HOT ROC: How would you “form a more perfect

union”?• Consider the United States as you see it now.

What new laws would you consider adding to the constitution? What roles or limits would you put on Congress, the President, or the Supreme Court? Explain why.

Declaration of Independence:

Grievances (problems) before The American Revolution

How/where were the problems addressed in Declaration of Independence?

Proclamation Line of 1763

Sugar Act of 1764

Stamp Act of1765

Declaratory Act of 1766

Townshend Acts of 1767

Quartering Acts/“ Boston Massacre”

Tea Act of1773

Intolerable or Coercive Acts of 1774

Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation were strong enough to hold the colonies together throughout the war, yet not strong enough to establish a nation. 

Individual colonies coming together for the purpose of independence, but still picturing themselves as separate nations.

The Articles failed because…

No Executive Branch

Competing Ideas

THE VIRGINIA PLAN THE NEW JERSEY PLAN

A national government based on a 3 branch system:

Bicameral (2) Legislative-based on each state’s population

The Executive

The Judicial Branch

Series of amendments to the Articles of Confederation

Unicameral (1) Legislative-each state had equal representation

Called for a less powerful national government

The Great Compromise

Bicameral Legislature• 1 based on population• 1 each state receives

equal votes But what about slaves?

• Did they count in population for voting? Taxes?

• 3/5 Compromise 5 slave = 3 whites

Commerce• Congress would have

power to regulate foreign trade and interstate commerce

• No taxation on exports• No laws against Slave

Trade until after 1808

The U.S. ConstitutionThe Constitutional Convention created a government

made up of three branches: The Legislative Branch has elected representatives

from every state - Congress.

The Executive Branch – commander-in-chief of armed forces, signs bills into laws and is entrusted with enforcing the law.

The Judicial Branch is our system of courts. Judges are appointed by the President, are approved by Congress.

Separation of PowersThe branches divide up the tasks of running the country, but they also check or limit the powers of each other:

The Congress can put the President on trial, known as an impeachment, if they feel that something wrong has been done.

All of the people that the President wants to appoint have to be approved by Congress.

The federal courts can get rid of any law passed by

Congress that they think is unconstitutional. Judges are appointed by the President and approved by Congress. Judges serve life terms.

HOT ROC Journal: Due Tuesday

Why students history? Prioritize Ideals Cultural, Political & Economic reasons

why colonists immigrated Image: Boston Teas Party Reactions to the Crisis – Reactionary -

> Radical Washington Crossing the Delaware “a more perfect union”