1. Revolution to Constitution

2. Objectives Students will…
Categorize the various components on the Declaration of Independent
Describe how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution
Compare the Virginia and New Jersey Plan
ID cause/effect relationships in the development of American government
Standard: GC.5 Summarize (CC) with supporting evidence why the Founding Fathers established a constitutional system that limited the power of government. (H, P)

3. The path to revolution…
Colonial governments were set up a lot like English governments
Ideas we stole from England…
Ordered government
Wanted to regulate their relations with each other
Limited government
Government is not all powerful
There are individual rights that can’t be taken away
Representative government
Government should serve the will of the people

4. Magna Carta (1215) Written by rich land owners
Limited the king’s power to tax English citizens
Gave citizens the right to due process and a trial
Allowed citizens to elect people to represent them (led to the creation of Parliament)
Promoted freedom of religion
Ignored for 400 years
"The democratic aspiration is no mere recent phase in human history It was written in Magna Carta."
--Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1941 Inaugural address
"To no one will We sell, to no one will We deny or delay, right or justice.”
-Magna Carta

5. English Bill of Rights (1689)
Limited the king’s power to tax English citizens
Gave citizens the right to due process and a trial
Allowed citizens to elect people to represent them
Provided citizens with the opportunity to come to the king with complaints
Was actually followed

6. The Coming of Independence
The colonies were being taxed to pay for British wars
“taxation without representation”
Since England was so far away, the colonies were essentially self-governed
First Continental Congress (1774)
Second Continental Congress ( )

7. The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
Thomas Jefferson was the main writer
Laid out the natural rights of man and declared that the king had violated those rights

8. Read the DOI (together)
Anatomy of the DOI
The Preamble- the purpose
Rights- what rights do people have?
Grievances- what did Britain do?
Intentions- what are the colonists going to do about it?

9. The New Government
After the Revolution, the Framers were given the task to make a new government
Thinking about the Declaration, what you think the Framers wanted in a new government?
More state power
No central power

10. The Articles of Confederation
The first government after revolution
It was described as a “firm league of friendship” between the states
The new government was set up in response to the abuses of the King and Parliament of England
Life under British rule left Americans a little wary of a new government
They had incentive to keep the government weak
Made a confederation
A loose alliance of independent states

11. The Articles of Confederation
Provisions:
Each state was independent and would have its own government
Each state would send representatives to the “Congress of the Confederation,” a lawmaking body
Congress was the only branch of government
In Congress, each state got one vote

12. The Articles of Confederation
The Articles had good parts and bad parts
Pros
Cons
States got to keep their power
Congress could raise a military to protect the states
Congress could borrow money
Congress couldn't enforce laws
Congress couldn’t tax to pay for the military or pay down debt from the Revolutionary War
Could only be amended by unanimous vote

13. The Articles of Confederation
It became apparent early that this government wasn’t working
States had different needs
Fishing based economy vs. farming based economy
States had different sizes
Population
People had different opinions
Fear of central government vs. need for a central government

14. Compromise?
Several states realized the Articles weren’t working and came together to amend them
Many states wanted three branches
The federal government needed to be able to enforce law
May 25, 1787

15. Representation
The biggest argument became about representation in Congress
Under the Articles, each state sent one representative
Large states hated is, small states loved it
The Framers set out to come up with a plan that most could be happy with

16. Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan
VA Plan
NJ Plan
Legislative branch has 2 chambers
Number of votes depends on the state’s population
Legislative branch has one chamber
Each state gets one vote

17. The Connecticut Compromise (aka The Great Compromise)
Congress is divided into two chambers
The House and the Senate
House: population
Senate: equality
Other problems the Constitution solves
The Constitution requires states to treat citizens of other states the same
The Constitution can be amended by ¾ of the states
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land

18. Cause and Effect
Every grievance in the Declaration can be tied to a provision in the Articles
The weaknesses in the Articles can be tied to the provisions in the Constitution
[Cause and effect activity]

19. Before you go…
Complete the true/false exit ticket