1. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

2. Serves as a nation’s basic law Allocates power within government
PURPOSES of a CONSTITUTION
Serves as a nation’s basic law
Allocates power within government
Structures competition among
participants influencing government
- May be written or unwritten
May be an accumulation of
traditions & precedents
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

3. Established a national legislature and a Confederation of states
ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION: CONSTITUTION THAT FAILED
Adopted 1777, Enacted 1781
Established a national legislature
and a Confederation of states
(a “league of friendship”)
However, there were many problems
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

4. Guess the States BUT . . . Before we get into the problems . . .
ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION: CONSTITUTION THAT FAILED
BUT Before we get into the problems . . .
It’s time for
Guess
the
States
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

5. Guess the States New Hampshire Connecticut New Jersey South Carolina
Delaware
New York
Georgia
North Carolina
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

6. Problems (Weaknesses) included: No separate president
ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION: CONSTITUTION THAT FAILED
Problems (Weaknesses) included:
No separate president
No national court system
Powers of the legislature very limited
Required 9 of 13 states to pass laws
Required unanimous vote to amend
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

7. Weaknesses also included: Congress had no power to tax
ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION: CONSTITUTION THAT FAILED
Weaknesses also included:
Congress had no power to tax
Had to request money from states (beg?)
No power to regulate commerce . . .
which inhibited foreign trade and
development of a strong national economy
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

8. WIMPY NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Essentially, it failed because it created a
ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION: CONSTITUTION THAT FAILED
Essentially, it failed because it created a
WIMPY
NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

9. - Articles just needed patching - Mainly in foreign affairs
FRAMERS TO THE RESCUE?
Thomas Jefferson believed
- Articles just needed patching
- Mainly in foreign affairs
- All domestic policy should remain under power of states
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

10. Others believed the Articles were beyond repair
FRAMERS TO THE RESCUE?
Others believed the Articles were beyond repair
and should be replaced.
James Madison
Concluded that throughout history
all weak political alliances
had eventually dissolved because
of refusal to have a central power
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

11. Believed that a strong central government would jeopardize
FRAMERS TO THE RESCUE?
Patrick Henry
Believed that a strong central
government would jeopardize
self-government and liberty.
He refused to take part in the Constitutional Convention in 1787, stating that he “smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy”.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

12. I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation, without having
FRAMERS TO THE RESCUE?
George Washington
I do not conceive we can exist
long as a nation, without having
lodged somewhere a power
which will pervade the whole
Union in as energetic a manner, as the authority of the different state governments extends over the states.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

13. “an assembly of demigods”.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION in PHILADELPHIA
55 People Participated Who were they?
Thomas Jefferson said they were:
“an assembly of demigods”.
James McGregor Burns, a famous historian, said they were:
“the well-bred, the well-fed, the well-read, and the well-wed”.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

14. Mostly fairly wealthy planters or successful merchants and lawyers
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION in PHILADELPHIA
Who were they?
Mostly fairly wealthy planters or successful
merchants and lawyers
- Majority Lawyers
- Many active politicians in their states
- Most urban dwellers rather than rural
- Most college educated
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

15. WHITE MEN Who were they? And, of course, given the year 1787 . . .
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION in PHILADELPHIA
Who were they?
And, of course,
given the year
they were all
WHITE MEN
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

16. to her husband, John Adams:
ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
Abigail Adams, in a letter
to her husband, John Adams:
...remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

17. They generally agreed about Human nature Causes of political conflict
VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS
They generally agreed about
Human nature
Causes of political conflict
Purpose of government
Nature of a republican government
Note: “republican” basically means
The People control the government
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

18. VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS
There are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men:
the love of power
and the love of money.
~ Ben Franklin
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

19. VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS
Without a strong government, life would potentially be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish & short”.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

20. VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS Above all, the ideas of ~ John Locke
The preservation of property is the end of government!
VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS
Above all, the ideas of
~ John Locke
Natural Rights !
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

21. Probably the most important framer?
VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS
Probably the most important framer?
As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence.
~ Madison
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

22. If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
VIEWS OF THE FRAMERS
What is government but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?
If men were angels, no government
would be necessary.
If angels were to govern men, neither
external nor internal controls of government would be necessary.
~ Madison
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

23. About Political Conflict Madison was particularly concerned about
CONCERNS
About Political Conflict
Madison was particularly concerned about
FACTIONS
Especially the potential for tyranny by one group
over others.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

24. CONCERNS
FACTIONS
According to Madison:
The most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

25. Views about government Attachment to various leaders
CONCERNS
FACTIONS
Could also arise from:
Religion
Views about government
Attachment to various leaders
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

26. “a great beast” Some were worried about “The People”
CONCERNS
Some were worried about “The People”
Said that the masses were
“a great beast”
~ Alexander Hamilton
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution

27. Some were worried about “The People” Described “the rabble” as
CONCERNS
Some were worried about “The People”
Described “the rabble” as
A motley rabble of saucy boys,
negroes, and molattoes,
Irish teagues and outlandish jack tarrs!
Mr. Kelly?
~ John Adams
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – The Constitution