The Constitution

1
The Constitution

• Fifth Grade Review

2
When General Washington tried to make his troops
swear allegiance to the United States, what did
they say?

• An oath to the United States? Never! We are
  citizens of New Jersey, General Washington!

3
Who came eleven days early to the Constitutional
Convention?

• James Madison
• James Madison, that is hogwash. You were so
  nervous, you were eleven days early to the
  Constitutional Convention.

4
How old was Benjamin Franklin?

• 82 years old
• Well, Franklin is all of eighty-two. He has a
  lot to say.

5
Did Alexander Hamilton want a strong central
government or more states rights?

• Strong central government
• We cannot go on being linked by these loose
  Articles of Confederation. We need a strong
  central government.

6
How did things go downhill after the war?But
hes smart. And I think hes right. There has to
be some sort of change. Since the war, things
have really been going downhill.

• The British still have forts in the west.
• The army hasnt been paid in months.
• No one has the power to collect taxes.
• States are printing their own money.
• Pirates are sinking American ships.
• States are fighting with each other.

7
Who was the best-known and most respected man in
the United States at the time of the convention?

• George Washington
• Well, George Washington, if something must be
  done, youre the man to do it. Youre the
  best-known citizen of this land and the most
  respected.

8
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?

• Philadelphia
• Besides, the meeting will be held in
  Philadelphia. You live there. You wont have to
  go far.

9
What do you know about the environment of the
convention?

• It was hot! (The hottest summer on record.)
• There were bluebottles flies everywhere! (ouch!)
• The carriages passing by the convention was so
  noisy because of the cobblestone streets. The
  city elders put straw down to muffled the sound.
• The windows were closed and the doors were
  locked. Guards stood in front of the building to
  make sure that they could feel free to speak
  about anything without worrying about outsiders
  hearing.
• They couldnt write to their families about what
  was going on.
• There was much talking and argument.

10
List one issue that the representatives argued
about at the convention.

• Representation
• Should votes in the legislature be based on the
  population or should the votes be the same in
  every state?

11
What questions came up at the convention?One
by one, questions come up and were answered .. Or
are not.

• Where will our government be located?
• Shall we allow foreigners to be members of
  Congress?
• How will new states join the union?
• There must be no titled Lords or dukes in this
  country!
• What should the chief executive be called?
• How long should he hold office?
• What about a Bill of Rights?
• What about freedom of speech, religion, trial by
  jury?

12
What date was the Constitution signed?

• September 17, 1787
• It is a date I will never forget. This day,
  thirty-nine of us from twelve states have signed
  the Constitution of the United States of
  America.

13
The Preamble

• We the people of the ________ ________,
• in order to _________ a more _________ union,
• establish __________,
• Insure ____________ tranquility,
• Provide for the common ____________,
• Promote the general ____________,
• And secure the _________ of __________,
• To _________________,
• And our __________________,
• Do ordain, and ______________________
• this Constitution for the United States of
  ____________.

14
The Preamble

• We the people of the United States.
• in order to form a more perfect union,
• establish justice,
• Insure domestic tranquility,
• Provide for the common defense,
• Promote the general welfare,
• And secure the blessings of liberty,
• To ourselves
• And our posterity,
• Do ordain, and establish
• this Constitution for the United States of
  America.