1. Chapter 2 Our Political Beginnings
Why / How / What did the “Framers” of the United States Constitution utilize in “History” to
Set the ground work for our Constitution?

2. 3 main ideas from the English settlers
1) Ordered government-rules to help people get along
2) Limited government-government not all powerful, can be restricted
3) Representative government-should serve the will of the people

3. English Documents Magna Carta 1215 Only applied to nobles
Trial by jury
Due process
Power of monarchy is not absolute

4. English Documents Petition of Rights Limited the King’s power
No quartering of troops
Trial by peers
No martial law in time of peace

5. English Documents English Bill of Rights
No standing army in time of peace
Free parliamentary elections
No excessive bail
No cruel & unusual punishment

6. Timeline to the Constitution
1775-April-American Revolution begins
1775-May-2nd Continental Congress meets
1776-July-Declaration of Independence
1781-end of War of Independence
1781-Articles of Confederation
1787-U.S. Constitution

7. Articles of Confederation
1st legal government
Government could coordinate, not control the actions of the states
Unicameral Congress
Equal votes per state
No executive or judicial branch
Provided for common defense

8. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
No power to tax
No power to regulate commerce
All 13 states to amend
1 vote per state regardless of size
No enforcement branch
No judicial branch

9. From Articles to Constitution
Economic Chaos
Different state money
Debts not paid
Shay’s Rebellion
Massachusetts state militia
Mount Vernon trade meeting
Constitutional Convention

10. MIRACLE IN
PHILADEPHIA:
THE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION

11. INDEPENDENCE HALL
PHILADELPHIA
MAY-SEPT. 1787

12. “MEETING TO REVISE & AMEND”
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
“MEETING TO REVISE & AMEND”
THE ARTICLES OF CONF.

13. PEOPLE GATHERED
DAILY TO FIND OUT
WHAT WAS GOING ON

14. “FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION”
JAMES MADISON
“FATHER OF THE
CONSTITUTION”

15. FOR DISCUSSION AND DEBATE
MADISON'S IDEAS ON GOVT.
SERVED AS THE BASIS
FOR DISCUSSION AND DEBATE
AT THE CONVENTION

16. Virginia Plan 3 separate branches-legislative, executive and judicial
Bicameral legislature
Representation based on population or money given to government
House chosen by the people
Senate chosen by state legislatures
Strong central government

17. New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature
Closely limited power to tax & regulate trade
Federal executive of more than one person
Federal judiciary-single Supreme tribunal
Equal representation

18. Major area of disagreement
representation

19. Great Compromise aka Connecticut Compromise
Bicameral legislature
Senate-equal representation per state (2)
House of Representatives-representation based on population of state

20. Other Issues Slavery Export Tax Selection of President
Structure of court system
Amendment process

21. 3/5’s Compromise
Slaves counted as 3/5’s of a person for both representation in the House and for tax purposes

22. Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress forbidden the power to tax any exports from any state
Congress forbidden the power to interfere with the slave trade for 20 years

23. Ratification of Constitution
Required 9 out of 13 states
2 groups emerged
Federalists-for ratification
Anti-federalists-against ratification
2 issues
power of central government
Lack of a Bill of Rights

24. Federalists James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay
85 newspaper essays published in New York to promote ratification

25. Anti-federalists Patrick Henry John Hancock Samuel Adams
Wrote essays under the name Brutus to argue against