1. The Constitution Chapter 2

2. Early America 1607- Jamestown, VA 1620- Mayflower Plymouth, MA 1732- GA- last colony 1760s- Britain decides to tax colonies 1765- Stamp act- “taxation without representation” 1773- Boston Tea Party 1774- 1st continental congress 1775- 2nd Continental Congress 1776- Payne’s common sense 1776- July 4, Declaration of Independence 1781- Articles of Confederation 1783- Yorktown 1786- Shay’s rebellion 1787- Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia)

3. The first colonies in America First English settlement in America Jamestown, Virginia (1607) - struggle to survive - between 1607 & 1623 (4,800k of 6k) Rolfe’s “tobacco” cash crop - Jamestown survives

4. Mayflower Mayflower sets sail (1620) - religion disputes - Plymouth, Mass - Mayflower Compact- agreement to live under rule of law - harsh winter / famine - first thanksgiving (1621)

5. 13 colonies Other colonies followed suit By 1732, Georgia, the last of 13 colonies was set up London governed colonies indirectly

6. Pre-Revolutionary War 1760- British decision to tax colonies - defense & debt - 1765: Stamp Act - taxation without representation - Colonist respond with 1 st & 2 nd Continental Congress (1774-5) Thomas Payne’s Common Sense (1776)

7. Declaration of Independence Continental Congress adopts resolution of Independence (4 th of July 1776) - Jefferson & Franklin

8. Path to Independence American Revolution (1775-1783) - Yorktown (1781) Formation of a new gov’t Articles of Confederation (1781) (pg 27)

9. Constitutional Convention Shay’s rebellion (1786) Constitutional Convention (1787) - 55 delegates met to revise Articles

10. U.S. Constitution Who were the framers? Makeup of Constitution / 3 branches Executive Branch - Electoral College Legislative Branch - Virginia & New Jersey Plan/ Great Compromise Judicial Branch / courts & justices

11. Ideas of Constitution Final agreements / prevention of tyranny - Separation of Powers - checks & balances (p 34) Ideas of Montequieu- Spirit of laws-1748

12. The struggle to ratify the constitution Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists - Federalists papers- 85 essays in defense of constitution (p 389) Promise of Bill of rights - limited powers of Nat’l gov’t over liberties of individuals Constitution ratified- June 21, 1788 Bill of Rights adopted- Dec. 15, 1791

14. Bill of Rights

15. Amending the Constitution Constitution as a framework / 7,000 words Why so limited?

16. Constitutional Amendments The Usual Process: - 2/3 Congress - ¾ state legislatures difficult?

17. The Changing Constitution Interpretations - Supreme Court 1. Judicial Review (1803) 2. changes in interpretation: - Plessy v Ferguson & Brown v board

18. Conclusion Longest lived written constitution Most imitated in world Constantly changing and open to interpretation Discussion If the framers believed all men were created equal, why was slavery not abolished in the constitution? (p 32)