Module 3 HonorsBy: Addison Adams

Strengths: The Articles of Confederation

• The Articles were the first governing document for the young United States.

• The Articles allowed for new states to join the United States as long as they had a population over 60,000 people.

Weaknesses: Articles of Confederation

• The Articles had many weak points, while the largest was little national power and the following problems arose from the lack of national power.

• The Articles could not raise an army from a state.

• The Articles required unanimous support for any changes.

• The Articles also had no power to tax.

Constitutional Convention: Constitution

• The Constitutional Convention has very strict rules involving the following things:

• How many members are included and how they are chosen.

• The largest issue is deciding which proposals will be addressed when amending the Constitution for states or the federal government.

NJ and VA Plans: Constitution

• The New Jersey Plan is also referred to as the small state plan. It is based on the foundation that every state have the same representation even if they have a booming population.

• The Virginia Plan is based off of the population for the representation. The Virginia plan is good for the states that have a large population.

The Great Compromise: Constitution

• The Great Compromise also called the Connecticut Compromise was the creation of the bicameral legislature.

• One of the house has representation based on population while the other is a set number of representatives.

3/5 Compromise: Constitution

• The 3/5 Compromise was the deal that made the Northern and Southern States agree.

• After the agreement it made slaves count as 3/5 a person in the population which would effect the representation that the states get.

Slave Trade Compromise: Constitution

• The Slave Trade Compromise was made during the Constitution Convention.

• This Compromise stated that the issue of slavery would not be brought up until 20 years later because that issue could divide the nation (as it later did).

Electoral Compromise: Constitution

• The Electoral Compromise was made to determine who would become President and Vice-President.

• The Electoral College would vote on 2 candidates. The one with the majority would then become President while the other is Vice- President.

Federalist and Anti- Federalists: Constitution

• The Federalists are the group of people that support the Constitution and support a federal government.

• The Anti- Federalists are the group of people that don’t support a Constitution and support state governments.

Structure of the Constitution: Constitution

• Preamble: The Preamble is an overview of what will be discussed and stated in the Constitution.

• Article 1- This article sets up the legislative branch, defining the powers available, and unavailable to them.

• Article 2- This Article sets up the Executive branch, describes the voting process, qualifications, impeachment, and powers that the President has.

• Article 3- This Article sets up the Judicial Branch, describes Jurisdiction and federal court systems.

• Article 4- This Article sets up the Relationship between States.

• Article 5- This Article sets up and defines the Amendment process.

Constitutional Amendments

• The 5 Freedoms in the 1st Amendment are Freedom to Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition. All of these freedoms are based off of some of the rights that were taken from the colonists during British Rule. The Bill of Rights were added because of the Anti-Federalists being afraid that the Constitution could strip rights from the people.

5 Additional Amendments

• Amendment 15: Amendment 15 was ratified on February 3, 1870 and stated that no US Citizen could be denied the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”.

• Amendment 18: Amendment 18 was ratified on January 16, 1919 and stated that it is now illegal to produce, sell, or transport liquor in the United States.

• Amendment 19: Amendment 19 was ratified on August 18, 1920 and stated that no US Citizen could be denied the right to vote based on gender.

• Amendment 21: Amendment 21 was ratified on December 5, 1933 and stated that Amendment 18 was repealed and liquor was legal to drink, sell, produce, and transport.

• Amendment 22: Amendment 22 was ratified on February 27, 1951 and stated that no President could be elected for more than 2 terms, nor could they serve more than 10 years as President, this Amendment was made in response to President FDR serving nearly 4 terms as President.

Civil Rights Accomplishments

• The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s showed the end of struggles that lasted for centuries. When the slave were freed in the 1800’s several laws were put in place still limiting their rights and abilities as a ‘citizen’. However being called a citizen was not enough. In the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s, many things were accomplished including equal rights, the end of segregation and above all the end of the Jim Crow Laws. The Jim Crow Laws were a national level of the Black Codes that was in place in the South after the Civil War and severly limited the freed people in all aspects of life. Getting this law repealed allowed for everyone participating in the Civil Rights Movement to gain equal rights that they had been working for centuries to gain.