Roots of the Constitution

Al Jacobs

Wiregrass History

www.cpresa.org/sghp/sghp.

htm

What are we doing?What are we doing?

•Events and TimelineEvents and Timeline

•PeoplePeople

•Trying to figure out how Trying to figure out how and why the Constitution and why the Constitution was writtenwas written

Major Events TimelineMajor Events Timeline

• 1st Continental Congress – 1st Continental Congress – SEP-OCT 1774SEP-OCT 1774

• Lexington Concord – Lexington Concord – April 19, 1775April 19, 1775

• 2d Continental Congress - 2d Continental Congress - May 75-Dec 76May 75-Dec 76

Declaration of Independence–Declaration of Independence–JulyJuly 4, 17764, 1776

•• 3rd Continental Congress 3rd Continental Congress

Articles Confederation – ratified Articles Confederation – ratified Mar 1781Mar 1781

Yorktown Yorktown Oct 1781Oct 1781, war ends , war ends Apr 1783Apr 1783

The PeopleThe People

Who were the framers?Who were the framers?

• • Aristocrats – large wealthy Aristocrats – large wealthy landowners, landowners,

merchants, educated, loyal British merchants, educated, loyal British

subjects.subjects.

• • Lived along Eastern seaboard on Lived along Eastern seaboard on the the

best land.best land.

• • Hamiltonians – class based societyHamiltonians – class based society

Settlement

By

Ethnic

Groups

c1760

Who were the Scots-Who were the Scots-Irish?Irish?

Farmers – poor, uneducated, Farmers – poor, uneducated, frontiersmenfrontiersmen

Other traits – independent, Other traits – independent, proud, violent, heavy drinkers, proud, violent, heavy drinkers, armed, liked to fight, anti-armed, liked to fight, anti-British, suspicious of authority, British, suspicious of authority, prolific, religious – prolific, religious – Presbyterian/Baptist, Presbyterian/Baptist,

Valued land, family, the military Valued land, family, the military and honor.and honor.

The Patriot

Postwar ProblemsPostwar Problems Economy – InflationEconomy – Inflation Property – Large landownersProperty – Large landowners Voting RightsVoting Rights Monetary problemsMonetary problems Inadequate court systemsInadequate court systems Inadequate militaryInadequate military

Led toLed to

Separatist attitudesSeparatist attitudes Strong local governmentsStrong local governments Inability of the government to protect Inability of the government to protect

against Indian attacksagainst Indian attacks Refusal to pay taxesRefusal to pay taxes

Finally, armed confrontation – Shay’s Finally, armed confrontation – Shay’s Rebellion Rebellion

Major Events TimelineMajor Events Timeline

• Shay’s Rebellion – Shay’s Rebellion – Aug 1786-Jan 1787Aug 1786-Jan 1787

• Annapolis Convention – Annapolis Convention – Sep 1786Sep 1786

• Constitutional Convention opens – Constitutional Convention opens – 5/25/875/25/87

• Constitution signed – Constitution signed – 9/17/879/17/87

• Delaware ratifies – Delaware ratifies – 12/7/8712/7/87

• Constitution ratified – Constitution ratified – 6/21/886/21/88

• Washington inaugurated – Washington inaugurated – April 30, 1789April 30, 1789

• Whiskey Rebellion –Whiskey Rebellion – Aug 1794 Aug 1794

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

Art 1 – Freedom of speech, press, Art 1 – Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religionassembly, religion

Art 2 – Right to keep and bear Art 2 – Right to keep and bear armsarms

Art 3 – No quartering of troopsArt 3 – No quartering of troops Art 4 – Illegal search and seizureArt 4 – Illegal search and seizure Art 5-8 – Legal due processArt 5-8 – Legal due process Art 9 – Other rights not deniedArt 9 – Other rights not denied Art 10 – States’ rightsArt 10 – States’ rights

ConclusionsConclusions

The Constitution was evolved The Constitution was evolved over a period of years.over a period of years.

Many internal pressures in the Many internal pressures in the new nation forced adoption of new nation forced adoption of the Constitution.the Constitution.

Attitudes and actions of the Attitudes and actions of the Scots-Irish settlers helped form Scots-Irish settlers helped form the new Constitutionthe new Constitution and Bill of and Bill of Rights.Rights.

Gettysburg

Scots-Irish….The Sequel