ch. 8-11

Chapter 8

Sect. 1

• One of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was that the old Continental Congress was significantly weaker than expected.
• Surveyors would lay out townships in the Ohio Valley known as the Northwest Territory.
• Congress would create the Northwestern Ordinance of 1787 which divided the Northwest Territories into smaller territories which can elect its own legislature or a lawmaking body.

Sect. 2

• Massachusettes farmers would rebel against the money shortage making it unable to pay their taxes and debts.
• Daniel Shays a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill would lead the charge against the courthouses of the United States.
• Shay’s Rebellion would close down courthouses to keep judges from taking their farms.
• Shay’s Rebellion would shock Congress into calling a convention to consider the state of the United States, and delegates would be sent to Philadelphia to revise the Articles.

Sect. 3

• Philadelphia would have the delegates arrive at around 1787 meeting for the first time in the Pennsylvania State House.
• The first action of the convention was to elect George Washington president of the convention.

Sect. 4

• Fifty five delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island boycotted the delegation)
• James Madison would be in the management of every great question as to become the evidential leader of the Convention.
• After choosing a president of the convention the rules of secrecy would take place.
• The delegates would believe in the rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, akint o the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke.

Section 5

• The best way to protect the rights of the people is to create a republic.
• After a long debate, the Articles of Confederation were thrown up for a new framework.
• Drafted by James Madison and proposed by Edmund Randolph, his Virginia Plan would call for a strong national government, taking three branches or parts.
• Under the plan, two houses of Congress, Representatives and Senate would be created. Lawmakers would be sent to congress based on the popualtion of the state.
• Like the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey plan would keep some of the tennants of the Virginia plan, instead having one house instead of two, the legislative branch would have one house and each state would have an equal vote in Congress.
• The debate over representation would become an increasingly pressing issue.
• A compromise would be created where Roger Sherman would propose in an earlier plan whereas the compromise would keep a two-house Congress one based on the people called the reps and the second based on the states called the Senate.

Section 6

• Like other states, southerners wanted as many representatives in the House, arguing that enslaved people should count as one man.
• The Declaration and the American Revolution forced many people to re-examine their stance on slavery.
• However, slavery was just as economically important, making people hesitant to outlaw it.

Section 7

• After a bitter debate, Madison settled on a compromise, counting all enslaved people as 3/5 of a person.
• Congress would have the power to control trade however with two limitations.
  • no tax exports to other countries.
  • no interfering in the slave trade until 1808.
• The delegates would also agree on a term known as the fugitive slave clause, making enslaved people who cross borders to be sent back into captivity.

Section 8

• Endmund Randolph suggested that we have three leaders for different parts of the country, leading the country better than one in theory.
• In spite of doubts, framers would keep a mono president society.
• The struggle would be in how the president would be elected in.
• People would suggest for a popular vote or a group of electors representing a state to vote.

Section 9

• The Electoral College would be established.
• A group of electors who cast votes to elect the president and vice president every four years.
• The delegates would make the method of choosing up to the popular vote in states.
• The majority of the vote the state votes, will go to the candidate.

Section 10

• The constitution was ratified by 9 states.
• The delegates would sign the constitution.
• Not everyone was convinced, until a Bill of Rights was promised, then everyone signed.

Section 11

• Federalists liked the Constitution. Popular federalists would write heavy papers in support of the Constitution.
• The Anti-Federalists did not, and opposed the plan feverantly.

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Chapter 9

Section 1

• Some of the best known words of the Constitution is inside of the preamble.
• The delegates included a list of goals for the new government in the Preamble.
• The Constitution also aims to establish Justice.
• The delegates hoped that the new government would insure domestic stability and tranquility.
• The new government aims to provide for the common defense. Meaning for all Americans to be safe.
• The delegates wanted to promote general Welfare. Meaning for all Americans to be well-off.
• The delegates wanted us to secure the blessings of liberty and gain in the pursuit of happiness.

