The Constitution of the United States of America

Constitution Day

HAPPY 227th BIRTHDAY!September 17, 1787

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Constitution CSI 15-16

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Inquiry questions

As you view the Constitution PowerPoint, list some of the main facts in the “Collect Facts” column…

What is The Constitution?– What is a constitution? A PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT

“Fundamental framework of laws and principles that sets forth the organization of the government, the powers and duties of its officers, and the rights and liberties of the people.”

Compton’s Encyclopedia

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What is The Constitution?21

When was it written?

The summer of 1787 – and was approved by the delegates on Sept. 17, 1787…

When was it approved?

…but it also needed to be approved or ratified by the 13 states…that took some time!

Why was it written?Part 1 – The 13 colonies rebel against their “mother” country, England or Great Britain, and fight for independence.

July 4, 1776 – Signing of the Declaration of Independence

The primary author of the Declaration was Thomas Jefferson

…But it wasn’t until 1783 that they finally won the War for Independence

…But the new born nation needed a constitution to organize its government. They were so afraid of tyranny (a dictator like government that they felt the British were) that they intentionally made the new government weak under the 1st constitution called the Articles of Confederation.

Part 2 – Weakness’ of the first constitution:The Articles of Confederation

They were so afraid of tyranny (a dictator like government – that’s how they felt about the British) that they intentionally made the new government weak under the 1st constitution called the Articles of Confederation.

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What was wrong with the Articles of Confederation?

Part 3 – The Constitutional Conventionin Philadelphia, 1787

• Creating the Constitution– 55 TO PHILLE ! Philadelphia Convention 1787• May 25 - Sept 17 - 3 months of debate• 55 men from 12 states (R.I. not represented)– delegates sent to improve the Articles– empowered to speak for states–mostly lawyers, also bankers, large merchants– 40 of men owned securities of government

(promissory notes like savings bonds)» hence if government fell apart the securities

are worthless

Part 3 – The Constitutional Conventionin Philadelphia, 1787

• Creating the Constitution– Philadelphia Convention 1787• GOAL: Create a workable PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT • George Washington chairman of the meetings• agreed after a few days to "trash" the articles • met in secrecy - (practical)– not possible to do this publicly so met in secret

so as to be candid and honest– closed windows, didn't talk about it to outsiders– (and it was a very hot summer, and they used candles to

light the room…yikes! Tempers flared in the hot Convention hall…fights broke out!)

Part 3 – The Constitutional Conventionin Philadelphia, 1787

• Creating the Constitution

– Philadelphia Convention 1787• no debate regarding democratic principles or equality (they already agreed on this…)• compromise - a central theme– the convention was a bundle of compromises– issue by issue approach– committees developed

Part 3 – The Constitutional Conventionin Philadelphia, 1787

• Compromises/Division of Power– STATE/CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE

• how much power to yield to the central government at the expense of the states?

• how should the central power be divided?» Judicial, Executive, Legislative

• how should representatives be elected?» question of representation - who & how

Part 3 – The Constitutional Conventionin Philadelphia, 1787

• Compromises/Division of Power– REPRESENTATIVE ISSUE

– small states/large states

"GREAT COMPROMISE”

• 2 house legislature– Senate - 2 representatives for each state– House of Representatives by population

*** no republic in existence with 2 house legislature& 3 divisions of executive, judicial & legislature

*** all issues have to pass through both houses

Who was the main “mastermind” behind many of the Constitutions’ ideas? James

Madison“Father of the Constitution”

Q: What were the events surrounding the ratification of the US Constitution?

Dates are of format YYYY/MM/DD (year, month, day).1787/12/18 - New Jersey ratifies the Constitution

1788/01/02 - Georgia ratifies the Constitution 1788/01/09 - Connecticut ratifies the Constitution

1788/02/06 - Massachusetts ratifies the Constitution 1788/04/28 - Maryland ratifies the Constitution

1788/05/23 - South Carolina ratifies the Constitution 1788/06/21 - New Hampshire ratifies the Constitution

1788/06/25 - Virginia ratifies the Constitution 1788/07/26 - New York ratifies the Constitution 1789/03/04 - The Constitution goes into effect

1789/04/30 - George Washington Elected 1789/07/14 - French Revolution

1789/09/25 - Amendments 1-10, 27, passed1789/11/21 SH - North Carolina ratifies the Constitution 1790/05/29 SH - Rhode Island ratifies the Constitution

1791/03/04 SH - Vermont ratifies the Constitution 1791/12/15 AR - Amendments 1-10 ratified

How long did ratification take?24

24. Ratification (or ratify) – to approve of something formally by vote

Constitution Trivia #117

(Copy the questions and the answers in bold)

Q1: How many parts does the Constitution have?

• Preamble (introduction)• Articles – 7 (Main sections)• Amendments – 27 (changes made)

Q2: Who were the only future Presidents of the U.S. to sign

the Constitution?

• George Washington • James Madison

Vocabulary:

Signatory– person who signed something

Q3: What two future Presidents and leaders in the Revolution did not sign the Constitution?

• Thomas Jefferson did not sign the Constitution. He was in France during the Convention, where he served as the U.S. minister. John Adams was serving as the U.S. minister to Great Britain during the Constitutional Convention and did not attend either.

Q4: How many of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed it?

• Of the forty-two delegates who attended most of the meetings, thirty-nine actually signed the Constitution. Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts refused to sign due in part due to the lack of a bill of rights.

Q5: Who were the oldest and youngest persons to sign the

Constitution?• The oldest person to sign the Constitution was

Benjamin Franklin (81). The youngest was Jonathan Dayton (26) of New Jersey. Because of his poor health, Benjamin Franklin needed help to sign the Constitution. As he did so, tears streamed down his face.

Q6: Which was the first state to ratify the Constitution?

• New Jersey