Origins of the U'S' Constitution

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Origins of the U.S. Constitution
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Origins of the U.S. Constitution(1) English
Colonial Rule(2) American Revolution (3) Failure
of Articles of Confederation
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English Colonial Rule 13 colonies each had
own culture, with North/South and urban/rural
divides There was no shared American
identity, except growing dislike of
Parliament/crown Government colonial
legislatures, but fewpowers compared to
appointed governors
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Revolutionary Ideas (1) Natural Rights
universal rights that precede and are not
dependent on laws or governmentsmeaning you
have right to revolt (if rights violated) (2)
Self-Government government by the people NOT a
democracy, but a representative republic
(3) Limited Powers government power should be
checked decentralized fear strong executive
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Articles of Confederation 1781-1789
Americas 1st governmentactually called the
Articles of Confederation of Perpetual Union
- not really a sovereign NATION, but a
league of friendship (alliance) betw.
sovereign states - imagine now if U.S.
federal govt. abolished?
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Articles of Confederation Organization
(1) a single legislature each state sends 3
reps but each state delegation only has
1 vote!! (2) NO executive branch (3) NO
judiciary branch Vote to pass laws need 9 of
13 supermajority
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Articles of Confederation Powers
FEW - NO standing army (only state
militias)this is a fatal defect revealed
by Shays Rebellion - NO single currency (states
print money) - NO major tax powers (rely on
state ) 14 million in war debt 400k
rev./yr. - NO power to make treaty / regulate
intl trade
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Lessons from these 3 factors NEED a
government of limited powers that
respects states checks executive
power! BUTnot so limited that the basic
functions of government the things that
individuals and the states can not do for
themselves are DENIED. (1) Defense from
external or internal threats (2) Power to make
treaties / regulate trade (3) Power to raise
revenue (tax) as needed...
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Philadelphia Convention (1787) Technically,
called to only revise the Articles 74
delegates, but average just 40 per day
Debates secret, except for personal notes
Unbearable HEAT, fly infestation,
alcohol RESOLVED Articles unworkable need a
new constitution approval of 9 of 13 states
needed to save the revolution Alexander
Hamilton
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Philadelphia Convention technically called
only to revise the Articles 74 delegates
(but avg. just 40 per day) Debate in secret
(some personal diaries) Unbearable heat, fly
infestation, alcohol RESOLVED Articles
unworkable, need a new constitution approval of
9 of 13 states needed to save the revolution?
Alexander Hamilton
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Philadelphia ConventionWas our current
government inevitable? Contingencies things
could easily have been different (1)
president elected by the Congress (2) president
with a life term (3) to elect president,
electoral college electors picked
by state legislatures (4) executive committee
of 12 president (5) all population-based
representation OR all equal state
representation Congress