A New ConstitutionA New ConstitutionMr. ZimmerMr. Zimmer

CivicsCivics

Constitution HistoryConstitution History By 1787 the original

13 states realized that the Articles of Confederation needed to be fixed The Articles of

Confederation gave more power to the states and was the first governing document for the country

Constitution HistoryConstitution History The Constitution is The Constitution is

the world’s oldest the world’s oldest written written constitution still constitution still governing a governing a country today.country today.

British InfluenceBritish Influence The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta

Guaranteed that Guaranteed that free people could free people could not be arrested, not be arrested, put in prison, or put in prison, or forced to leave forced to leave their country their country without a trial by without a trial by juryjury

British InfluenceBritish Influence The English Bill of RightsThe English Bill of Rights

Right to PetitionRight to Petition Right to fair punishment if Right to fair punishment if

found guilty of a crimefound guilty of a crime

British InfluenceBritish Influence Parliamentary GovernmentParliamentary Government

Lawmaking body of Great Lawmaking body of Great BritainBritain

BicameralBicameralConsists of two houses or partsConsists of two houses or parts

Delegates Meet in SecretDelegates Meet in Secret Met in secret Met in secret

because agreements because agreements on difficult issues on difficult issues might not have been might not have been possiblepossible

James Madison kept James Madison kept a journal of the a journal of the proceedingsproceedings He is sometimes He is sometimes

called the Father of called the Father of the Constitution the Constitution because of this.because of this.

Writing the ConstitutionWriting the Constitution The framers created a system of The framers created a system of

government known as federalismgovernment known as federalism During the writing process the most During the writing process the most

serious disagreement was over the serious disagreement was over the question of representation in the national question of representation in the national legislaturelegislature Larger states wanted it based on populationLarger states wanted it based on population Smaller states wanted equal representationSmaller states wanted equal representation This is why the House of Representatives and This is why the House of Representatives and

the Senate were createdthe Senate were created This became known as the Great Compromise!This became known as the Great Compromise!

Constitution CompletedConstitution Completed Once completed, it was sent to the Once completed, it was sent to the

states for ratification or approvalstates for ratification or approval 9 of the 13 colonies had to ratify the 9 of the 13 colonies had to ratify the

Constitution for it to go into effectConstitution for it to go into effect Each state set up a special convention Each state set up a special convention

of delegates to vote on the Constitutionof delegates to vote on the Constitution As time went on, people took sides and As time went on, people took sides and

two groups were formed: The two groups were formed: The Federalists and Anti-FederalistsFederalists and Anti-Federalists

FederalistsFederalists These were the supporters of the Constitution These were the supporters of the Constitution

who favored a strong National Government to who favored a strong National Government to keep the country unitedkeep the country united

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison were members of this groupMadison were members of this group

Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists Feared a strong national government defeated the Feared a strong national government defeated the

purpose of the Revolutionary Warpurpose of the Revolutionary War They did not believe that the proposed Constitution They did not believe that the proposed Constitution

protects the states power or people’s freedomsprotects the states power or people’s freedoms Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Samuel Adams Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Samuel Adams

were members of this groupwere members of this group

Constitution is RatifiedConstitution is Ratified Slowly the Federalist gained supportSlowly the Federalist gained support Many citizens were still upset that Many citizens were still upset that

the Constitution did not contain a list the Constitution did not contain a list of the rights for the peopleof the rights for the people

After ratification by the 9After ratification by the 9thth state, the state, the new U.S. government began to new U.S. government began to operate in 1789operate in 1789