Section 2

• The Constitution creates a bicameral legislature known as Congress.
• Every state has two senators but in the House, representation is based on the amount of people in the population.
• Congress makes laws and any member of the House or Senate has the power to submit a bill or proposal for a new law.
• The president can veto any proposed law. Overriding this presidential power requires a 2/3 maority.
• Congress can decide how to spend the money of the people including raising an army, navy, declaring war, paying government debts and granting citizenship.

Section 3

• Article II describes the executive branch, the head of the executive branch is the president.
• Delegates were not prepared to let the people elect the president directly.
• The president serves a four year term. A president must be a natural-born American citizen and at least 35 years old.
• The president is commander in chief of the military, and is able to make treaties.
• The Constitution gives Congress the power to remove a president or other officials from office if they commit crimes.

Section 4

• Protecting the law of the land is the main job of the judicial branch, whereas the branch would consist of the system of federal courts.
• Congress has set two main sets of lower federal courts, called district courts, and appellate courts.
• Most cases involving federal cases are first heard in district courts.
• The Supreme Court is the last stop in the judicial system, its decisions are final and binding.
• The Supreme Court would have very great power in it.

Section 5

• The framers would make a system that enable each branch to limit the power of the other two branches, called checks and balances.
• Checks allow one branch to block the actions of another.
• Balances allow each branch of the government to have a role in actions and power of the other branches.

Section 6

• Article V describes two ways in which changes, called amendments, can be added to the constitution.
• Congress may propose a change with a two thirds vote in a Congress.
• Congress then calls national convention, coming after the request of at least two thirds of the state legislatures.
• There are two ways of ratifying an amendment, it may be approved by the legislatures in at least 3/4 of the states.
• 10,000 amendments have been proposed but only 27 have been approved.

Section 7

• The Constitution gives some powers only to the national government, best used by one central authority.
• THe provision is known as the commerce clause, allowing for the regulation of commerce to be regulated by the government.
• Giving states a common coinage can help resources flow through the country easier.
• The constitution does not spell out the specific powers of the state, instead about the states that retain powers not given to the national government.
• Articles IV outlines the responsibilities of states to each other, saying that states must give full faith and credit to the laws and court of other states.
• The constitution does not allow one state to discriminate against a citizen of another state.

Section 8

• The framers designed a government based on the people.

• The constitution established the principle of majority vote, laws are passed by majority vote and so is elections.

• Elections are how most people participate in the government.

• People can also take part in government through interests groups, which build interest in certain subjects to raise awareness.

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Chapter 10

Section 1

• In the 1789, George Washington became the nation’s first president.
• Madison went through nearly 100 proposed changes as Congress debated other issues.
• There was 10 amendments approved by Congress called the Bill of Rights.

Section 2

• James Madison combined five freedoms into the First Amendment, religion, speech, press and the assembly.
• The First Amendment has two gurantees of religious freedom, making sure no law respecting an establishment of religion.
• Congress is prohibited from stopping the free exercise of religion.
• Freedom of the press allows for all things to be said. Unless it hurts public safety or is slanderous.
• The final two rights protect the right to peaceably assemble against the government or for a movement.

Section 3

• The 3rd Amendment protects people from the government from snooping on your privacy without permission.
• The 4th Amendment protects people from searching you without a government warrant.

Section 4

• The 5th Amendment gives people who are accused of serious crimes the right to a grand jury hearing.
• The amendment also protects against self-incrimination.
• The fifth amendment also protects the dignity of the prisoner by outlawing the practice of cruel or unusual punishment.
• The Sixth Amendment protects from an unfair court trial and allows a person the right to a speedy fair trial.
• The 7th Amendment says that most people involved in civil cases have a right to a jury trial as well.
• The 8th amendment protects the accused persons rights before and after the trial.

Section 9

• The Ninth Amendment says the rights outlined in the constitutions not listed are retained byt he people.
• The 10th Amendment protects the people from having the government have excessive strength over their lives.

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