1. CHAPTER 2 SECTION 2 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

2. EARLY GOVERNMENT Americans at the time thought themselves as citizens of individual states, not of a nation. The country was less important than individual states.

3. STATE CONSTITUTIONS During and after the revolution, states had more power than the national government.

4. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 1777-Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation to govern the new nation. Limited national government and most power held by states. Had only one branch of government-the Congress. Each state had own court system. Had no power to force states to do its will. All thirteen states had to agree to any changes. Most people agreed that their nation should be a democracy, government by the people. Wanted to create a republic-govn’t run by the people through elected officials.

5. Constitutional Convention Economic problems and rebellions prompted Americans to hold a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787. First act elected George Washington as president. Major division between those who wanted to revise Articles and those who wanted to start a new document.

6. VIRGINIA PLAN Those who wanted to have a new document brought the Virginia plan with them. Two houses. Each state would send representatives based on population. Large states liked it, small states did not. Three branches.

7. NEW JERSEY PLAN The smaller states who opposed Virginia Plan wanted the New Jersey Plan. States still more powerful. Equal representation. Congress could tax.

8. THE GREAT COMPROMISE Created two houses. Senate-each state had the same number of representatives. House-seats based on population. Approved July 1787. Amended only 27 times in 200 years. 3/5 compromise. Should slaves count in the population. North said no, South wanted them to. States would have 3/5 of the slave population count. Slaves or Native Americans could not participate in government.

9. GOVERNMENT STUCTURE The government divided power to prevent abuses in power. We have a FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT-power shared among state and national authorities. SEPARATION OF POWERS-among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each has it’s own powers. Also there is the CHECKS AND BALANCES- each branch checks or stops the other to prevent abuses. (Page 61)

10. FEDERALISTS AND ANTI- FEDERALISTS FEDERALISTS-favored the ratification of the Constitution. ANTI-FEDERALISTS-opposed the Constitution. Feared state power would be lost. Patrick Henry-thought pres. would be like King. Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect people. FEDERALIST like Madison and Washington wrote The Federalist. Explanation of the political system.

11. BILL OF RIGHTS Anti-Federalists decided to ratify the Constitution when the Bill of Rights were added. Bill of Rights-The first 10 Amendments. Protected citizens rights.

12. A NEW CAPITOL On the Potomac between Maryland and Virginia. District of Columbia.