The Constitution of the United States SOL USI.7b: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the challenges faced by the new nation by: b) describing the.

The Constitution of the United The Constitution of the United StatesStates

SOL USI.7b: The student will demonstrate SOL USI.7b: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the challenges faced by the knowledge of the challenges faced by the new nation by: b) describing the historical new nation by: b) describing the historical

developments of the Constitution of the developments of the Constitution of the United StatesUnited States

Basic Information:Basic Information:

1) The development of the 1) The development of the Constitution of Constitution of the United Statesthe United States was significant to the was significant to the FOUNDATIONFOUNDATION of the American republic. of the American republic.

2) The 2) The Constitution of the United States of Constitution of the United States of AmericaAmerica established a established a FEDERALFEDERAL system system of government based on power shared of government based on power shared between the between the NATIONALNATIONAL and and STATESTATE governments governments

Confederation to ConstitutionConfederation to Constitution

1) 1) WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES in the in the Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation led to the effort to draft a led to the effort to draft a new constitution new constitution

Constitutional Convention of 1787Constitutional Convention of 1787

Constitutional Convention of 1787Constitutional Convention of 1787

1) State delegates met in 1) State delegates met in PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA and and decided not to revise the decided not to revise the Articles of Articles of Confederation Confederation but to write a new constitution.but to write a new constitution.

2) George Washington was elected 2) George Washington was elected PRESIDENTPRESIDENT of the Constitutional Conventionof the Constitutional Convention

3) Delegates debated over how much 3) Delegates debated over how much POWERPOWER should be given to the new government and how should be given to the new government and how large and small large and small STATESSTATES should be represented should be represented in the new government.in the new government.

Constitutional Convention of 1787Constitutional Convention of 1787

4) The structure of the new national government 4) The structure of the new national government included included THREETHREE separate branches of separate branches of government. The three branches of government government. The three branches of government are: A) Legislative, B) Judicial, and C) Executiveare: A) Legislative, B) Judicial, and C) Executive

5) “The Great Compromise” decided how many 5) “The Great Compromise” decided how many votes each state had in the votes each state had in the SENATESENATE and the and the House of Representatives.House of Representatives.

6) The 6) The Constitution of the United StatesConstitution of the United States was was SIGNEDSIGNED at the end of the convention in 1787 at the end of the convention in 1787

Ratification of the ConstitutionRatification of the Constitution

1) Nine of the thirteen states had to vote in 1) Nine of the thirteen states had to vote in favor of the Constitution before it could favor of the Constitution before it could become become LAWLAW..

Bill of RightsBill of Rights1) Based of the 1) Based of the Virginia Declaration of RightsVirginia Declaration of Rights that that

was written by was written by GEORGE MASONGEORGE MASON and the and the Virginia Statute for Religious FreedomVirginia Statute for Religious Freedom that was that was written by written by THOMAS JEFFERSONTHOMAS JEFFERSON..

2) The 2) The Bill of RightsBill of Rights is the first is the first TENTEN amendments amendments to the Constitution. They provide a written to the Constitution. They provide a written guarantee of individual guarantee of individual RIGHTSRIGHTS (examples (examples include: freedoms of speech, religion, press, include: freedoms of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly).petition, and assembly).

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

The First Ten Amendments of the United States Constitution- The Bill of Rights

James Madison- The 4th President of the United States and the author of the Bill of Rights