chapter 2 the constitution. copyright © 2011 cengage who governs? who governs? 1. what is the...

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The The

ConstitutionConstitution

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1. What is the difference between a 1. What is the difference between a

democracy and a republic?democracy and a republic?

2. What branch of government has the 2. What branch of government has the greatest power?greatest power?

TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?1. Does the Constitution tell us what 1. Does the Constitution tell us what

goals the government should serve?goals the government should serve?

2. Whose freedom does the Constitution 2. Whose freedom does the Constitution protect?protect?

Even before the Revolutionary War, many felt some form of union would Even before the Revolutionary War, many felt some form of union would be necessary if the rebellious colonies were to survive. In 1774, the be necessary if the rebellious colonies were to survive. In 1774, the Massachusetts Spy portrayed the colonies as segments of a snake that Massachusetts Spy portrayed the colonies as segments of a snake that must “Join or Die.” p. 20must “Join or Die.” p. 20

LC-DIG-ppmsca-02949/Library of Congress


The Problem of LibertyThe Problem of Liberty

The Colonial MindThe Colonial Mind• Men will seek power because they are Men will seek power because they are

ambitious, greedy and easily corruptedambitious, greedy and easily corrupted The Real RevolutionThe Real Revolution Weaknesses of the ConfederationWeaknesses of the Confederation

• Articles of Confederation 1781Articles of Confederation 1781

The American colonists’ desire to assert their liberties led in time The American colonists’ desire to assert their liberties led in time to a deep hostility toward British government, as when these to a deep hostility toward British government, as when these New Yorkers toppled a statue of King George III, melted it down, New Yorkers toppled a statue of King George III, melted it down, and used the metal to make bullets. p. 21and used the metal to make bullets. p. 21

Lafayette College Art Collection


North America in 1787, p. 22

p. 23

Congress/JK130 1777 B7

John Hancock was proud to have signed the Declaration of Independence but John Hancock was proud to have signed the Declaration of Independence but thought so little of the presidency under the Articles of Confederation that he thought so little of the presidency under the Articles of Confederation that he never bothered to accept the job. p. 24never bothered to accept the job. p. 24


Library of Congress

The presiding officer at the Constitutional Convention was George Washington The presiding officer at the Constitutional Convention was George Washington (1732–1799). He participated just once in the debates, but the effect of his (1732–1799). He participated just once in the debates, but the effect of his presence was great. He was a national military hero, and it was generally presence was great. He was a national military hero, and it was generally expected that he would be the nation’s first president. p. 25expected that he would be the nation’s first president. p. 25


The Free Library of Philadelphia

Shays’s Rebellion in western Massachusetts in 1786–1787 stirred deep fears of Shays’s Rebellion in western Massachusetts in 1786–1787 stirred deep fears of anarchy in America. The ruckus was put down by a hastily assembled militia, anarchy in America. The ruckus was put down by a hastily assembled militia, and the rebels were eventually pardoned. p. 26and the rebels were eventually pardoned. p. 26


Bettmann/Corbis


The Constitutional The Constitutional ConventionConvention

The Lessons of Experience The Lessons of Experience • State ConstitutionsState Constitutions• Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion

The FramersThe Framers• 55 delegates, RI did not 55 delegates, RI did not

send a delegatesend a delegate

Mural by Barry Faulkner of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention, p. 28

Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.


The ChallengeThe Challenge

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan–proposal to create a –proposal to create a strong national governmentstrong national government

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan–proposal to create –proposal to create a weak national governmenta weak national government

The CompromiseThe Compromise• popularly elected house based on state popularly elected house based on state

populationpopulation• state elected Senate, with two members state elected Senate, with two members

for each state for each state


The Constitution and DemocracyThe Constitution and Democracy

Republican Form of GovernmentRepublican Form of Government• Key PrinciplesKey Principles

FederalismFederalism Enumerated powersEnumerated powers Reserved powersReserved powers Concurrent powersConcurrent powers

Government of Human NatureGovernment of Human Nature• Separation of powersSeparation of powers• Checks and balancesChecks and balances


The Antifederalist ViewThe Antifederalist View Need for a Bill of RightsNeed for a Bill of Rights The Constitution and The Constitution and

