Constitution and bill of rights 2013

Seeds of Revolution

Stamp Act Affected ALL the colonists

Tax on all printed documents (newspapers, pamphlets, etc.)

The colonists were upset that Parliament was taxing them and because they could not vote for members of Parliament. Their chant became “No taxation without representation!”

Boston Massacre: Citizens fired upon by British soldiers. Five Boston citizens were killed.

Boston Tea Party-Citizens react by for throwing British tea into the Harbor worth 10,000 English pounds = 1 million US dollars today. They receive harsh punishment from England.

Result: The First Continental Congress meets. 12 of the 13 colonies attended this meeting. They met to figure out how to help Boston.

The Revolution Begins Loyalists vs. Patriots Lexington and Concord (April 1775) –

first shots fired in the American Revolution against British.

Second Continental Congress meets. They will lead the country during the American Revolution. George Washington was named

Commander of the Continental Army.

Declaration of Independence

Declare all have Unalienable rights Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Wrote list of grievances (complaints) against King George III

Thomas Jefferson = primary author

Adopted on July 4, 1776

THE WAR!

Battle of Saratoga (1778) Turning point, French come

in on side of Americans Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Victory for the Americans, British General Cornwallis surrenders his army of 8,000 and is defeated.

Treaty of Paris, 1783 Ends war, America gains

its independence.

The Articles of Confederation 1781-1787

• First law of the U.S.

• Provisions of Articles: 1.No chief executive

2.No national court system

3.Gov’t could not tax on a national level

• States held power. Weak Central Government.

Constitutional Convention

• 1787 - Philadelphia • Purpose was to

REVISE Articles of Confederation

• George Washington presided

• James Madison proposed a new document called….

WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A

“MEETING TO REVISE & AMEND”

THE ARTICLES OF CONF.

PA- HOST

DELEGATE

OLDEST AT

AGE 81

“FATHER OF THE

CONSTITUTION”

• Limited government

• Republicanism

• Checks and balances

• Federalism

• Separation of powers

• Popular sovereignty

• Individual rights

Principles of the Constitution

Limited Government

The ruler (president) is

subject to the law.

Came from the Magna Carta (1215).

Republicanism

Form of government where people are ruled through elected officials.

Checks and Balances Each branch of government monitors and limits the power of the other two.

An example is the President vetoes a law passed by Congress.

The Feds

The States

Federalism-Federal government

has more power than the states. They can enforce laws on

the states.

Separation of Powers

The division of power between the three branches.

Popular Sovereignty

The people choose!

Individual Rights Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Press

Freedom of

Religion

Freedom to

Assemble/Petition

Do you understand why the

Constitution is important?

You have 5 minutes to explain

“If one of these principals was left out

of the Constitution, which would’ve had

the greatest impact on our country and

why?”

Bill of Rights

• First ten amendments

• Answers the grievances of the Declaration of Independence

BILL

OF

RIGHTS

Bill of Rights

• 1 – Freedom of religion, speech, press and

right to petition and assemble

• 2 - Right to bear arms

• 3 – No Quartering troops

Bill of Rights • 4 – No illegal searches and seizure

• 5 – Rights of the accused

• 6 – Right to a speedy, public trial

• 7 – Trial by jury in civil cases

• 8 – No cruel or unusual punishment

1789 George Washington becomes

President