This presentation covers the section titled: Considerations that Influenced the Formulation and Adoption of the Constitution. You will be expected to contribute in an interactive format wherever a definition or question is posed. Definitions are marked by a page number next to it.

1. UNIT #1: Constitutional underpinnings of the
u.s. government
Considerations that Influenced the Formulation and
Adoption of the Constitution (p.p. 28-52)
LEQ: How do we reconcile economic inequality with political
freedom?

2. Origins of the
Constitution
Declaration of Independence (31)
John Locke’s Natural Rights (32)
John Locke’s Consent of the Governed (32)
John Locke’s Limited Government (32)

3. Origins of the
Constitution (cont’d)
Traditional view of government: King had divine right
to absolute rule over his subjects
New view of government: certain things are beyond
the realm of government

4. What did the framers think the
purpose of government was?
Property=wealth
The government should preserve individual property
Patient Sufferance (33)
Thomas Jefferson: the government should secure
rights, e.g. “life, liberty...”

5. Articles of
Confederation
Articles of Confederation (35)
Government dominated by states, failed
Fear that a strong central government would become
tyrannical (remember the King?)
Congress had little power, they could not: regulate
commerce, tax, develop strong national economy

6. Dissatisfaction over the
Articles of
Confederation
Democracy/liberty for white males only
Positive change: power shift, new middle class
Economic turmoil/post Revolutionary War depression
Shay’s Rebellion (37)
Congress can’t raise militia to deal with conflict(s)
Annapolis Meeting calls for meeting of the states

7. The Philadelphia
Convention
Purpose of Convention: revise Articles of
Confederation
Republican Government (38)
Delegates agreed on four things: human nature,
political conflict, objects of government, and the nature
of republican government

8. What is Human Nature?
Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan (38)
Without a strong government, life will be “solitary,
poor, nasty, brutish and short.” (The premise of every
zombie movie. Ever.)
People are self-interested
Government should play a key role in containing self-
interest of people

9. Roots of Political
Conflict
James Madison’s view: distribution of wealth is the
source of political conflict. (2012 Campaign?)
Factions (39)

10. The Writers of the
Constitution
They’re all wealthy, they all want to preserve that
wealth (property)
Primary objective: preserve individual rights to acquire
and hold wealth

11. Nature of Government
Power should be set against power, so no one faction
would overwhelm the other
To avoid tyranny, checks and balances and the
separation of powers

12. Equality &
Representation of the
States
NJ Plan (41)
VA Plan (41)
CT Compromise (41)
3/5 Compromise (42)
States decide voting qualifications

13. Economic Issues
Federalists (43) (49)
Anti-Federalists (43) (49)
Under Articles of Confederation, there was a chaotic
union of states, e.g. New Jersey may not have
accepted money brought from New York

14. Constitution Give
Congress Power
It granted Congress the power to create the conditions
with which markets would flourish:
They became the chief economic policy maker
They had power to tax and borrow for revenue
They could regulate interstate/foreign commerce

15. Individual Rights Issues
Constitution says little of personal freedoms, what is
protected?
Writ of Habeas Corpus (45)
Bills of Attainder (45)
Ex Post Facto Laws (45)

16. The Madison Model
What is tyranny of the majority?
Fear of factions, majority could out-vote minority
faction
How would Madison avoid a tyranny of the majority?

17. The Madison Model
(cont’d)
How would Madison avoid tyranny of the majority?
Limiting Majority Control, e.g. only House is within
direct control of the votes of the majority
Separation of Powers (46)
Checks and Balances (47)
Division of power between national/state governments
(federalism)

18. The Constitutional
Republic
Republic (48)
Checks and balances & separation of powers slows
change
If you desire change you must have a sizable majority,
this makes it hard for the majority/minority to tyrannize
What do critics say about the Madisonian Model?

19. Federalists & Anti-
Federalists
Federalists (49)
Anti-Federalists (49)
Federalist Papers (49)
Table 2.5 (50)
What does ratify mean?
9/13 states need to
approve Constitution

20. Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights (51)
Table 2.6 (51)
Bill of Rights restrained national government from
limiting personal freedoms
Constitution weakened the power of the states
What are some fears of the Anti-Federalists?