A New Constitution

Chapter 2.3 Pages 43-48

The Convention

By 1787 the people in the US realized the Articles of Confederation had to be fixed

The new plan became known as the Constitution of the United States The constitution with a few

amendments describes the relationship between the government and citizens

British Influence

The Magna Carta Means the Great Charter Guaranteed people can not be put in

prison, forced to leave their nation unless given a trial by their peers

It protected the Parliament from the monarchy

British Influence

The English Bill of Rights The right to petition, or request their

government to improve or change the laws

The right to fair punishment

Parliamentary Government

The law making body of Great Britain It is bicameral, that is consisting of

two houses The House of Lords (Monarch) The House of Commons (by the

people)

Writing the Constitution

The Framers agreed the Central Government needed greater powers Agreed that the States should

govern their own affairs Established a Federalist System

The National Legislature

Representation Larger states wanted it based on

population Smaller states wanted equal

representation

The Great Compromise The Senate equal representation The House of Representatives based

on population

The Government Becomes Stronger

Increased the power of the National Government

Congress Print Money, Regulate trade, Raise

an Army, set taxes

The office of the President is created

Approving the Constitution

The Constitution had to be sent to the states to be approved

To go into effect 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution and a strong government

Argued that a strong government was needed to keep the states united

James Madison and Alexander Hamilton Created the Federalist Papers

Anti-Federalists

Thought a strong Federal government defeated the purpose of the Revolutionary War

They believed that the proposed Constitution would protect neither the states power nor the peoples freedom

The Constitution is Ratified

The Constitution did not contain a Bill of Rights States suggested adding a Bill of

Rights if ratified

The new government began on April 30, 1789 George Washington was sworn in as

the first President