civics: government and economics in action 1 chapter 5: creating the constitution

Civics: Government and Economics in Action

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Chapter 5: Creating the Constitution


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Chapter Links

Section 1“The Constitutional Convention”

Section 2“The Struggle for Ratification”

Section 3“The Supreme Law of the Land”

Activity

• Complete the activity as it is described on your handout. You have 20 minutes.


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Main Idea:

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention debated different arrangements of sharing power. After much debate, they created the United States Constitution.

Key Terms:•Bicameral•Great Compromise•Three-Fifths Compromise

Section 1“The Constitutional Convention”

Section Outline:I. Agreement and

Disagreement

II. Getting Organized

III. Madison’s Plan

IV. Sharing Power

V. Reaching Compromise

VI. Executive and Judicial Branches

VII. The Signing


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Agreement and Disagreement

• Convention Delegates– Many agreed with “Separation of Powers”

– Many agreed that power should be limited

– Delegates were divided on how many representatives each state should have in the national government

– Delegates were divided on how much power the national government should be given


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Getting Organized

• Washington is Selected– May 25th, 1787 George Washington is selected as

presiding officer over the convention.

• Setting the Rules– No information was to be given to the press; the

doors and windows of the hall were shut.– All 55 delegates were given a chance to speak– Delegates worked from 10 AM to 4 PM, six days

per week.

Constitutional Plans


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Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

Great Compromise

Insert 4-5 lines Insert 4-5 lines


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Madison’s Plan• James Madison, Virginia

– Proposed the “Virginia Plan”, which called for a strong national government and a legislative branch consisting of both a House of Representatives (directly elected) and a Senate (chosen by the House of Representatives).

– Bicameral: Two house (legislature)– A state’s size would determine number of

representatives.– Favored by states w/large population


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Reaching Compromise

• The New Jersey Plan– Opposition to the Virginia Plan– Proposed one-house legislature; representation equal for all

states.– Small states favored

• The Great Compromise– Combined Virginia and New Jersey Plans

– The decision to allow a bicameral national legislature – The number of representatives in the House is proportionate

to the state’s population.

– Each state would have an equal number of Senators.


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Sharing Power

• State Power vs. National Power Issues– Trade Regulations– Slave Trade

• Trade Compromise:– National government could regulate trade– National government could not regulate slave

trade until after 1808


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Reaching Compromise (cont.)

• Fairness– The bicameral legislature was thought to ensure

fair laws were passed

• The Three-Fifths Compromise– The decision to count each slave as three-fifths a

person when deciding the state’s population and subsequent number of representatives.


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Executive and Judicial Branches

• Executive Branch– Designed to enforce the laws– The President

• Judicial Branch– Designed to interpret the laws– The Supreme Court

• Voting and Elections– Only white men with property could vote


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The Signing

• September 17, 1787– 39 delegates signed the compact

• Framers– The delegates of this convention are often called

the framers because they shaped the American form of government.

Reader assignment

• Answer the 5.1 questions using p. 52-53 in your reader.


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Reading assignment

• You will be assigned a section of Ch5 Sec2 to read alone and summarize to the class. In your presentation you must have the following:

– What is your section about? (brief summary)– Why is it important to the ratification of the

Constitution?– How could you compare/relate this to today?

• Also, use p.136-147 to find the following:– Find 1 example of your section in the

ConstitutionCivics: Government and

Economics in Action15

Journal check #1

• Gov’t types

• Portrait of Americans

• Influences on American gov’t

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• Constitution ratification


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Main Idea:

The campaign to ratify the Constitution pitted the Federalists, who favored a strong national government, against the anti-Federalists, who feared the power of a national government.

Key Terms:•Ratified•Federalist•Anti-Federalist

Section 2“The Struggle for Ratification”

Section Outline:I. The Federalists

II. The Anti-Federalists

III. The Federalist Papers

IV. Ratification


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The Federalists

• Federalists– The supporters of the Constitution; they supported

a strong federal or national government.

• Supported a strong national government to:– Protect the states– Maintain Order– Regulate trade– Guarantee the rights of citizens


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The Anti-Federalists

• Anti-Federalists– Opponents of the Constitution– Feared the “Necessary and Proper” clause– Felt a Bill of Rights was needed

• Supported a weak national government and strong state government to:– Allow politicians to be closer to their constituents– Protect people’s liberties– Limit abuses of power by federal governments


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The Federalist Papers

• Written in Response to Patrick Henry and other Anti-Federalists– James Madison– Alexander Hamilton– John Jay

• These papers argued for the Constitution as a body which could protect the liberty of every citizen

Federalist Papers


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Ratification

• Between December 1787 and May 1790, all 13 states ratified or approved of the Constitution– The Constitution was officially adopted when the

ninth state to ratify, New Hampshire, approved.– The last four states to ratify were Virginia, New

York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

Federalist or Anti-Federalist journal

• After reading the packet, complete the following:– Choose one argument to defend

• Write a paragraph defending the idea

– Choose one opposing argument to attack• Write a paragraph attacking the idea


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Federalist Papers

• Write your own “Federalist Paper” to convince someone that your opinion is supreme. This can be any topic of your choosing in today’s world. Your paper should be at least 1 page in length.

• i.e. (gas is too expensive, reality shows are the greatest form of entertainment)


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Section Outline:I. The Goals of Our Government

II. The Articles

III. Limited Government

Main Idea:

The Constitution establishes a federal government, protects the rights of citizens, and provides general rules that government must follow.

Key Terms:•Amendments•Federalism•Concurrent Powers•Reserved Powers•Checks and Balances•Impeach

Section 3“The Supreme Law of the Land”


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The Goals of Our Government

• To Form a more Perfect Union

• To Establish Justice

• To Insure Domestic Tranquility

• The Provide for the Common Defense

• To Promote General Welfare

• To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity

The Articles

• Your group will be given 1 of the 7 articles of the Constitution (p.136).– On 1 paper per group, answer the following:

• What does your article address?• Describe why it is important• How can you relate this article to today’s world?


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The Articles

Article Topic

1

2

3

4

5

6

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Legislative Branch

Executive Branch

Judicial Branch

The states

Amendments

Supremacy Clause

Ratification

5.3 textbook assignment

• Read p.124-131

• Do the following parts of p.131– Key terms– #3a & b– #4a & b


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Limited Government

• Federalism– The division of power between the states and the

federal or national government

• Concurrent Powers– Powers shared by the federal and state

governments.

• Reserved Powers– Powers that the Constitution neither gives to

Congress nor denies to the states.


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Limited Government (cont.)

• Separation of Powers– Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches

• Checks and Balances– The system that gives each branch of government

ways to limit the powers of the other two.

• Impeach– To accuse or wrongdoing– This is an example of a “check” the House of

Representatives has on any high officials.


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Assignment• Create a pamphlet showing the three

branches of the federal government– You will have 1 title flap and 3 branch flaps

• Each flap should have a title, 3 facts, and an illustration


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civics: government and economics in action 1 chapter 5: creating the constitution

Documents

national government

trade national government

constitution slide

strong national government

constitution civics

ratification slide

signing slide

land slide