CIVICS STANDARD TWO (b): Students will understand the principles and content of major American state papers such as the Declaration of Independence; United States Constitution (including the Bill of Rights);and the Federalist Papers.

LEARNING ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

(1) How are the principles of the major American state papers guaranteeing liberty to contemporary Americans?

(2) On what principles does the American political system rest?

(3) How have the American people attempted to achieve and uphold the principles found in the major American state papers?

NEW NATION (1776-1790)

I. Articles of Confederation

A. First American Constitution

1. Loose alliance of 13 independent states.

• Congress Could: declare war, appoint military officers, coin money, and be responsible for foreign affairs.

• Congress Could Not: regulate trade or have the power to tax.

B. Problems

1. After the American Revolution

• fighting and disagreement between states over land• owed millions of dollars to individuals and foreign nations (war debt)

• Britain refused to withdraw its troops from the Ohio River Valley

• Spain closed its ports in New Orleans to American shipping

II. Constitutional ConventionA. May 25th, 1787 – September 17th, 1787

1. Purpose:• to revise the Articles of Confederation ; ultimately wrote a new constitution

• 55 delegates – Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton

• James Madison is considered the “Father of the Constitution”

• 9 out of 13 states had to agree before the Constitution could become law

B. Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan

1. Similarities• three branches of government: (1) legislative (2) executive (3) judicial

2. Differences• Virginia Plan – representation based upon population; favored by the large states

• New Jersey Plan – equal representation for each state; favored by the small states

3. Great Compromise• three branches of government• House of Representatives – based upon state population• Senate – equal representation from each state

C. Compromises/Agreements

1. Three-Fifths Compromise

• agreed that three-fifths of the slaves in any state would be counted towards the overall population of that state

2. slave trade

• Congress Could Not:

(1) regulate trade between states and foreign countries

(2) outlaw slave trade for at least 20 years

III. Federalists vs. Antifederalists

A. Federalists1. supporters of the Constitution

• favored a strong national government

2. Federalists Papers

• purpose was to explain and defend the Constitution

• written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

B. Antifederalists

1. opposed the Constitution

• did not want the national government to have too much control

PATRICK HENRY

C. Bill of Rights

1. compromise between the two sides

• prevents the government from taking natural rights away from citizens

BILL OF RIGHTS

I freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly

II right to bear arms and form a militia

III no quartering of soldiers in your home

IV no unreasonable searches and seizures

V right to due process, no self-incrimination

VI right to be represented by a lawyer

VII right to jury trial in civil cases

VIII no unfair punishment, bail, fines

IX have rights not listed in the Constitution

X powers not listed belong to states or people

D. Ratification

1. Delaware

• first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7th, 1787

2. Rhode Island

• last state (of the original 13) to ratify the Constitution on May 29th, 1790