1. The Founding of the American Democratic System
What led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution?

2. Articles of Confederation: The Government They Created
No executive branch
No judicial branch
Unicameral legislature
Equal representation (one vote per state)
Nine votes necessary for legislation
Unanimity necessary for amendments or abolition

3. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
Congress did not have power to tax
Congress could not regulate commerce
States could issue their own currency
Executive not independent of Congress
No national judicial system
Needed unanimous decision to amend
All laws needed 9/13 states to approve

4. The New Nation 1789-1800 The Constitution Political Parties
Central Question: What major issues faced the new country and how were those issues debated and addressed?
The Constitution
Political Parties
George Washington’s Presidency
Westward Expansion

5. Central Dilemmas How will states share power in the new government?
What about slavery?
How will the new government be strong enough to work but not so strong that it becomes tyrannical?
How much Power to the People?
How will the new Constitution be ratified?

6. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Federalists=For a new Constitution
Anti=Against
Why might some be for it and why might some be against it?
Federalists wanted one central government and tended to be wealthy and powerful
Poor, in debt, and state’s rights people tended to be anti-Federalists

7. I. Constitutional Convention
1787, Philadelphia
Rich and famous
Failures of the Articles of Confederation
Constitution more or less democratic?

8. IV. Consensus and Conflict
A. Consensus
Almost all agreed that Articles were inept and needed to be replaced
Support for strengthened national government
Dangers of factions
Belief in republican form of government

9. IV. Conflict and Compromise
Representation of states in legislature
Connecticut Compromise
Status of slavery
3/5 Compromise
End of Slave Trade
Selection of the President
Electoral College

10. Slavery: Story of Political Power of South
3/5 Compromise:
3/5's of state's slave population would be counted in states population and taxation
** contributes to the count of representatives in the House of Reps
b. Prohibited enactment against slave trade until 1808 (ending slave importation)
c. Required non-slave states to return runaways

11. DBQ Questions Clarifying questions/discussion
On a separate piece of paper (half sheet)
1. Create a topic sentence that addresses the first part of the prompt.
Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the US Constitution…
2. Define Point of View.
3. Identify the Point of View in Document B.
4. How does the Point of View in Document B influence what is being said in Document B.

12. Key Components 1. Federalism
Complete the Venn Diagram using the handouts
Expressed or Implied=National/Federal Gov’t
Reserved=State Gov’ts
Concurrent=Shared
2. Checks and balances and separation of powers
Complete reading and the handouts from pp. 3 and 4

13. Constitution as a Living Document
Jefferson – “The real friends of the Constitution in its federal form, if they wish it to be immortal, should be attentive, by amendments, to make it keep pace with the advance of the age in science and experience”
Two ways to change:
By amendment
By interpretation
Strict vs. Loose

14. 2013 DBQ
Prompt: Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the United States Constitution (1787–1788) and analyze how those issues continued to divide the nation during the two decades following ratification (1789–1809).