1. How did the Constitution strengthen the
US Government?
We the people of the
United States, in order
to form a more perfect
union, establish justice,
insure domestic
tranquility, provide for
the common defense,
promote the general
welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and
establish this
Constitution for the
United States of
America.

2. Constitutional Convention
Shay’s Rebellion
of 1787
(1786) caused the
framers to believe that
the Articles of
Confederation were
ineffective & needed to
be replaced
Delegates gathered in
Philadelphia (1787) to
write a new
Constitution
James Madison leads
the movement to write
the Constitution

3. Conflict at the Constitutional
Convention
Delegates disagreed on THREE key issues:
– Representation
– Slavery
– Trade

4. Conflict @ the Convention:
Representation in the new
Congress
Big States vs. Small
States
Virginia Plan
– Representation based
upon a states
population (favored
more populated
states)
New Jersey Plan
– Each state had equal
votes

5. Compromise: Representation
The Great Compromise
– Settled the representation conflict
– Delegates created a 2 house (bicameral) legislature
One house based upon population (House of Reps)
A second house based upon equal votes per state (the
United States Senate)

6. Conflict: The Slavery Issue
Southern states
supported slavery
– Wanted slaves to
count for
representation, but
not for taxation
Northern states
– wanted slaves to count
for taxation, not
representation

7. Compromise: The
Slavery Issue
The Three Fifths Compromise:
settles the Slavery Issue
– 3 out of 5 slaves would be counted
for both representation and
taxation

8. Conflict: The Trade Issue
Southern delegates did not want an export or import tax (tariff).
Northern delegates favored a tax on imports to help northern
industries grow. This could hurt the South
Compromise: Congress was given the power to tax imports, but
not exports
The South needed slavery for plantation labor. The North feared
slave populations would be to high.
Compromise- The importation of slaves would end 20 years from
the ratification of the Constitution

9. DEBATE ON RATIFICATION
Federalists argue for a
strong federal system to
replace the Articles of
Confederation
(Madison/Hamilton/Jay)
Anti-federalists believe
that the new constitution
would be too strong and
crush the Peoples rights
(Henry & S. Adams)

10. Compromise: Federalists vs.
Anti-federalists
Federalists agree to add a Bill of Rights to the
new Constitution
The Addition of the BOR allowed Anti-Feds to
agree to ratify the new Constitution
The Constitution was ratified in 1789

11. The 1st Chief Executive
George Washington was
chosen to be the first
President
The BOR, System of
Checks &
Balances/Written
Constitution all help
create Limited
Government
Electing officials to act as
Representatives creates
Representative
Government

12. The U.S. Constitution
The New Constitution: allowed for a separate
executive branch (the President), a separate
judicial branch (the Supreme Court), and a
two-house legislative branch (the Congress).

14. The Federal System/Division of Power
Power was divided between State
governments and the Federal
Government

15. Powers
RESERVED for
Both State &
Federal Powers: states:
Federal:
•Armed Forces •Building roads
•Health & Safety
matters
•Coining money •Borrowing money
•Marriage/divorce
•Regulated trade •Collecting taxes laws
•Making treaties •Operating courts •Business
regulation
•Licensing of
professions

16. 15th Amendment--gave voting rights to freed
slaves after the civil war.
19th Amendment--gave women the right to vote.
Example: The Necessary & Proper clause has been used
to regulate industries that were unseen in 1789:
auto industry, telecommunications, airline safety ECT...
Brown v Board of Ed. allowing for the desegregation of
schools

17. Th U r C tion
e nwitten onstitu
The Unwritten
Constitution
refers to
traditions that
have become
part of our
political system.

18. The Unwritten Constitution
-Political Parties are not written into
the Constitution
-The Primary responsibility for
political parties is to nominate
candidates for office
-George Washington warned against
the formation of political parties.

19. The Unwritten Constitution
President Washington
appointed Cabinet
members to help him
run the government.
All presidents have
followed this tradition
The presidential
cabinet is NOT written
in the Constitution

20. Unwritten Constitution
President Washington
served 2 terms and
retired
The 2 term tradition
became part of the
Unwritten Constitution
FDR broke with tradition,
2 terms has since been
written into the
Constitution through the
amendment process.

21. How did the U.S. Constitution
Strengthen the U.S.
Government?
It created a strong national/federal
government that allowed the new
nation to function as one independent
country, created a three branch
government (which included a Chief
Executive) & preserved the
Enlightenment principles of
representative government & limited
government

22. 7 Principals of the
Constitution
The “Big Ideas”

23. Constitution
Is the “Rule Book” of the
United States.
It was created to improve our
country and create a fair government.
They way The Founding Fathers wrote it,
they made sure it was flexible (could be
added to or changed if needed).

24. “The Rule Book”
Constitution
Limited Individual Rights
Republicanism Government
l is m ers
Che ra aration Pow
cks
Bal & Fede
Pop
When the Founding Fathers wrote the
Constitution they made sure that there
were 7 ideas (or principals) included in it.

25. Popular Sovereignty
Where does the government get it’s
power?
A King??
No..of course not.
The People of the United States give the
government it’s
power!

26. Republicanism
How do “ “ give the
government its power?
We VOTE!
We get to pick those people that are in
Congress, the Senate, our President, etc.
Anyone that is in a public office – we pick!

27. Federalism
The state’s and the national government
need to be partners.
Some powers are
shared by the States
and National governments
Some powers belong only to the States
and some belong only to the National

28. Federalism
NATIONAL GOVT SHARED STATE GOVT
•Maintain Army •Taxes •Establish School
•Establish Post Office •Courts •Marriage Laws
•Declare War •Build Roads •Local Government
•Banks

29. Federalism
MR. LEWIS MRS. LUNA
SHARED
•Hires Teachers •Grades class papers
•Enforce Tardies
•Sets Rules for school •Makes Rules for
•Enforce Uniform
classroom
•Suspends Students Code
•Puts in grades and
•Strive for Student
conduct
Success

30. Separation of Powers
The Framers were worried that too much
power might fall into the hands of one
group or person so they divided the work
into three areas.
I am King, We will divide
I have all the the power so it’s
power! fair.

31. Separation of Powers
US Constitution
“The Rule Book”
Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch
Makes Laws Enforces Laws Judges Laws

32. Checks and Balances
“Power should be a check to Power” ~
Baron de Montesquieu
What does that mean?
That means that each branch of the
government can check on the other and
approve or stop what they are doing.

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CHECKS & BALANCES
Checks Courts
Checks Congress

34. Limited Government
Framers wanted to guard against tyranny
Government is limited to the power given
them in the Constitution.
The Constitution tells how leaders who
overstep their power can be removed

35. Individual Rights
My rights are
UNALIENABLE!
That means no one can
take them away from me!!
I’d like to see you try to
take them anyway!

36. • Out individual rights are guaranteed in the Bill of
Rights.
• The Bill of Rights (BOR) are the first ten
amendments to the constitution.
• These rights include: Freedom of speech,
religion and press. We also are guaranteed the
right to a trial and attorney if we are accused of a
crime.
• There are 10 amendments in the BOR.

37. Individual Rights