The Constitution

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The Constitution

• In May of 1787, Delegates from 12 of the states
  (Rhode Island did not attend) met in Philadelphia
  to revise the Articles of Confederation. All were
  white males, most were young and well educated.

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The Constitution

• Two Plans for Government.
• 1. Virginia Plan Three branches like we have
  today. 2 House legislature w/ representation
  based on the population of each state.

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The Constitution

• Also provided for a President and a court system.
• 2. New Jersey Plan Wanted a one house congress
  w/ equal representation for each state.

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The Great Compromise

• To keep the convention from breaking up, the
  delegates from CT suggested the Congress have two
  houses. One where representation was based on
  population and the other where representation was
  equal for all states.

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The Constitution

• 3/5 Compromise Southern States wanted slaves to
  be counted in the census to increase their
  representation. Northern states didnt want
  slaves to count.

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Other Compromises

• The Slave Trade
• Congress agreed to do nothing concerning the
  slave trade for 20 years.
• Agreed not to tax exports.

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The Electoral College

• Some delegates feared the will of the uneducated
  masses and didnt want direct election of the
  Executive.
• Others wanted the peoples will to rule.
• To compromise they developed the Electoral
  College. Where state legislatures elected
  electors to select the President and VP (today
  the people elect the electors).

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The Constitution

• Delegates decided that in order for the
  Constitution to become law that 9 out of 13
  states must ratify it.

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The Constitution

• On September 17, 1787 the convention adjourned
  and the race for ratification began.

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Anti-Federalists

• Openly opposed the constitution. Felt too much
  power was in the Federal Governments hands.
• Why would they want to replace one tyrant (George
  III), with another?

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The Constitution

• Anti-Federalists also wanted a Bill of Rights to
  guarantee individual rights.

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Federalists

• Argued that the country wouldnt survive without
  a strong central Gov.
• Pointed to the failures of the Articles of
  Confederation.

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Federalists

• John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison
  wrote a series of editorials defending the
  Constitution.

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Federalists

• Collectively these editorials are known as The
  Federalist Papers.

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Federalists

• To quiet the Anti-Federaliststhey agreed that a
  Bill of Rights was a good idea, and promised that
  adding one would be the first order of business
  if the Constitution were ratified.

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The Constitution

• On June 21, 1788 the Constitution became law.

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The Constitution

• The PreambleIdentifies the Goals that our
  founding fathers laid out for our country.
• 1. Form a more perfect union

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The Constitution

• 2. Establish Justice
• Treating everyone
• Equal.
• 3. Insure Domestic Tranquility

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The Constitution

• 4. Provide for the Common Defense
• 5. Promote the General
• Welfare

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The Constitution

• Secure the blessings of Liberty, for ourselves
  and our Posterity.

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The Consitution

• Created a system of Checks and Balances
• Each branch of the government has some power or
  control over the others.