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The Constitution of the tlnited States (!276-1800)
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SUMMARY
In 1781, the
states approved a new set of
called
the
Articles of Confederation.
laws
The Articles established a weak national
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government and left most power in the
hands of the thirteen states. The states all
had constitutions, or plans of government.
Under the Articles, there was only a
national legislature, called a Congress.
Today, our government has three branches. The legislative branch passes laws.
The executive trranch, headed by the
President, carries out the laws. The iudicial branch, headed by the Supreme
Court, interprets the laws.
In the early 17B0s/ a group called the
Nationalists arzued that the nation needed a suonger national government. The
Nationalists included influential
Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison.
They believed that Congress was too weak
to deal with the country's problems. They
also feared the lack of order that could
result when Americans challenged government authority.
In 1-786, a Massachusetts
farmer named Daniel Shays led
an armed rebellion against the
government. Shays and his followers were angry about high
state taxes. Since Congress had
no money to raise an army, it
could not put down the rebellion. Finally, the state of Massachusetts
stopped the rebellion. Shays' Rebellion
convinced many Americans that the
country could not survive without
a
stronger national government.
Americans such as George Washington,
d CnnpHlG SUMMARY:
The Case for a New Constitution
National Government
Nationalists Fear
ls Weak
Nation Will Fail
u
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No power to
Each state prints its
collect taxes
own money
.
.
Warn of dangers of
Shows the disorder
weaK government
occurring under
Want the United
weaK government
No executive branch
States fight over
No national courts
trade and other
States
issues
for the world
to be a model
By 1787, many Americans agreed on the need for a new constitution.
M nevrew euEsrroms
1. What were Shays and his
rebelling against?
a
followers 2. Chart Skills
What were two reasons that people wanted a new
constitution?
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Guide to the Essentials €HAPTER 5
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The Constitutional Convention was held
in Philadelphia during the summer of
1787 . Th.e United States Constitution was
written at this meeting. James Madison is
sometimes called "the father of the
Constitution" because of the influence he
had over the writing of the Constitution.
A ma jor disagreement at the
Convention was between large and small
states. Large states supported the
Virginia Plan. Under this plan, a
state with a large population
would have more voting power
in Congress than a smaller state.
Small states favored the New
Jersey Plan, which called for
each state to have equal voting
power. The Great Compromise
resolved the debate. Congress n'ould have
tr,rio houses: a Senate, in which all states
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had equal votes, and a House of
Representatives,
in which the number of
seats would be based
on a state's popula-
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The Constitution created a federaE
government, in which power is shared
among the central government and the
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states. For example, each state can estab-
lish its own educational system, while
only the national government can declare
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war.
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According to the Constitution, the federal government has three branches: exec-
utive, legislative, and judicial. To keep
any one branch from becoming too powerful, the Constitution created a system of
checks arrd halaxrces, which allows
each branch to check, or limit, the power
of the other two.
SUIffiEUIARV: Tke Ttzree Eranekes of Gavernnsent
Branch
President
carries out the laws
The system
of checks and balances keeps any one branch fronn beeonring too powerfu[.
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1" Would states with a large population 2" Siagrasla $kilEs Hor,v can the
have more voting power under the
President limit the power of
Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? Congress?
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of the Constitution
Supporters
were
called Federalists. Federalist leaders
included George Washington, James
Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. They
wanted a strong national government and
urged the states to ratify, or approve, the
new Constitution. Several Federalists published a series of essays entitled The
Federalist. These essays presented detailed
arguments for approval of the
Constitution.
The Anti-Federalists opposed approval
of the Constitution. They were led by
older revolutionary figures such as Patrick
Henry. The Anti-Federalists insisted that
the Constitution would make the national government too strong. They worried
that a powerful central government
e
would threaten the liberty of individual
citizens. They were also concerned that
the government could be controlled by
one small group/ or f,action.
The Federalists won the
debate. They were better organized than the Anti-federalists.
Federalists also had the advantage that George Washington,
the nation's most respected public figure, was on their side. But
what finally convinced
some
states to
support the
Constitution was the Bill of Rights. This
was a set of amendments, or changes, to
the Constitution which guaranteed that
the rights of citizens would be protected.
ffi GRABI{I€ SUIffiFffiARV: Show{d the eonstitettion
be RatifiedT
Anti-Federalist Concern
Constitution will give national
oovernment too much power
President
will be just like a king.
Individual liberties will be threatened
by a powerful government.
