Chapter Three Outline The initial intent of the Constitutional (Federal) Convention was to modify the AoC

The Revolutionary Roots of the Constitution The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and binds every government official to support it. o Divides the national government into three branches o Describes the power of those branches and their connections o Outlines the interaction between the government and the governed o Describes the relationship between the national government and the states Most Americans revere the Constitution as political scripture Written in 1787, oldest operating constitution in the world o Remarkable stability for being written at a time of revolution o Was designed to prevent anarchy by forging a union of states

Freedom in Colonial America Had many freedoms that Europeans did not o Could control their land at will (no feudalism, no restriction of private property) o No compulsory payments to support an established church o No ceilings on wages o No guilds of exclusive professional associations o Almost complete freedom of speech, press, and assembly 1763 Americas foreign affairs and overseas trade control by Britain, rest was colonial rule o Issue: Seven Years War (1756-1763)

The Road to Revolution Colonial America taxed in order to pay for upkeep, colonists disagreed o No taxation without representation Sons of Liberty created (merchants, lawyers, and prosperous traders) Daughters of Liberty created December 16, 1773 Boston Tea Party, ultimate act of defiance and destruction o Coercive (or Intolerable) Acts passed 1774 Shift from taxation issue to issue of British order vs. American liberty First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia September 1774

Revolutionary Action Colonist fighting British at Lexington and Concord by early 1775 Second Continental Congress met in May 1775 June 7, 1776 Continental Congress decides its best to become independent Committee of five men appointed to prepare a proclamation declaring independence

The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jeffersons pen to John Adamss voice Declaration of Independence: Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document that proclaimed the right of the colonies to separate from Great Britain. Huge influences from English philosopher John Locke o Social Contract Theory, consent of the governed, natural God-given rights Social Contract Theory: The belief that the people agree to set up rulers for certain purposes and thus have the right to resist or remove rulers who act against those purposes. July 2, 1776 Second Continental Congress votes for independence 11-0 Catholics had to choose between England and Protestant America, finally wooed by America War started with accidental shots at Lexington, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775 o Ended with Lord Cornwalliss surrender in Yorktown, Virginia on October 19, 1781

From Revolution to Confederation Establishment of a Republic Republic: A government without a monarch; a government rooted in the consent of the governed, whose power is exercised by elected representatives responsible to the governed. The revolutionaries were more concerned with limiting the power of government than establishing its powers.

The Articles of Confederation Confederation: A loose association of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified matters. Articles of Confederation: The compact among the thirteen original states that established the first government of the United States. o Very strong states, very weak central govt (fear of a monarch) o Each state had one vote (9/13 needed) The Articles of Confederation failed for at least four reasons: o The national govt did not have the power to tax o No provision for an independent leadership position to direct the government o Interstate and foreign commerce could not be regulated o The Articles could not be amended without the unanimous agreement of the congress and the assent of all the state legislatures

Disorder Under the Confederation Shays Rebellion demonstrated the impotence and inflexibility of the confederation

From Confederation to Constitution Original intent of the Federal Convention was to revise the AoC Edmund Randolph proposed the Virginia plan, AoC amendment rejected, new Constitution

The Virginia Plan

 The New Jersey Plan The Great Compromise Compromise on the Presidency The Final Product The Basic Principles The Articles of the Constitution The Framers Motives The Slavery Issue Selling the Constitution The Federalist Papers A Concession: The Bill of Rights Ratification Constitutional Change

 The Formal Amendment Process Interpretation by the Courts Political Practice An Evaluation of the Constitution Freedom, Order, and Equality in the Constitution The Constitution and Models of Democracy