Introduction to the Constitution

1
Introduction to the Constitution
2
_______________________

• During the American Revolution, the new U.S.
  needed to create a permanent government.
• Problems
• 1) Fear of _________________,
• 2) states did not want to give up
  __________________________

3
Articles of Confederation (2)

• National Powers
• Regulate foreign affairs
• Declare war
• Mediate boundary disputes
• Manage _________________
• Administer Indian affairs outside state
  boundaries
• State Powers ________________________

4
Articles of Confederation (3)

• Approved 11/1777, __________ 3/1781
• _____ states needed to amend Articles

5
One Nation?

• National govt __________________
• States wanted to keep sovereignty
• States constantly at odds
• National government did not have power to
  ______________________ laws
• No _____________________ economy
• Shays Rebellion

6
Constitutional Convention

• May, 1787
• 55 delegates meet to ____________ Articles
• Realized __________ national govt needed
• Could not get all 13 states to attend (R.I. did
  not attend)
• Decide to write new document
• New rule only ______ needed for ratification
• Meeting in secret

7
_________________ and _____________________

• Feds want stronger national govt
• Washington, Madison, Hamilton, Jay
• Feared giving the common man too much power
• They supported a new Constitution

• Wanted power to maintain with states
• Thomas Jefferson
• Feared power being concentrated in the hands of a
  few
• They supported the Articles, with a few changes

8
____________ of Constitution

• Feds. Favored (Alexander Hamilton wrote
  Federalist Papers to support ratification)
• Anti-feds. Did not to much power to national
  government
• 9 states ratified in 1788
• But it took a lot of compromises..

9
Conflict over representation in new legislature

• ____________ Plan
• ________ legislature
• Representation in each house decided by state
  population
• President chosen by Congress
• _________________representation
• National Judicial branch

• ____________ Plan
• _________________legislature
• Each state with one vote
• Vetoless President
• All states have ________________ representation

10
____________ Compromise

• _____________________ legislature
• ________________ equal representation
  (____________ chosen by state legislatures)
• _____________ proportional representation (Reps.
  Voted on by the people)
• Population White pop. 3/5 black population
• __________ Compromise Slave trade ends in 1808
  states return runaways.

11
Division of Power

• __________Powers given to the national
  government by the Constitution
• Standing army
• Declare war
• Coin money
• Reguate commerce

• _________ Powers reserved for the states
• Education
• Marriage and divorce
• Highways

12
Checks and Balances
13
_______________________

• Each state gets a number of Electors based on
  their ___________________________.
• Number equals number of Senators number of
  Reps.
• ______________ total
• Need ______ to be elected (___________)
• If do not get a Clear Majority, ________chooses
  President, ______ the VP.
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