Federal government could come under
control of one oowerful faction.
Federalist Response
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Constitution will give national
government enough power to solve
the country's problems.
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System of checks and balances will
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Bill of Rights will protect citizens
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limit President's power.
freedom.
Country is too big to be dominated
by any one faction.
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists both had strong arguments.
S mevrrw quEsrtorus
X. What did the Federalists urse
to
do?
states 2. Chart SkilBs Give two
reasons the
Anti-Federalists opposed the
Constitution.
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Guide ta the Essentials CFIAPTER 5
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In 1.789, George Whshington became the
first President of the United States. His
main goal was to help the government
earn the respect of the American people
and leaders around the world.
He governed carefully, knowing
that his behavior would set
precedents, or examples, for
future Presidents. Washington
won reelection in 1792.
Washington chose respected
patriots to be leaders of executive branch departments. This
group of leaders is called the
Cabinet" Thomas Jefferson was the first
Secretary of State. Jefferson never fully
trusted the new government. He worried
that it had too much power. He resigned
in 1793 and soon became a critic of
Washington. Alexander Hamilton served
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as the first Secretary of the
Treasury.
Unlike Jefferson, Hamilton believed that a
strong central government was needed to
solve the country's problems.
New York City was the first capital of
the new United States government. In
1790, the capital was moved to
Philadelphia. That year, Congress decided
that the nation needed a new capital city,
one that would be as beautiful
European capitals.
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A site was chosen
along the Maryland-Virginia border.
Washington appointed Benjamin
Banneker, an African American mathematician, to help survev the city. Pierre
L'Enfant, a French architect, developed
the city plan. In \799, the new capital was
named Washington, District of Columbia,
to honor the first oresident.
The First Cabinet
/'
:. Vice-President
,
Thomas.fefferson,
Past Experience: Main writer of the
f xperience: Leader duri ng
, Revolution, influential Federalist
Past'
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George Washington,
President
Declaration of Independence,
Ambassador to France
,
Past Experience: Commander
of
i :fontinental Army during Revolutionary
War, President of Constitutional
Alexander Hamilton,
Secretary of the Treasury
Past lxperience; Personal aide
to Washington during Revolution,
author of manv of The
Henry Knox,
Secretary of War
Past Experience: General in
Continental Army, Secretary of War
under Articles of Con{ederation.
Federalist essays.
George Washington appointed highly respected Americans to the first Cabinet.
ff nevrgl,n euesrgqlrus
L" List the three cities that have
served as capital of the United
States.
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CF{APTER
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Gulde to fhe Essentials
CEaart SkiEEs What was
Hamilton's role during the
American Revolution?
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Write the letter of the correct answer in the blank provided. (10 points each)
1. The Articles of Confederation created a
A. powerful President.
5. The executive branch of the United States
government is led by the
A. House of Representatives.
B. President.
C. Senate.
D. Supreme Court.
B. limited national government.
C. Supreme Court.
D. strong national government.
2, The Nationalists believed the United States
7. The Federalists argued that the
needed
A. a weaker national government.
B. stronger state governments.
C. a stronger national government.
D. a king.
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Constitution
A. was a betrayal of the American
Revolution.
B. should be rejected by the states.
C. should be ratified by the states.
D. gave the President too much power.
3. Shays' Rebellion convinced many prominent Americans that
A. rebellions were good for the country.
B. the Articles of Confederation were
working.
C. taxes should be lowered.
D. it was time to strengthen the national
government.
4. Why is James Madison known as the
"father of the Constitution"?
A. He had great influence over its writing.
B. He wrote the whole document himself.
C. He succeeded in getting all the states to
ratify it.
D. He was the first to insist that a new
Constitution be written.
5. The Virginia Plan called for
A. all states to have equai voting power.
B. large states to have more voting power
than small states.
C" a compromise between large and small
8. The Bill of Rights was added to the
Constitution to
A. protect citizens' liberties.
B. make the Federalists happy.
C. strengthen the national government,
D. restrict personal freedom.
9. As President, Washington tried to
A. act like an ordinary citizen.
B. set good examples for future Presidents.
C. ignore the opinion of foreign leaders.
D. hire only close friends as advisors.
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10. Which member of the first Cabinet
resigned and became a critic of
Washington?
A. Henry Knox
B. Alexander Hamilton
C. Thomas Jefferson
D. Edmund Randolph
states.
B. a new national capital to be built in
Virginia.
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Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Guide to the Essentials CFBAPTER 5