Title: The Creation of the American Constitution
1The Creation of the American Constitution
2Motivations for Independence
- Supporters for Independence
3The Players
- Radical Patriots Colonists wanting independence
from Britain and to create a new system - Moderate Patriots Colonists wanting reform
- Conservative Patriots Colonists wanting
consistency, mostly wealthy - Loyalists Supporters of Britain, lost most of
property during Revolution - Native Americans Supporters of Britain, feared a
new government - African Americans Wanted freedom, but supported
Britain
On paper What group would you most likely fit
in? Why?
4Reasons for Independence
- Alienation from Britain
- Colonists had been separated for 3 generations
- Identified with fellow colonists, rather than
England, 3000 miles away - Desire to create laws reflecting colonial
interests - Fundamental cultural and social differences from
England - Religious differences Colonists more secular
- Dietary Better quality of food, more nutritious
- Social Land availability for average person
5Other Reasons
- Colonists wanted economic independence
- Wanted to trade with everyone for profit
- Wanted taxes to be spent in colonies, not on
British (foreign) wars - Protect colonial business/small manufacturing
- Wanted an end of George IIIs tyranny
6Immediate Concerns
- Excessive taxation Colonists were taxed on
sugar, tea, all paper goods, playing cards,
travel (sparked the coffee revolution, smuggled
from Africa through S. Carolina) - Forced to house soldiers
- Boston Harbor closed merchants lost money
- No public assembly no groups in church, pubs,
peoples houses, outside - Speech and press limited
On paper What is the most compelling reason to
rebel?
7Colonial Response
- Boston Tea Party active protest against Britain
- Was a staged event, used as a publicity stunt
On paper What happened during the Boston Tea
Party? What is the popular story?
8The Boston Massacre A Heros Protest
- Unruly mob attacked British soldiers
- Exchanged snowballs for bullets
- Was brutally suppressed by British
- Patriots, such as Crispus Attucks considered a
martyr for the cause of independence
9Martyrs or Mobsters?
- Note Differing perspectives of Boston Massacre,
popularly represented to add fuel to the fire of
independence. - Create a T-Chart in your notes comparing the two
pictures. Find at least 5-7 differences.
10A riot!
11A Call for Action
- First Continental Congress, Philly 1774
- Collected best minds of the generation
- Seek solutions for British abuses
- Boycotts
- Unity through inter-colonial communication
- Issue Declaration of Rights and Grievances (a
pre-D. of I.) - Create cottage industries spelling bees, coffee
circles, etc. - Result Totally ineffective
12The Midnight Ride
- British response to 1st C.C.
- British send in the troops
- Begin march on Lexington and Concord to stop
riots - Patriots warned by Paul Revere and Billy Dawes
13A Call for Action, part deux
- The Second Continental Congress, Philly 1775
- Goals
- Respond to battles at Lexington and Concord
- Mobilize a military (no standing army, no guns
except for hunting) - Nominate a general (Gen. George Washington, the
only one with experience) - Find and supplies for war (whatever people
could donate) - Get foreign support from France (send Ben
Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to bum for cash)
14The Odds Against the Patriots
- The Problems
- Civil war within colonies
- Internal disagreement with procedure
- No food
- No business
- No
- Constant fighting with Native Americans
- Restless slaves and indentured servants in the
South
15A Declaration
- Draft 1 written by Richard Henry Lee in June,
1776 - Goals
- Independence from Britain
- Join together
- Make foreign friends
- The problem too weakly worded
16The Declaration
- T.J. was given task to rewrite a declaration of
independence because of his eloquence - Remained in Philly, despite a very sick wife
- Submitted document for corrections in June
- Signed by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776
17The Declaration of Independence
- Part I The Rights of Man, and why they should
have them (Locke, etc) - Part II The Reasons (complaints against the
king) - Part III The declaration of the United States
of America
On your paper, summarize the basic philosophy
behind the D. of I.
18The Declaration of Independence, John Trumbull
On your paper What is the controversy behind
this painting?
19Summary
- 1st C.C. UNIFY, DISCUSS
- 2nd C.C. CONDEMN, INDEPENDENCE
- 3rd C.C. ORGANIZE, CONFEDERATE
20A Call for Congress The 3rd Continental Congress
- Purpose of the 3rd Continental Congress To
Build a New Government (if the Revolution works,
and not everyone is dead) - To write a constitution The Articles of
Confederation - Join all colonies as a United Confederation
- Allow for each state to be independent
- All decisions made by a Congress of state
delegates - All decisions agreed by 2/3 majority
21The Problems with Confederation
- Membership was voluntary
- No taxation, and therefore no money
- No common defense, military (for the Revolution,
or after) - No way of dealing with internal problems
- No way to enforce ANYTHING
- A nice idea, but worthless
22The Father of the Constitution
- James Madison
- Brought 56 delegates together to rewrite the A.
of C. - Strengthen and unify a central government
- Divide power into three branches
- Elect officials directly through popular vote
23The Issues
- Would a strong central government become another
tyrant over the people? - Should people rule themselves, or should the
federal (central) government make decisions for
everybody? - Should representation be based on population (and
favor large states) or be equal (and favor small
states)? - Should slaves be considered people, and factor
into population count?
24Ratify or Die
- Delegates gathered for 100 days in Philly
- All sessions were closed door
- All information was secret
- During the worst part of a heat wave
25The Sticking Points Population
- Small State Plan/New Jersey Plan
- Representation equal for all states
- Create equality between states
- Large State Plan/Virginia Plan
- Representation based on population
- Those who do the most work get the most goodies
Resolution The Great Compromise Create two
houses/bicameral Every state gets two senators
(Senate) Every state gets representatives based
on population (House of Representatives)
26The Sticking Points Slavery
- The North
- Slaves should NOT count as population
- Would give too much power to South
- Would be hypocritical to ideal of life, liberty,
happiness, and rights for all
- The South
- Slaves MUST count as population
- Would give the South some much needed power
- Slaves required for entire American economics
The Resolution The 3/5 Compromise Each slave
equals 3/5 of a white person, creates a balance
of power in Congress.
27The Constitution
- Totally rewritten, illegally
- Included
- Three branches of government
- Powerful Bicameral Congress, Weak Executive,
Judiciary - Slavery issue postponed
- Slaves equal 3/5 person
- Slave trade banned in 1808, but could be bred and
smuggled - Bill of Rights included to guarantee the rights
of the individual - Signed Sept. 17, 1787 by 39/55 delegates
28The Signing of the Constitution