t – they were for the Constitution.
Wanted to limit state power
Supporters = Large farmers, merchants, artisans
Wrote the Federalists Papers (propaganda for the new Constitution)
Opposed a strong nat’l gov’t – they were against the Constitution.
Strong support for local control
Supporters = Small farmers, often from rural areas
Write on own paper.

15. Wealth

16. Occupation

17. The Federalist Papers
Essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Blessings of national government
Criticism of the Articles of Confederation
Defense of the Constitution
Analysis on the costs and benefits of freedom.

18. Ratification of the Constitution: Who Supports? Who Opposes?
This country should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties [territories].
The states should respectively have laws, courts, force, and revenues of their own sufficient for their own security; they ought to be fit to keep house alone if necessary.
One government never can extend equal benefits to all parts of the United States. Different laws, customs, and opinions exist in the different states, which by a uniform system of laws would be unreasonable.
I am against inserting a declaration of rights in the Constitution If such an addition is not dangerous, it is at least unnecessary.
A bill of rights serves to secure the minority against the usurpation [takeover] and tyranny [cruelty] of the majority.

19. Do these artists support or oppose ratification of the Constitution?

20. Ratification of the Constitution
Yes No 1
December 7, 1787
Delaware 30 2
December 11, 1787
Pennsylvania 46 23 3
December 18, 1787
New Jersey 38 4
January 2, 1788
Georgia 26 5
January 9, 1788
Connecticut
128 40 6
February 6, 1788
Massachusetts
187
168 7
April 26, 1788
Maryland 63 11 8
May 23, 1788
South Carolina
149 73 9
June 21, 1788
New Hampshire 57 47 10
June 25, 1788
Virginia 89 79
July 26, 1788
New York 27 12
November 21, 1789
North Carolina
194 77 13
May 29, 1790
Rhode Island 34 32

21. Bill of Rights
The Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
This meant the Constitution can be ratified or changed
First 10 amendments/changes to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights

22. Bill of Rights and Current Issues
Make a list on the board of all of the things that you expect to be different when you go to college.
Put a star next to the list of expectations that have to do with the First Amendment (speech, press, religion, association, assembly, and petition)
If your list does not include all of these rights, think of examples of each one.
You will be placed into a group with one of the following focus areas:
The freedoms of religion and association
The freedoms of speech and press
The freedoms of assembly and petition

23. Bill of Rights and Current Issues
Each group should find an examples of situations on campus in which college students endured controversies over the rights specified by their focus area. (Use info provided)
Students should research their example and prepare a 5 minute presentation for the class. Be sure to include:
Background info what freedom or protection has been violated.
Details about the specific events.
How those events relate to the Bill of Rights.
Explanation of who was right and who was wrong (student or college) and why.
Ideas for Presentations:
Holding a mock trial of the case
Role-playing the events in the case
Creating a newspaper or newscast about the case
Holding a mock interview with both sides of the case
You will be evaluated by your peers, using the rubric provided.

24. Wrap Up
Is there a difference between the First Amendment rights of high school and college students? Why or why not?
What sorts of things can college students do to exercise First Amendment rights that high school students may not be able to?
In practice, how are college students’ First Amendment rights limited compared to other adults’ rights?
Do you believe that these limitations are constitutional? Why or why not?

25. Exit Slip:
18. Why did the Federalists support the ratification of the Constitution?
19. Why did the Anti-Federalists oppose the ratification of the Constitution?
20. Identify and describe 3 of the key principles of the Constitution.
21. Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
22. Identify and describe 3 of the first 10 amendments.