KEY QUESTIONS
Who Governs? To What Ends?
Difference between democracy and republic
Branch with the greatest power
Goals the government should serve
Freedoms protected
TRADITIONAL LIBERTIES
Independent judges Free from quartering Free trade No taxation without representation Limited government
COLONIAL MIND
Men are ambitious, greedy, corrupted Higher law to preserve natural rights
Life Liberty Property (pursuit of happiness)
Ideology Specific violations of the English government
DECLARATION
Open letter to the world Explains Social Contract Blames English government Asks for independence
REVOLUTION
Legitimate authority Secure liberties Consent of the governed Written constitution Superior legislative, accountable to the people
ARTICLES Loose union of independent states
Named “The United States of America”
Single legislature of very limited power Addition of the Northwest Territories Northwest Ordinance
Rules for admitting new states
XI - Canada
Abolition of slavery
Mail/trade with countries/indians Freedom of speech/Rights of accused Limits: military/titles of nobility Pay war debts/borrowing money
FAILURE OF ARTICLES One vote for each state (2-7 delegates) Dependent on states for tax collection Powerless to regulate interstate trade Problems with coining money Needed state militias Territorial disputes States enforced laws States pick and pay for legislature No national court system Amendments required unanimous approval 9/13 vote required to pass laws “firm league of friendship”
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
No accepted political theory State models
PA – too democratic
MA – too elitist
Madison Confederacies were too weak to govern
Other governments trampled liberty
Shay’s Rebellion Veteran rebellion over taxation and foreclosures
Private army, fear of anarchy, debate
FRAMERS
Sent to revise Articles Concerned about defense of liberty Feared tyranny of majority Needed to preserve order Practical men
Veterans Confederate Congress Not the leaders of the Revolution
NEW PLAN
Virginia New Jersey
Comprehensive Strong national
government Direct election Parliamentarian 3 branches
Amend not replace Feared under-
representation Equality among states State authority
GREAT COMPROMISE
Connecticut Settled on new national government Focus on representation Divide into 2 houses
House directly elected based on population Senate indirectly elected equal among states
Electoral College
CONSTITUTION OUTLINE
Preamble Articles
I – Legislative
II – Executive
III – Judicial
IV – Relation Among States
V – Amending Process
VI – National Supremacy
VII – Ratification
Amendments