Shaping a New Nation:

Confederation,
Ratification &
Constitution
Chapters 5 & 6
Confederation &
Constitution
Chapter 5, Section 1 & 2 (pgs. 132-144)
L1 HW Review Questions!
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) capable 2) consent 3) enforce 4) amend 5) compromise
Main Idea (3-5 sentences)
Why did Americans prefer a Republic?
Explain the purpose of a Constitution.
Summarize (6 sentences)
Articles of Confederation: Weaknesses (Extra Credit Option)
The Great Compromise (E.C.O)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Journal Entry: Imagine you are a Northern farmer. You read a
newspaper article about Shays Rebellion. Write your thoughts on
this issue.
We Won the War! Now what?
Most American believed
democracy gave too
much power to
uneducated masses
Many favored a
Republic: govnt in which
people elect capable
leaders to govern
Republicanism:
govnt based on
consent of the people
After Revolutionary War, American
states created their own
constitutions, or written system of
laws & principles that spell out
functions & limitations of
government
Citizen rights: freedom of
speech, religion & press
State Constitutions differed
For example, voting:
Some states: all adult males who
pay taxes
Other state: property owners
All states: women not allowed to
vote
Continental Constitution
Continental Congress wanted to create govnt for the
entire nation
Three Basic Issues:
1) Representation?
Each state = 1 vote (regardless of population or size)
2) Sharing power: state & federal govnt powers
1781: Articles of Confederation
Confederation (or alliance): state govnt supreme in some
matter; federal supreme in other matters
No executive to enforce laws
No court system to decide meaning of laws
3) The West
How to govern land west of Appalachian MTs?
Land Ordinance of 1785: federal govnt surveyed land &
sold it to settlers
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: organized land into
territories
Weaknesses of Articles of
Conf.
1. New govnt did not unify nation
States continue to act in their own interests
2. Imbalance of political power
1-vote/state means Georgia (pop: 23,375) =
Massachusetts (pop: 235,000)
3. Change = difficult
To amend, or change, Articles, all states must agree
4. No Tax
Continental Congress could not tax = no federal
money
5. Weak Foreign Policy
Britain refused to evacuate Great Lakes forts
Spanish strengthened west, closed Mississippi River
Fear of the Govnt
Americans feared giving too much power to
national govnt = monarchy
1787 Shays Rebellion
Massachusetts farmers revolted against the state
Accused govnt of taxing them too much
Protestors clashed with state militia
Effect:
Many feared country was sinking into chaos &
violence
From Conflict to
Compromise
Issue #1: Fair Representation
Virginia Plan (by James Madison):
State representation based on population
Larger population = greater power
New Jersey Plan:
Equal representation, no matter the size
Great Compromise (by Roger Sherman)
Legislature (or law-making body) with 2 houses:
House of Representatives: # based on population
Senate: each would state would have 2
Issue #2: Do slaves count?
North: no vs. South: yes (they had more slaves)
Three-fifths Compromise: 60% slaves can be added to
pop. count

New Government &
Ratification
Chapter 5, Section 2 & 3 (pgs. 140-149)
L2 HW Review Questions!
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) enforce 2) interpret 3) minority 4) majority 5) warrant 6) discrimination
Main Idea (3-5 sentences)
How did the Constitution ensure that government would check &
balance itself?
How is the President elected?
Summarize (6 sentences)
State vs. National Powers (Extra Credit Option)
Federalists vs. Antifederalists (E.C.O)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Why was it so important to add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
Creating a New
Government
Federalism: power is
divided between national &
state govnts
National powers:
Foreign affairs, national
defense, inter-state trade
State powers:
Education, marriage,
domestic trade
Both:
Tax, borrow money, pay
debts, establish courts

Separation of powers: limits
on federal govnt
Checks & Balances: make
sure no on branch became
too powerful
Legislative Branch: make
laws (House of Reps +
Senate)
Executive Branch: enforce
(or carry out) laws
Judicial Branch: interpret
laws
How do you elect the
President?
By electoral college: each
state = House of Reps +
Senate

