1. Chapter Two:
The Constitution

2. Learning Objectives
Explain the impact of events in the early settlements, including Jamestown (representative assembly) and Plymouth (social contract) on later political developments in the colonies.
Trace the events and circumstances that led to the Revolutionary War.
Explain the reasons for British attempts to raise revenue.

3. Learning Objectives Describe the colonial response: Boston Tea Party
First Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
Common Sense
Explain the key ideas in the Declaration of Independence, including the concepts of natural rights and consent of the governed.

4. Learning Objectives
Explain the development of the Articles of Confederation.
Explain the structure of the government created under the Articles of Confederation, including Congress.
Explain the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (dependence upon the good will of states, the inability to tax or support a militia, the need for unanimous approval of amendments).
Explain the impact of Shays’ Rebellion.

5. Learning Objectives
Summarize the events leading to the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
Explain the problem of representation in Congress, including the Virginia and New Jersey plans.
Describe the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise.
Explain the attempts at the distribution of power (separation of powers, checks and balances, and the Electoral College).

6. Learning Objectives
Describe the historical context surrounding the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, including the motivations of the founders.
Describe the Bill of Rights.
Detail the ways in which Constitutional amendments are proposed and ratified.
Describe the informal ways in which Congress, the president, and the courts can change the Constitution.

7. The Colonial Background
In 1620 the first New England colony was established.
Separatists were dissatisfied with the Church of England and sought a place where they could practice their religious beliefs.
The compact they formed set forth the idea of consent of the governed.

8. The Colonial Background

9. The Colonial Background
British Restrictions on the Colonies
The British government passed a series of taxes to pay for the French and Indian War:
Sugar Act of 1764
Stamp Act of 1765
Coercive Acts of 1774

10. The Colonial Response: Continental Congresses
First Continental Congress was held in 1774 in Philadelphia to express grievances to the King.
Second Continental Congress was held in 1775 to establish an army and to attempt a settlement with Parliament.
By July 2, 1776 the Second Continental Congress adopted a Resolution of Independence.

11. Declaring Independence
The Declaration of Independence
Enumerates colonies grievances with Britain.
Delineates people’s natural rights of life, liberty, equality, and consent of the governed.
Perhaps add a picture of the Dec. of Independence (there is not one in the chapter)

12. Declaring Independence
Rise of Republicanism
While republicans were opposed to rule by the British, they were also opposed to rule by any strong central authority and were even skeptical of a permanent union of the states.
Each state was seen as the sovereign authority and the only legitimate ruling force.

13. The Articles of Confederation: The First Form of Government
The confederation was a voluntary association of independent states.
Thirteen states established a government consisting of a Congress of the Confederation.
Each state had a single vote.

14. The Articles of Confederation: The First Form of Government

15. The Articles of Confederation: The First Form of Government

16. The Articles of Confederation: The First Form of Government
Accomplishments Under the Articles
Settled land disputes among the states over western lands.
Passed the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 that established government for new territories.
Could declare war and conduct foreign policy.

17. The Articles of Confederation: The First Form of Government
Weaknesses of the Articles
Could not collect revenue from the states.
Could not raise an army.
Amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent of Congress.
Did not establish a national court system.

18. Drafting the Constitution
In order to address the weaknesses of the Articles, Congress approved a convention to revise the Articles in Philadelphia in 1787.
Fifty-five delegates from the 13 states attended.
Majority of delegates were nationalists who wanted a strong central government.

19. Drafting the Constitution
Politicking and Compromises
The Virginia Plan called for:
Bicameral (two-chamber) legislature
National executive, elected by legislature
National judiciary

20. Drafting the Constitution
Politicking and Compromises (Continued)
The New Jersey Plan called for:
One state, one vote
Congress to regulate trade and impose taxes
Congressional acts to be supreme law of the land
Congress to elect an Executive office
Executive office to establish a Supreme Court

21. Drafting the Constitution
The “Great Compromise”
Established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives apportion based on population.
Established the Senate with two members from each state.
Established a Supreme Court and allowed Congress to establish lower courts.

22. Drafting the Constitution
The Madisonian Model
Separation of the executive, legislative, and judicial power of government so that no one branch has enough power to dominate the others.
Establishes a system of checks and balances that enables one branch of government to check the actions of the others.

23. Drafting the Constitution

24. The Final Document Popular sovereignty Republican government
Limited government
Separation of powers
Federal system

25. The Difficult Road to Ratification
Federalists favored a strong central government and the new Constitution.
Anti-federalists wanted a weak central government and retain the Articles of Confederation.

26. The Difficult Road to Ratification
The Federalists’ Argument
Federalist Papers were published in New York papers to promote approval of the Constitution.
Considered the best example of American political theory.

27. The Difficult Road to Ratification
Anti-Federalists’ Arguments
Opposed strong central government.
Wanted a guarantee of personal liberties, a bill of rights.

28. The Difficult Road to Ratification

29. The Difficult Road to Ratification
Support for the New Constitution
Beard’s Thesis
State Ratifying Conventions
Support Was Probably Widespread
Beard’s Thesis. Historian Charles Beard argued that the Constitution was put through by an undemocratic elite intent on the protection of property.
State Ratifying Conventions. These conventions were elected by a strikingly small part of the total population.
Support Was Probably Widespread. Still, the defense of property was a value that was by no means limited to the elite. The belief that the government under the Articles was dangerously weak was widespread.

30. The Bill of Rights A “Bill of Limits”
No explicit limits on state government powers
Did not apply to state governments

31. Altering the Constitution: The Formal Amendment Process
Proposing an Amendment:
1. a two-thirds vote in each chamber of Congress. Or
2. a national convention that is called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures (the second method has never been used).

32. Altering the Constitution: The Formal Amendment Process
Ratifying an Amendment: 1. by a positive vote in three-fourths of the legislatures of the various states. Or 2. by special conventions called in the states and a positive vote in three-fourths of them.

33. Altering the Constitution: The Formal Amendment Process

34. Altering the Constitution: The Formal Amendment Process

35. Altering the Constitution: The Formal Amendment Process35 35

36. Informal Methods of Constitutional Change
Congressional Legislation
Presidential Actions
Judicial Review
Interpretation, Custom, and Usage

37. Web Resources Emory University School of Law
U.S. founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers:
 National Constitution Center
information on the Constitution—including its history, current debates, and news articles:

38. What If…the Constitution Had Banned Slavery Outright?
Even though slavery was banned in the north, by 1780 there were nearly 650,000 slaves in the United States.
The Constitutional Convention compromised on slavery: slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person and slave trade would be banned by 1808.
Southern states would not have ratified the Constitution without these compromises.