Chapter 5: American Government Mr. Wagner U.S. History Objectives Identify events that led nationalist leaders to call for a convention to strengthen the government. Identify events that led nationalist leaders to call for a convention to strengthen the government. Summarize the key conflicts at the Constitutional Convention and explain how they were resolved. Summarize the key conflicts at the Constitutional Convention and explain how they were resolved. Describe the form of government established by the Constitution. Describe the form of government established by the Constitution. Objectives (continued) Contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalists arguments over the ratification of the Constitution. Contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalists arguments over the ratification of the Constitution. Explain how and why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. Explain how and why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. What style of government did Americans favor? Democracy- people have the right to govern themselves. Republic- a government in which the people elect representatives to govern Republicanism- idea that governments should be based on the consent of the people. What were the state constitutions like? Written set of laws. Limited power of government Guaranteed rights of citizens such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. States constitutions differed from one another What issues did the Continental Congress face? 3 issues 1.How much representation should each state have in the federal government? 2.How would the states and federal government share power? 3.How should the federal government govern land west of the Appalachians? What was the Articles of Confederation ( )? First form of federal government. Unicameral legislature with each state getting equal representation. No Executive (president) No judicial branch No power to tax Ineffective form of government. What was passed to settle the territories beyond the Appalachians? Land Ordinance of Federal government surveyed the land and sold it to settlers at affordable prices. Northwest Ordinance of organized land into territories and developed a process for statehood. What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Little to unify the country Larger states felt they were not represented on the federal level fairly. No power to tax Trouble with foreign nations (Britain and Spain) Lacked uniform currency No executive or judicial power What was Shays Rebellion (1787)? Showed the Articles of Confederation was weak and ineffective. Group of Massachusetts farmers revolted against the state because of high taxes. Protesters led by Daniel Shays fought the state militia. Who was James Madison? Father of the Constitution Author of the Virginia Plan Author of the U.S. Bill of Rights What was the Virginia Declaration of Rights? Written by George Mason in Many statements used in the Declaration of Independence and Madison used many ideas later in the U.S. Bill of Rights. What was the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom? Written by Thomas Jefferson (1779) Government cannot interfere with practice of religion Basis for the 1 st Amendment. What was the Great Compromise? Addressed the question of how states were represented at the federal government. Virginia Plan states represented by population. New Jersey Planstates represented equally. Great Compromise by Roger Sherman-bicameral legislature called Congress (House of Representatives by population and Senate- 2 per state. What was the 3/5 Compromise? Addressed the issue of representation and taxation of slaves as property. Every 5 slaves was equal to 3 free persons for representation in Congress. What is federalism? Division of powers between state and federal government. Delegated= federal powers Reserved= state powers Concurrent= shared powers Under the Constitution, what were the 3 branches of government? Legislative- makes the laws (U.S. Congress made up of 2 houses- House of Representatives and Senate) Executive- enforces the laws (President and the Cabinet) Judicial- interprets the laws (Supreme Court) What are checks and balances? Ensures that one branch of government is not too powerful. All 3 branches check one another. What is the electoral college? Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of members in Congress for Presidential elections. (270 to win.com) This was put in place so average people would not have too much power. Many think today we have moved passed the electoral college. What is ratification? Official approval of the state to accept the Constitution. In order for an amendment to pass 9 out of 13 states had to agree. George Washington- Chairman of the Constitutional Convention. Who were the Federalists? George Washington, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. Thought that people could not be trusted. Did not need a U.S. Bill of Rights because states have own constitutions. Federalist Papers- written to support Constitution (Hamilton, Jay, and Madison. Who were Anti-Federalists? Mostly rural America, farmers. Led by Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and Sam Adams. Wanted a U.S. Bill of Rights States rights Richard Henry Lee- Letters from a Federal Farmer, basic rights should be protected. What was the Bill of Rights? First ten amendments added to the Constitution. (Anti- Federalists wanted this!) Written by James Madison 1 st Amendment Protects freedom of religion, press, speech, right to assembly, and right to petition the government. Many court cases are about this amendment and its protections. 2 nd Amendment Right to bear arms (weapons) Controversial amendment Debated often be NRA and gun rights activists. 3 rd Amendment No quartering of soldiers in peacetime. 4 th Amendment Protection and against unreasonable searches and seizures. Need warrant or probable cause 5 th Amendment Criminal rights No double jeopardy Indicted by grand jury Dont have to testify against yourself (plead the 5 th ) Eminent domain 6 th Amendment Criminal rights Trial by Jury Speedy and public trial Able to confront witnesses Right to an attorney 7 th Amendment Trial by jury in civil court cases (money decisions, not criminal) 8 th Amendment No cruel or unusual punishment and no excessive fines or bail. The death penalty is debated under this amendment. 9 th Amendment Any rights not in specifically denied in the Constitution are given to the people. Example: Right to privacy (Example: legalization of abortion both 9 th and 14th) 10 th Amendment The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.