1. A New Plan of Government
U.S. History

2. The Constitutional Debate
9 states have to approve Constitution before it goes into effect
State legislatures set up
ratifying conventions
1787: Conventions meet
Rhode Island opposes Constitution
Never calls together a convention to approve it
Arguments for and against the
adoption of the Constitution
Newspapers, Public Meetings, Cartoons, Conversations

3. Federalists Supporters of the Constitution
George Washington, Ben Franklin,
Alex Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison
More organized than their opponents
The Federalist Papers
Series of essays explaining and defending the Constitution
Written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay
Appears in newspapers around the country
Widely read
Later published as a book and sent to the delegates at conventions

4. Anti-Federalists Opposed the Constitution (Against it)
Not well organized
Anti-federalist Papers
Response to The Federalist Papers
Essays explaining how the Constitution would take away liberties
Americans fought a war to win these liberties from the British
Constitution would create a strong national government
-Ignore will of the people and states
-Wealthy would be favored over common people
-Small group of educated people would rule
Prefer local governments that are close to the people

5. Fears of New Government
Federalists
Fear disorder without a strong
central government
Need it to keep things in
order
More rebellions and riots
Constitution needs to create
a national government to deal with problems
Anti-Federalists
Fear oppression more than disorder
Worry about the concentration of power in a central government
Too powerful

8. Protecting Rights
Missing a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms
No government could be trusted to protect our freedoms
States take a stand and decide they won’t ratify the Constitution without the addition of a Bill of Rights
Mercy Otis Warren (Massachusetts)
Saw the need for a strong government, but she was afraid of it

9. TO DO:
Part A: Write down reasons why it would be important to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
Part B: List as many of our rights that you can that are listed in the Bill of Rights

10. Adopting the Constitution
December 7, 1787
Delaware becomes the first state to approve the Constitution
June 21, 1788
New Hampshire is the 9th state to approve
New Government is able to go into effect
In theory, only needed 9 states to ratify or adopt the Constitution

11. Two States Still Oppose Constitution
Two of the Largest States against
Ratification
New York and Virginia unsupportive
Strong Anti-Federalist groups
Patrick Henry (VA)
Fiery speeches against the Constitution
Didn’t sufficiently limit the power of the federal government
June 1788: Virginia ratifies the Constitution
Assures that it would include a Bill of Rights Amendment
Amendment: Something added to a document

12. Three States Left to Ratify
New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island
July 1788: New York Ratifies by a small margin
November 1789: North Carolina Ratifies
May 1790: Rhode Island Ratifies

13. A New Constitution

14. Electoral College Each state elects representatives (Electors)
SENATORS:
Each state gets 2 Senators
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Number of Representatives a state gets depends on the state’s population
States with more
people, get more
votes
4 year terms
Maximum: 2 terms

15. Electors Electoral College elects President and Vice President
Presidential electors elected by state’s voters
Indirect Election:
Each state has as many votes as it has members of Congress
Cast votes for the state
Each elector given one vote for president and one vote for vice president (Twelfth Amendment)
Whatever candidate has the most votes, wins all of the votes for that state
- “Winner Takes All”
> Except in the case of Maine and Nebraska

16. Securing the Presidency
538 Total Electors
Winner Takes All v. Congressional District Method
Candidate needs to win 270 Electoral Votes to become President
Win half of the electoral vote (269) + 1
Candidate can win popular vote,
and not become president

17. Writing Blitz Explain how the Electoral College Works
Write a half page that explains how the Electoral College works.
Suggested Guiding Questions:
What is the Electoral College? How does it work?
Who makes up the Electoral College?
How does a candidate become president?
Why is the Electoral College Important?

18. Main Ideas After the Revolutionary War, a new Constitution is adopted
The U.S. government rests on the Constitution
The Constitution is designed to limit the power of government
Power is split between the federal government and the states
The U.S. government is
broken up into 3 branches:
- Legislative
- Executive
- Judicial
Main Ideas

19. Roots of the Constitution
Provides for a strong
central government
American Document
with influence from
many civilizations
Studied the history of political development
British, Greece, Romans
European political institutions and political writers, ideas
Want to avoid mistakes of the past
Framers: People who “framed” the Constitution

20. Framers or Founders Shaped the Constitution
Familiar with parliamentary system (Britain)
Participate in colonial/state assemblies
Value individual
rights guaranteed
by British
judicial system
Respect British
traditions

21. Ideas from the British Government
1215: Magna Carta
Limits the power of the monarch (ruler)
Parliament responsible to give money to king for war and to finance the royal government
Makes laws
1689: English Bill of Rights
Rights given to the people
Protections

22. The Enlightenment’s Impact on the Constitution
John Locke
All people have natural rights
Liberty, life, property
Government is based on an agreement (contract) between the people and the ruler
Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of Laws (1748)
Powers of government should be separated and balanced against each other
Powers of government should be clearly defined and limited to prevent abuse

23. Framers End Product
View Constitution as a contract between Americans and their government
Protect people’s rights by limiting the government’s power
Carefully specify and divide powers of government
Federal and State Powers

24. The Federal System Divided powers between the national government
and the states
States give up some of
their powers
- Kept under Articles of
Confederation
Federal government gains powers
Shared Powers: Federalism
Distinctive feature of U.S. government

25. Division in Powers State Powers Federal Powers
Pass and Enforce Laws (State Laws)
Regulate trade within their borders
Establish local governments, schools, institutions for welfare of citizens
Tax
Build Roads
Regulate Trade
Control the Currency
Raise an Army
Declare War
Pass “Necessary and Proper” Laws

26. Constitution Becomes Law of the Land
No state can make laws or take actions against the Constitution
Federal courts settle any disputes between federal government and the states
Constitution is the final and supreme authority

28. Organization of Government
Three Branches of Government:
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
First three articles of the Constitution describe the
powers and responsibilities
of each branch

29. Article I: Legislative Branch

30. Article II: Executive Branch
Strong executive leader
Serve as a check, or limit on Congress
Headed by President
Commander in Chief of
Armed Forces
Conducts relations with foreign nations
Carries out nation’s
laws and policies

31. Article III: Judicial Branch
Court System of U.S.
Supreme Court
Nation’s judicial power
One Supreme Court
Lower Federal Courts
Hear cases involving the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, Disputes between states

32. Checks and Balances
Separation of Powers: Divided between the 3 branches
System of Checks and Balances keep other branches from becoming too powerful
Branches have roles that check (limit) the others so that no single branch dominates the government
Limits the abuses of power

33. More Checks on Power Both House and Senate must
pass a bill for it to become a law
President can Veto, or reject the bill
Can check Congress
Congress can check the President
Override the veto: Voting down the Veto
2/3 of members from both houses must vote for the bill
Supreme Court checks Congress and President
President appoints Supreme Court Justices
Senate must approve the appointments
Rules on the Constitutionality of laws and presidential acts

34. National Citizens Creates citizens of the U.S.
People choose their officials
Directly or Indirectly
Officials answer to the people, not the states
Government protects personal freedoms of people
Change government through discussion and choice, not war, chaos, violence