American Government
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Chapter2editedSB.pptxThe Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
A Revolution for Independence
The road to revolution
Between 1739 and 1763, Great Britain was engaged in a variety of costly wars
The British Parliament worked to generate more revenue from the colonies to cover the nation’s debt
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
A Revolution for Independence
The road to revolution
Selected Parliamentary acts
American Revenue Act (Sugar Act): 1764
Quartering Act: 1765
Stamp Act: 1765
Declaratory Act: 1766
Townshend Acts: 1767
Tea Act: 1773
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
A Revolution for Independence
Declaring independence
The colonists resisted Parliament’s actions through boycotts, demonstrations, and colonial congress meetings
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress raised an army against the British, but did not declare independence from Britain
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
A Revolution for Independence
Declaring independence
The combination of war with Britain and increasingly widespread familiarity with classical liberal and classical republican theories led to increasing calls for independence from Britain
In 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft a declaration of independence
July 4, 1776: The Second Continental Congress officially announced its Declaration of Independence
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
First Attempt at National Government: The Articles of Confederation
A limited national government
The original founders were concerned about a unitary form of government
They opted for a confederation
“Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union”
Articles of Confederation
A unicameral form of government with limited powers
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
First Attempt at National Government: The Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Shays’s Rebellion (1786–1787)
Demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Congress could authorize raising an army to aid Massachusetts but could not raise revenue to support the army
Altering the Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent of all 13 states
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Second Attempt at National Government: The Constitution
1787: Convention to revise Articles of Confederation called in Philadelphia
Three crucial procedural decisions
George Washington to preside over sessions
Secret sessions held
Draft a new government instead of revise the Articles of Confederation
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Second Attempt at National Government: The Constitution
The Great Compromise
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise (the Great Compromise)
House of Representatives based on state populations
Equal representation in the Senate for each state
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Second Attempt at National Government: The Constitution
The Great Compromise
There was still a question regarding how state populations would be counted for representation in the House
Three-Fifths Compromise
Each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for representational purposes
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
The Effect of the Three-Fifths Compromise on the Political Power of the South
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
The Effect of the Three-Fifths Compromise on the Political Power of the South
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Second Attempt at National Government: The Constitution
Debate over ratification
September 17, 1787: Convention forwarded the draft of the Constitution to the Continental Congress to pass it to the states
Approval required from three-fourths of states for ratification
This differed from the Articles of Confederation, in which one state could veto any change
Reaction to the Constitution
Proponents: Federalists
Opponents: Antifederalists
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Second Attempt at National Government: The Constitution
The Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments of the Constitution
Ratified in 1791
Primarily focuses on civil liberties and basic rights
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
National Government under the Constitution
National supremacy
Supremacy clause
Ensured that national laws took precedence over any conflicting state laws
Of particular importance, national government is significantly more powerful under the Constitution than it was under the Articles of Confederation
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
National Government under the Constitution
The legislative branch
Enumerated powers
Implied powers
Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
National Government under the Constitution
The executive branch
The Articles of Confederation did not have an executive
Under the Constitution, the Founders created an executive branch with a single executive that was to be elected indirectly
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
National Government under the Constitution
The judicial branch
There was no judicial branch under the Articles of Confederation
The Framers of the Constitution created the federal judiciary as the third branch of government, which included lower federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Planning for Potential Pitfalls
Separation of powers
Varying terms of office
Selecting national government officials
Congress, the Senate, and the Seventeenth Amendment
Electoral College
Nomination of federal judges
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
Planning for Potential Pitfalls
Qualifying for national office
Age, citizenship, and residency requirements vary by office
Checks and balances
CHAPTER 2 The Constitution: Rights and Race Intertwined