Ratification:
9/13 states = law of the
land
Federalists
Supported Constitution
George Washington,
James Madison
Checks & balances protect
Americans from strong
central govnt
The Federalist
Essays defending the
Constitution
Antifederalists
Opposed Constitution
Samuel Adams
Strong central govnt would
serve privileged minority
Ignore rights of the majority
Letters from the Federal
Farmer
Rights to protect: freedom of
press & religion, protection
from unlawful searches, right
to a trial by jury
The Bill of Rights
Federalists agreed Constitution need a Bill of
Rights
1789: Constitution ratified by states
Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments)
1. Five freedoms: speech, religion, press, protest
2. Right to Bear Arms: right to form civilian militia
Others:
No search of homes or person without warrant
Right to trial by jury
o Unmentionables:
o No mention of women, Native Americans & slaves
o Free blacks allowed to vote
o No protection from discrimination & hostility


October Break Homework
Homework Instructions
1) Chapter 5
a) Lesson 1 & 2 HW Review Questions
b) Chapter 5 R.S.G. Review Worksheet (including
Critical Thinking)
c) Chapter 5 Guided Reading Worksheets: Section 1, 2
& 3
2) The Living Constitution R.S.G
a) Read & Highlight
b) Answer all questions
c) The Living Constitution R.S.G. Review Worksheet
(including Critical Thinking)
d) Skillbuilder Practice Worksheet
e) Reteaching Activity Worksheets (x4)


The Living Constitution
Section 1 4 (pgs. 152-173)
The Preamble
Preamble = introduction
Legitimacy = govnt based
on agreement with citizens
We the people of the United
States do ordain and
establish this Constitution.
Why form a govnt?
Improve structure of politics
Create justice & peace
Protect nation from attack
Ensure well-being of citizens
Freedom! Freedom?
Freedom

The Legislative Branch (Article
1)
Main Roles & Powers
To pass legislation
(laws)
Declare war
Regulate trade
Regulate money
Impeach federal official
Override presidential
vetoes (2/3 vote in
each house)
Special Powers &
Responsibilities
Senate:
Approve presidential
nominations to the federal
court
Approve treaties (2/3 vote)
Serve as jury in impeachment
trials
House of Representatives
Originate all spending ($$)
bills
Serve as prosecution in
impeachment trial
The Legislative Branch
(continued)
Terms of Service
Senate:
Term: unlimited 6 year terms
(elected by popular vote)
Must be over 30 years old
Must be 9-year citizen of the U.S.
AND resident of the state
House of Representatives:
Term: unlimited 2 year terms
(elected by popular vote)
Must be over 25 years old
Must be 7-year citizen
Must be resident of district they
represent
Representation
Senate:
Each state has 2
senators (x50 =
100)
House of
Representatives:
Proportional to
population
Currently fixed at:
435
The Executive Branch (Article
2)
Executive = President
+ advisors (Cabinet) +
all federal agencies &
their heads
Main Roles & Powers:
1) Chief Executive
a) Enforce laws passed by
Congress
b) Head of federal
bureaucracy
c) Nominate judges
(including Supreme
Court)

2) Chief Diplomat
a) Act as representative of
U.S. to foreign governments
b) Make treaties (requires: 2/3
Senate approval)
3) Chief Legislator
a) Propose a federal budget
b) Recommend laws to
Congress
c) Veto legislation
d) Approve legislation