SlaverySlavery

The Constitution and LibertyThe Constitution and Liberty

Ratification of the Federal Constitution by State Conventions, 1787-1790, p. 32

p. 35

American Antiquarian Society

The Constitution was silent about slavery, and so buying and sellingThe Constitution was silent about slavery, and so buying and sellingslaves continued for many years, p. 38slaves continued for many years, p. 38


Chicago Historical Society


The Motives of the FramersThe Motives of the Framers

Economic InterestsEconomic Interests The Constitution and EqualityThe Constitution and Equality

This late-eighteenth-This late-eighteenth-century cartoon shows century cartoon shows the enthusiasm many the enthusiasm many people had for their people had for their new Constitution, p. new Constitution, p. 39 39

The Granger Collection

Elbridge Gerry (left, 1744–1814) was a wealthy Massachusetts merchant and politician Elbridge Gerry (left, 1744–1814) was a wealthy Massachusetts merchant and politician who participated in the convention but refused to sign the Constitution. James Wilson who participated in the convention but refused to sign the Constitution. James Wilson (right, 1742–1798) of Pennsylvania, a brilliant lawyer and terrible businessman, was the (right, 1742–1798) of Pennsylvania, a brilliant lawyer and terrible businessman, was the principal champion of the popular election of the House. Near the end of his life, he was principal champion of the popular election of the House. Near the end of his life, he was jailed repeatedly for debts incurred as a result of his business speculations. p. 40jailed repeatedly for debts incurred as a result of his business speculations. p. 40


Bettmann/CORBIS Hulton Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty Images


Reducing the Separation of PowersReducing the Separation of Powers Making the System Less DemocraticMaking the System Less Democratic

• Line-item vetoLine-item veto

WHO IS RIGHT?WHO IS RIGHT?

Constitutional Reform: Constitutional Reform: Modern ViewsModern Views

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

MEMORANDUMMEMORANDUM

To: To: Elizabeth Anthony, Arkansas state senate majority leaderElizabeth Anthony, Arkansas state senate majority leader

From: From: George Morris, chief of staffGeorge Morris, chief of staff

Subject: Subject: Proposal for a New Constitutional ConventionProposal for a New Constitutional Convention

In the 1990s, Arkansas and several other states approved term limits In the 1990s, Arkansas and several other states approved term limits for their members of Congress, but the Supreme Court ruled in for their members of Congress, but the Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that states do not have this authority. Now term-limit 1995 that states do not have this authority. Now term-limit advocates are pursuing a broader strategy, calling for states to advocates are pursuing a broader strategy, calling for states to approve legislation that would require Congress to consider approve legislation that would require Congress to consider several amendment proposals, including term limits and several amendment proposals, including term limits and abolishing the electoral College to permit the direct popular abolishing the electoral College to permit the direct popular election of the president. The Arkansas General Assembly passed election of the president. The Arkansas General Assembly passed such a bill last week, and several senators in your party have such a bill last week, and several senators in your party have declared their support.declared their support.


Arguments for:Arguments for:

1. Since the Twenty-second Amendment restricts presidents 1. Since the Twenty-second Amendment restricts presidents to two terms, that members of Congress should face similar to two terms, that members of Congress should face similar limits.limits.

2. Term limits will ensure that national leaders do not become 2. Term limits will ensure that national leaders do not become career politicians.career politicians.

3. The public favors the direct popular election of the 3. The public favors the direct popular election of the president; this constitutional convention would make president; this constitutional convention would make possible abolishing the electoral College.possible abolishing the electoral College.



Arguments against:Arguments against:

1. Limiting members of Congress to two terms would increase 1. Limiting members of Congress to two terms would increase the power of lobbyists, congressional staffers, and the power of lobbyists, congressional staffers, and administrative officials.administrative officials.

2. The Electoral College encourages a two-party system; a 2. The Electoral College encourages a two-party system; a direct popular vote for the president would require runoff direct popular vote for the president would require runoff elections if no candidate won a majority.elections if no candidate won a majority.

3. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held in secret 3. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held in secret and involved only a few dozen people; today it would be and involved only a few dozen people; today it would be heavily covered by the press and involve hundreds, heavily covered by the press and involve hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. No one knows what changes perhaps thousands of people. No one knows what changes it might make.it might make.



Your decision:Your decision:

Favor legislation?Favor legislation?

Oppose legislation?Oppose legislation?



chapter 2 the constitution. copyright © 2011 cengage who governs? who governs? 1. what is the...

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