Unit 1

Grievances to Constitution

D of I Grievances fixed in the Constitution

• Colonists were taxed without their consent.• Article 1, Section 8: Congress shall have the power to collect taxes.• The king suspended trial by jury• Amendment 6 - …the accused shall enjoy the right to …an impartial jury …• The king kept standing armies in colonies and required citizens to quarter them in

their homes• Amendment 3 – No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,

without consent of the Owner, nor is a time of war…• The king exercised absolute power• Article 1, 2, & 3, Section 1: States what powers will be vested in each branch of

government• The king dissolved the colonial legislatures because they opposed his violations of

the rights of people• Article 2, Section 3: Can only adjourn Congress if they are disagreeing with each

other. The president has never adjourned Congress.

Principles of the Constitution• Limited Government

– Powers of Federal gov’t are limited to those specifically provided in the Constitution• Republicanism

– A democratic government of representatives elected by the people• Popular Sovereignty

– Power comes from the people• Federalism

– Powers divided between federal and state governments• Separation of Powers

– Powers of government divided between three branches of government• Checks and Balances

– Prevents one branch from becoming too powerful• Amendments

– Allows constitution to be changed

Amendment Process

• Article 5 of the Constitution

Alexis de Tocqueville

• Frenchman• Came to America to study the prison system to help

reform France’s prison system• Wrote Democracy in America 1835• Five things that set American democracy apart from

European1. Liberty2. Egalitarianism (equality)3. Individualism4. Populism5. Laissez-faire (hands off)

Civil War Amendments

• 13th Amendment– Slavery abolished

• 14th Amendment– African-Americans became citizens– Gave all citizens “due process rights” – equal protection of the laws from state

governments.• 15th Amendment– Cannot be denied right to vote based on race

E Pluribus Unum

• “Out of Many (comes) One• Located on the seal of the United States• Adopted in 1782, became official in 1956.

In God We Trust

• National Motto – adopted 1956• Has been used on coins since 1864• Meaning is ceremonial not religious (court

ruling)