1. American History I - Unit 3 Ms. Brown
Creating a New Nation
American History I - Unit 3
Ms. Brown

2. Review What was the Great Compromise?
Congress would be a bicameral house with the Senate (equal representation per state) and the House of Representatives (representation based on population)
What was the Three-Fifth’s Compromise?
Slaves would count as 3/5 of a citizen when determining population for representation in Congress and when levying taxes.
What was the Slave-Trade Compromise?
The slave trade would be unregulated for 20 more years, then Congress could abolish it.
What is federalism?
A system in which the federal government and state governments share powers.
What are the branches of the government and what do they do?
Legislative – makes laws (Congress)
Executive – enforces laws (POTUS and cabinet)
Judicial – interprets laws (Supreme Court)
Who drafted the Constitution?
James Madison

3. 3.3 – Ratifying the Constitution
AH1.H.2.2 Analyze key political, economic, and social turning points in American History using historical thinking, focusing on lasting impacts.
AH1.H.4.1 Analyze the political issues and conflicts that impacted the US through Reconstruction and the compromises that resulted.
AH1.H.4.2 Analyze the economic issues and conflicts that impacted the US through Reconstruction and the compromises that resulted.
AH1.H.5.1 Summarize how philosophical, ideological, and/or religious views on freedom and equality contributed to the development of American political and economic systems.

4. Controversies over the Constitution
The proposed Constitution needed the ratification of 9 of the 13 states to take effect.
Ratification – official approval
Each state’s legislative body voted (sometimes multiple times) on whether to ratify or reject the US Constitution.

5. Federalists vs Anti-federalists
Supporters of the Constitution
Wanted a strong federal government
Insisted that the checks and balances would prevent the federal gov’t from getting too powerful
Opponents of the Constitution
Wanted a weak federal government (favored states’ rights)
Scared that the federal gov’t would become too powerful and deny individual rights

6. Federalists vs Anti-federalists
John Adams
George Washington
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Urban areas - Merchants, skilled workers, laborers
saw benefit of large gov’t that could regulate trade
Small states
States with weak economies
Thomas Jefferson
Patrick Henry
Samuel Adams
Richard Henry Lee
Rural areas – feared more taxes
Large states
States with strong economies

7. The Federalist Papers
, a series of 85 essays published anonymously, that defended the Constitution
Federalist publication
Appeared in NY newspapers with the pseudonym Publius
Really written by John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Attempted to explain separation of powers, checks and balances, and the benefits of a strong federal government

8. Letters from the Federal Farmer
Series of essays critiquing the Constitution
Anti-federalist publication
Most likely written by Richard Henry Lee
Listed the individual rights that the Constitution might take away
Freedom of religion
Freedom of the press
Protection from unreasonable searches/seizures
Right to trial by jury

9. Individual Rights in Question
Anti-federalists argued that the Constitution weakened the states’ ability to protect the rights of its citizens therefore the people needed a national bill of rights.
Wanted written assurance of…
Freedoms including speech, religion, and press
Right to trial by jury
Right to bear arms

10. Individual Rights in Question
“I like much the general idea of framing a government, which should go on of itself, peaceably, without needing continual recurrence to the State legislatures… I will now tell you what I do not like. First, the omission of a bill of rights… Let me add, that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no government should refuse…”
- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to James Madison, 1787
Federalists argued that the Constitution would protect individual rights through the separation of powers and checks and balances.

11. Ratification of Constitution
By June 21, states had ratified the Constitution  officially takes effect
BUT VA and NY had NOT ratified yet… Federalists needed the support of these large states if the Constitution was to be successful.
In VA, anti-federalists claimed federalists were voluntarily placing themselves under the power of an absolute ruler.
Eventually ratified June 25, 1788, but requested that 20 alterations be made
In NY, The Federalist Papers appeared in newspapers and strengthened the support for the Constitution
Eventually ratified on July 26, 1788, but requested that 33 alterations be made
Last to ratify = RI in 1790 (Constitution took effect in 1789).

12. People Demand a Bill of Rights
Constitution took effect in 1789 but not all states were happy…many of the alterations requested concerned the protection of individual liberties and freedoms.
September 1789 – Congress submitted 12 amendments for ratification
December 1791 – ¾ of states approved 10 amendments that became known as the Bill of Rights

13. Bill of Rights Ratified in 1791
Set of 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect the individual rights of citizens
1st Amendment
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
No forced housing of soldiers (in peacetime)
4th Amendment
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
5th Amendment
No double jeopardy, guaranteed due process, no self-incrimination, guaranteed grand jury in criminal trials
6th Amendment
Public trial by jury with counsel in criminal cases
7th Amendment
Trial by jury in civil cases
8th Amendment
No cruel and unusual punishments or excessive fines
9th Amendment
People’s rights are not limited to those listed in the Constitution or Bill of Rights
10th Amendment
People and state retain all rights not explicitly given to the federal government in the Constitution.

14. Articles of Confederation
Constitution
Articles of Confederation:
No taxation
No trade regulation between states
No executive branch or judicial branch
Weak federal government
States all have 1 vote
Constitution
3 branches of government
Bill of Rights
Common currency
Senate (2 senators) and HoR (based on pop)
Federalism (shared power)
Congress can tax and regulate trade
Federal law is supreme
Both
Congress has power to declare war
Congress can make some laws
States have some degree of power

15. Limitations of the Bill of Rights
Did not apply to ALL Americans
Native Americans excluded
Women not mentioned
No protection from discrimination against blacks (free or enslaved)

16. Final Thoughts The US Constitution is adopted!
We need a president!
We need a court system!
We need to evaluate foreign relations!
The US is still young and the first several presidents will set the course of the nation’s development…