1. September 17th was Constitution Day!
Constitution Basics
September 17th was
Constitution Day!

2. America’s Beginnings at a Glance…
Settlers from Europe came to the “New World” for several reasons:
Economic opportunities
Religious Freedom
Thirteen Colonies start to emerge
Diverse types of people and ways of life
Enlightenment ideals mixed with unfair laws from the English led to colonist protests

3. Americans Declare Independence
Declaration of Independence is sent to England
Revolutionary War
Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 (British recognize U.S.A. as own nation)

4. A New Government No one wanted a central king anymore
Republic was answer
Citizens vote, elect leaders to rule them according to laws that they agree on
Lots of debt owed to wealthier Americans
Disputes over debtors and loaners...states wiping away debt

5. Articles of Confederation
Each new state had their own constitution (governing laws)
Articles of Confederation held the union together…sort of….very weak
No national currency, no national laws, no system to make whole nation treaties with other countries, no national defense system
Some countries outlaw slavery – others don’t

6. Need for a Centralized Government
Constitutional Convention convenes to develop a stronger centralized government
George Washington oversees (he’s not president yet)
Everyone agrees:
We need a stronger national gov’t
We should have 3 branches (exec., jud., legis.)
Branches should check/balance each other
Disagreement on:
How strong the national gov’t should be (should states be stronger?)

8. Compromises How should states be represented in Congress Slavery issue
Big states want population (win with House of Reps)
Small states want equal reps (win with senate)
Slavery issue
South can count every slave as 3/5 of a person when determining population
North gets promise that slave trade
would end in 1807

9. Approving the Constitution
Delegates from each state had to approve the Constitution
Pro-constitution people (Hamilton, Madison, Franklin, Washington) showed support
9/13 states approved in September 17, 1787
Massachusetts only approved if Bill of Rights was added