Chapter 2: The Constitution
Vocabulary Terms from Quizlet
http://quizlet.com/27696993/chapter-2-terms-flash-cards/
http://quizlet.com/27696993/chapter-2-terms-flash-cards/
Section Reviews:
2.1 Roots of the New American Nation
Settlers came to the New World for a variety of reasons, but most of those early inhabitants remained loyal to Great Britain and considered themselves subjects of the king. Over the years, as new generations of Americans were born on colonial soil, those ties weakened. A series of taxes levied by the British crown ultimately led colonists to convene the Second Continental Congress and to declare their independence.
2.2 The First Attempt at Government: Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation (1781) created a loose league of friendship between the new national government and the states. Numerous weaknesses in the government quickly became apparent. Among the major flaws were Congress's inability to tax or regulate commerce, the absence of an executive to administer the government, the lack of a strong central government, and no judiciary.
2.3 The Miracle at Philadelphia: Writing the U.S. Constitution
When weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent, the states called for a meeting to reform them. The Constitutional Convention (1787) threw out the Articles of Confederation and fashioned a new, more workable form of government. The U.S. Constitution resulted from a series of compromises, including those over representation, issues involving large and small states, slavery, and how to determine population. The delegates also made compromises on how members of each branch of government were to be selected. They created the Electoral College to give states a key role in the selection of the president.
2.4 The U.S. Constitution
The proposed U.S. Constitution created a federal system that drew heavily on Montesquieu's ideas about separation of powers. These ideas concerned a way of parceling out power among the three branches of government. A system of checks and balances also prevented any one branch from having too much power.
2.5 The Drive for Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
The drive for ratification became a fierce fight between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalists lobbied for the strong national government created by the Constitution; Anti-Federalists favored greater state power.
2.6 Toward Reform: Methods of Amending the U.S. Constitution
The Framers did not want the whims of the people to sway the government unduly. Therefore, they designed a deliberate two-stage, formal amendment process that required approval on both federal and state levels; this process has rarely been used. However, informal amendments, prompted by judicial review, cultural and social changes, and technological change, have had a tremendous impact on the Constitution.
2.1 Roots of the New American Nation
Settlers came to the New World for a variety of reasons, but most of those early inhabitants remained loyal to Great Britain and considered themselves subjects of the king. Over the years, as new generations of Americans were born on colonial soil, those ties weakened. A series of taxes levied by the British crown ultimately led colonists to convene the Second Continental Congress and to declare their independence.
2.2 The First Attempt at Government: Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation (1781) created a loose league of friendship between the new national government and the states. Numerous weaknesses in the government quickly became apparent. Among the major flaws were Congress's inability to tax or regulate commerce, the absence of an executive to administer the government, the lack of a strong central government, and no judiciary.
2.3 The Miracle at Philadelphia: Writing the U.S. Constitution
When weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent, the states called for a meeting to reform them. The Constitutional Convention (1787) threw out the Articles of Confederation and fashioned a new, more workable form of government. The U.S. Constitution resulted from a series of compromises, including those over representation, issues involving large and small states, slavery, and how to determine population. The delegates also made compromises on how members of each branch of government were to be selected. They created the Electoral College to give states a key role in the selection of the president.
2.4 The U.S. Constitution
The proposed U.S. Constitution created a federal system that drew heavily on Montesquieu's ideas about separation of powers. These ideas concerned a way of parceling out power among the three branches of government. A system of checks and balances also prevented any one branch from having too much power.
2.5 The Drive for Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
The drive for ratification became a fierce fight between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalists lobbied for the strong national government created by the Constitution; Anti-Federalists favored greater state power.
2.6 Toward Reform: Methods of Amending the U.S. Constitution
The Framers did not want the whims of the people to sway the government unduly. Therefore, they designed a deliberate two-stage, formal amendment process that required approval on both federal and state levels; this process has rarely been used. However, informal amendments, prompted by judicial review, cultural and social changes, and technological change, have had a tremendous impact on the Constitution.
Section Objectives:
2.1
Trace the historical developments that led to the colonists' break with Great Britain and the emergence of the new American nation.
2.2
Identify the key components of the Articles of Confederation and the reasons why it failed.
2.3
Outline the issues and compromises that were central to the writing of the U.S. Constitution.
2.4
Analyze the underlying principles of the U.S. Constitution.
2.5
Explain the conflicts that characterized the drive for ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
2.6
Distinguish between the methods for proposing and ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
2.1
Trace the historical developments that led to the colonists' break with Great Britain and the emergence of the new American nation.
2.2
Identify the key components of the Articles of Confederation and the reasons why it failed.
2.3
Outline the issues and compromises that were central to the writing of the U.S. Constitution.
2.4
Analyze the underlying principles of the U.S. Constitution.
2.5
Explain the conflicts that characterized the drive for ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
2.6
Distinguish between the methods for proposing and ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Sites:
- This site shows Supreme Court cases: http://www.oyez.org/
- This site explains the Constitutional Convention: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/convention1787.html
- This site explains the process of ratifying an amendment: http://www.wikihow.com/Amend-the-Constitution
Videos:
- This video shows the notes to the chapter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsPFdjFgAoU
- This video describes and explains the Preamble: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HMoyH1uLhRk