How did the Constitution strengthen the How did the Constitution strengthen the US Government? US Government?

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Conventionof 1787of 1787

Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion (1786) caused the (1786) caused the framers to believe that framers to believe that the Articles of the Articles of Confederation were Confederation were ineffective & needed to ineffective & needed to be replacedbe replacedDelegates gathered in Delegates gathered in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia (1787) to (1787) to write a new write a new ConstitutionConstitutionJames MadisonJames Madison leads leads the movement to write the movement to write the Constitutionthe Constitution

Conflict at the Constitutional Conflict at the Constitutional Convention Convention

Delegates Delegates disagreeddisagreed on on THREETHREE key issues: key issues: – RepresentationRepresentation– SlaverySlavery– TradeTrade

Conflict @ the Convention:Conflict @ the Convention:Representation in the new Representation in the new

Congress Congress

Big States vs. Small Big States vs. Small States States Virginia PlanVirginia Plan– Representation based Representation based

upon a states upon a states population (favored population (favored more populated more populated states)states)

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan– Each state had equal Each state had equal

votesvotes

CompromiseCompromise: : RepresentationRepresentation

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise– Settled the representation conflictSettled the representation conflict– Delegates created a 2 house (Delegates created a 2 house (bicameralbicameral) legislature) legislature

One house based upon population (House of Reps)One house based upon population (House of Reps)

A second house based upon equal votes per state (the A second house based upon equal votes per state (the United States Senate)United States Senate)

Conflict: Conflict: The Slavery IssueThe Slavery Issue

Southern states Southern states supported slaverysupported slavery– Wanted slaves to Wanted slaves to

count for count for representationrepresentation, but , but not for not for taxationtaxation

Northern states Northern states – wanted slaves to count wanted slaves to count

for for taxationtaxation, not , not representationrepresentation

CompromiseCompromise: : The The Slavery IssueSlavery Issue

The Three Fifths Compromise: The Three Fifths Compromise: settles the Slavery Issuesettles the Slavery Issue–3 out of 5 slaves would be counted 3 out of 5 slaves would be counted

for both for both representation representation and and taxationtaxation

Conflict: The Trade IssueConflict: The Trade Issue

Southern delegates did not want an export or import tax (tariff).Southern delegates did not want an export or import tax (tariff).Northern delegates favored a tax on imports to help northern Northern delegates favored a tax on imports to help northern industries grow.industries grow. This could hurt the South This could hurt the SouthCompromiseCompromise:: Congress was given the power to taxCongress was given the power to tax importsimports, but , but notnot exportsexports

The South needed slavery for plantation labor. The North feared The South needed slavery for plantation labor. The North feared slave populations would be to high.slave populations would be to high.

CompromiseCompromise- The importation of slaves would end 20 years from - The importation of slaves would end 20 years from the ratification of the Constitutionthe ratification of the Constitution

DEBATE ON RATIFICATIONDEBATE ON RATIFICATION

FederalistsFederalists argue for a argue for a strong federal system to strong federal system to replace the Articles of replace the Articles of Confederation Confederation (Madison/Hamilton/Jay)(Madison/Hamilton/Jay)

Anti-federalistsAnti-federalists believe believe that the new constitution that the new constitution would be too strong and would be too strong and crush the Peoples rights crush the Peoples rights (Henry & S. Adams) (Henry & S. Adams)

Compromise: Compromise: Federalists Federalists vs. vs. Anti-federalists Anti-federalists

FederalistsFederalists agree to add a agree to add a Bill of RightsBill of Rights to the to the new Constitutionnew ConstitutionThe Addition of the The Addition of the BORBOR allowed allowed Anti-FedsAnti-Feds to to agree to ratify the new Constitutionagree to ratify the new ConstitutionThe Constitution was The Constitution was ratifiedratified in 1789 in 1789

The 1The 1stst Chief Executive Chief Executive

George WashingtonGeorge Washington was was chosen to be the first chosen to be the first President President The BOR, System of The BOR, System of Checks & Checks & Balances/Written Balances/Written Constitution all help Constitution all help create create Limited Limited GovernmentGovernment Electing officials to act as Electing officials to act as Representatives creates Representatives creates Representative Representative GovernmentGovernment

The U.S. Constitution The U.S. Constitution The New Constitution:The New Constitution: allowed for a separate allowed for a separate executive branch (executive branch (the Presidentthe President),), a a separate separate judicial branch (judicial branch (the Supreme Courtthe Supreme Court),), and a and a two-house legislative branch (two-house legislative branch (the Congressthe Congress).).

The Federal System/Division of PowerThe Federal System/Division of Power

Power was divided between Power was divided between State State governmentsgovernments and the and the Federal Federal Government Government

Federal Powers:

•Armed Forces

•Coining money

•Regulated trade

•Making treaties

Powers RESERVED for states:

•Health & Safety matters

•Marriage/divorce laws

•Business regulation

•Licensing of professions

Both State & Federal:

•Building roads

•Borrowing money

•Collecting taxes

•Operating courts

15th Amendment--gave voting rights to freed slaves after the civil war.

19th Amendment--gave women the right to vote.

Example: The Necessary & Proper clause has been used to regulate industries that were unseen in 1789:

auto industry, telecommunications, airline safety ECT...

Brown v Board of Ed. allowing for the desegregation of schools

The Unwritten The Unwritten ConstitutionConstitution

The The Unwritten Unwritten ConstitutionConstitution refers to refers to traditionstraditions that that have become have become part of our part of our political system. political system.

The Unwritten Constitution

-Political Parties are not written into the Constitution

-The Primary responsibility for political parties is to nominate

candidates for office-George Washington warned against

the formation of political parties.

The Unwritten ConstitutionThe Unwritten Constitution

President Washington President Washington appointed appointed Cabinet Cabinet membersmembers to help him to help him run the government.run the government.

All presidents have All presidents have followed this traditionfollowed this tradition

The presidential The presidential cabinet is NOT written cabinet is NOT written in the Constitutionin the Constitution

Unwritten ConstitutionUnwritten Constitution

President Washington President Washington served served 2 terms2 terms and and retiredretired

The 2 term tradition The 2 term tradition became part of the became part of the Unwritten ConstitutionUnwritten Constitution

FDR FDR broke with traditionbroke with tradition, , 2 terms has since been 2 terms has since been written into the written into the Constitution through the Constitution through the amendment process.amendment process.

How did the U.S. Constitution How did the U.S. Constitution Strengthen the U.S. Strengthen the U.S.

Government?Government?

It created a strong national/federal government that allowed the new

nation to function as one independent country, created a three branch

government (which included a Chief Executive) & preserved the Enlightenment principles of

representative government & limited government