The Creation of the American Constitution

1
The Creation of the American Constitution

• Mr. Phipps
• U.S. History

2
Motivations for Independence

• Supporters for Independence

3
The 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?
4
Reasons 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

5
Other 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

6
Immediate 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?
7
Colonial 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?
8
The 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

9
Martyrs 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.

10
A riot!
11
A 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

12
The 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

13
A 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)

14
The 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

15
A 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

16
The 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

17
The 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.
18
The Declaration of Independence, John Trumbull
On your paper What is the controversy behind
this painting?
19
Summary

• 1st C.C. UNIFY, DISCUSS
• 2nd C.C. CONDEMN, INDEPENDENCE
• 3rd C.C. ORGANIZE, CONFEDERATE

20
A 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

21
The 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

22
The 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

23
The 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?

24
Ratify 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

25
The 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)
26
The 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.
27
The 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

28
The Signing of the Constitution