1. U.S. Constitution Basics

2. Background of the Constitution
English Common Law
Magna Charta
English Civil War
Enlightenment
French and Indian/Seven Years War
American Revolution
Articles of Confederation
Annapolis Convention

3. Articles of Confederation
National Government
War and Defense
Declare War
Make Peace
Sign Treaties
Financial Matters
Borrow Money
Set Standards Coins Weights Measures
Post Office
Native American Affairs
State Governments

4. What They Didn’t Do Enact or collect taxes Enforce laws (no executive)
Regulate interstate or foreign trade
Settle disputes (no courts)
Represent by population (two per state, but one vote per state)
Pass laws without 2/3 majorities (9 of 12 states)
Amend without consent of all states
Show national unity

5. Problems Facing the Country
Mostly Economic
War debt=$150 million borrowed from European nations
Paper money (the Continental) was worthless
Unable to impose a tariff when RI rejects it
Creditors v Debtors on value of money

6. International Concerns
Britain refuses to evacuate forts on the Great Lakes
Americans won’t repay for confiscated property of merchants or Loyalists
National gov’t can’t raise an army
Spain closes Mississippi to Americans
Northerners want lucrative concessions
Southerners and Westerners want to ship crops on the river

7. Domestic Confrontations
Shay’s Rebellion (1787)
Farmers faced heavy tax burdens in MA
State militia called out by banker-controlled state government
Fear of a rebellion spreading
Annapolis Convention of 5 states (1786)
Interstate trade issues
Led by Madison (VA) and Hamilton (NY)
Calls for a national convention for remedy

8. Men of the Constitution
Signers of the Constitution

9. Founding Fathers

10. Political Precedents Republic Direct Democracy (Athens)
Confederation (Switzerland)
Renaissance City-States
(Italy)
Republic
w/Senate
(Rome)
Direct Democracy (Athens)

11. Political Problems Representation Centralized Authority Western Land
State
Population
Centralized Authority
Federation
Confederation
Western Land
Economic concerns
Foreign Relationships

12. Basic Facts What: Supreme Law of the Land When:
1787—drafted
1788—ratified
1789—in effect
Who: Constitutional Convention
Why: Articles of Confederation weak
How: through a series of compromises

13. Key Conflicts at the Convention
STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
STRONG STATES
-Authority derives from the people
-Central gov’t should be stronger
-Authority derives from the states
-States should remain stronger
LARGE STATES
SMALL STATES
-Two houses of Congress
-Delegates apportioned by population
-One house of Congress
-Each state has one representative and one vote
NORTH
SOUTH
-Slaves not counted for population
-Slaves counted for taxation
-Slaves counted for representation
-Slaves not counted for taxation

14. Constitutional Compromises
Slavery
3/5th Compromise
Western Lands Northwest Ordinance
Representation Bicameral Legislature

15. Structure of the Document
Preamble—Introduction, Purpose
Article 1—Legislature
Article 2—Executive
Article 3—Judicial
Article 4—States
Article 5—Amending
Article 6—Establishing Government
Article 7—Ratification
Amendments 1-27—Changes

16. Separation of Powers
Executive
Judicial
Legislative

17. Legislative Branch (Article I)
-Establishes lower courts
-Confirms or rejects appointments
-Override vetoes
-Approves budgets
-House can impeach
-Senate confirms or rejects appointments

18. Executive Branch (Article II)
-Can call special sessions
-Proposes legislation
-Has access to media
-Can veto bills
-Writes budget
-Can grant reprieves of sentences
-Can pardon convicted persons
-Appoints federal judges

19. Judicial Branch -Decides meaning of law through case decisions
-Can declare acts unconstitutional
-Appointed for life, so free from pressures
-Can declare orders or actions unconstitutional

20. Amending the Constitution
Change
Proposed by Congress
Ratified by ¾ of States
Must be enforced
Can’t be made “unconstitutional”

21. Quick Guide to Amendments
1-10=Bill of Rights
11 & 12=Resolve Internal Conflicts
13-15=Civil War Amendments
16-19=Progressive Era
20-26=20th Century Resolutions
26=Kind of Slipped Through