The Executive Branch
(continued)
Main Roles & Powers
(continued)
4) Commander-in-Chief of
Armed Forces:
a) Supreme commander of
all branches of U.S.
military
b) Authorize use of U.S.
military for up to 60 days
(without Congress
approval or declaration
of war)
5) Chief of State
a) Serve as ceremonial
head of U.S.
government
Special Powers &
Requirements & Term
Special Powers
Grant pardon (forgiving person
for crimes)
Grant amnesty (forgiving group
of people for specific class of
crime)
Term:
Maximum: 2 terms x 4 years
(22
nd
amendment 1951)
Requirements
Must be over 35 years old
Natural born citizen
14 year resident of U.S.
The Judicial Branch (Article
3)
Main Roles & Powers
Interpret the law
Exercise the power of
judicial review
Chief Justice presides
over trials of presidential
impeachment
Judicial Review
Stated by John Marshall in
1803 Marbury vs. Madison
(not in Constitution)
1) Determine if laws passed
by Congress are
constitutional
2) Determine if treaties are
constitutional
3) Determine if President
actions are constitutional
4) Determine if laws passed
by states are
constitutional
The Judicial Branch (continued)
Supreme Court
Hears cases of appeal
from lower federal and
state courts
Supreme court has
original jurisdiction (may
hear case first) involving
state vs. state or branch
vs. branch
Requirements & Terms
Terms:
Judges serve for life
(unless retire)
Appointed by president
Approved by Senate
May be removed by
impeachment proceeding
Requirements:
No specific requirement in
Constitution
Judicial Review: Explained
Judicial Review: the power to determine whether
actions of legislative & executive are constitutional
Unconstitutional: any law or govnt action that is
found to violate the Constitution = highest law
Any law or act deemed illegal CANNOT be enforced or
carried out by govnt
Judicial Review is not mentioned in the Constitution
Marbury v. Madison (1803) was a landmark Supreme
Court case that set a precedent for Judicial Review
Checks & Balances
Checking the Legislative
Branch
Executive
Can veto legislation
Can call special sessions
of Congress
Can suggest laws and
send messages to
Congress


Judicial
Can declare acts of
Congress
unconstitutional via
judicial review
Checking the Executive
Branch
Legislative
Can impeach and remove
the president
Can override veto (2/3 vote)
Senate approves/rejects
certain presidential
nominations
Senate must ratify all formal
U.S. treaties

Judicial
Can declare executive
acts unconstitutional
Judges are appointed
for life = free from
executive control
Checking the Judicial
Branch
Executive
Appoints federal
judges
Can grant pardon or
amnesty for federal
crimes
Legislative
Can impeach and
remove federal judges
Establishes lower
federal courts
Poster Instructions
Poster must include:
Main Powers
Special Powers
Terms
Requirements
Checks & Balances
How does your branch check other
branches?
How do other branches check your
branch?
Visuals
Make your own visuals > print
pictures
Group member roles (hand-in to Mr.
Igor)
Make a poster plan on A4 paper
Divide group member
responsibilities
REMINDER!
Read Rubric carefully
You will get points for
creativity
20 accurate facts
Is your poster neat &
organized?
You will present; Mr.
Igor will ask you
questions
You must hand-in
rubric after your
presentation
Constitution Continued:
Federalism, Amendments &
Bill of Rights
L3 HW Review Questions!
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) supermajority 2) abolish 3) suffrage 4)
Main Idea (3-5 sentences)
What is an amendment?
Summarize (6 sentences)
U.S. Federalism (Extra Credit Option)
The Great Compromise (E.C.O)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Which amendment in the Bill of Rights do you think is the most
important and why?
Which three amendments in the U.S. Constitution do you this is the
most important and why?
Federalism: the sharing of power between a central,
federal govnt and state govnts
Amendments to the Constitution
Amendment: an
addition or
change to the
U.S. Constitution
Amendments to
the Constitution
require
supermajority:
at least 60%,
more than
simple majority
(51%)

Most Important
Amendments
1-10 = Bill of Rights (Free Speech, Freedom of
Religion, Freedom of Press, Right to Assembly, Right
to Petition)
13: Abolished Slavery
14: African American citizenship
15: No citizen can be denied vote based on race or color
16: Income Tax
18: Prohibition = no production or sale of alcohol
21: Repealed Prohibition
19: Womens suffrage (right to vote)
22: Presidential terms (2x 4 years)