1. 9.6 A More Perfect Union (pt. 2) pp. 270-272

2. Objective:
Describe the system of safeguards the framers built into the Constitution.

3. A. Limiting Power (p. 270)
The writers built safeguards into the Constitution to keep each branch from assuming too much authority.
This system of safeguards is called checks and balances.
It gives each branch of government ways to check, or limit, the power of the other two.

4. B. Checks and Balances

5. C. Federalists (p )
Those who favored the Constitution and a strong national government were known as Federalists.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay became the best known Federalists.
They wrote a series of essays, called The Federalist Papers, defending the Constitution and urging others to support it.

6. D. Anti-Federalists (pp. 270-271)
Those who did not want the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation were known as Anti-Federalists, and included John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry.
They complained that the Constitution failed to protect basic liberties.
They also argued that the delegates had been charged with repairing the Articles, not writing an entirely new document.

7. E. Ratification (pp )
Ratification (approval) was to be decided by special conventions to be called in each state.
New Hampshire ratified the Constitution in June 1788—the ninth state to do so.
Although the Constitution could now go into effect, full approval by all 13 states was sought by national leaders.

8. F. A Bill of Rights (p. 272)
To win over Anti-Federalists, the first Congress added amendments (changes) to the Constitution to protect basic liberties.
We know the first ten amendments today as the Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, religion, the press, petition, and assembly.

9. Review: What is meant by checks and balances?
What were supporters of the Constitution known as?
What were opponents of the Constitution known as?
What are the first 10 amendments to Constitution referred to as?
What freedoms are guaranteed in the First Amendment?