Transcript Powerpoint on Constitution

Constitution Day
WHY is this an
important day in
HISTORY?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form
a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.
These are the words that the Constitution of the United
States begins with. This is called the Preamble! The
constitution is turning 266 YEARS OLD this year!
There were two groups that met to
discuss the Constitution; The Federalists
(who) favored ratification (which means
to formally approve something: usually
an agreement negotiated by somebody
else, in order that it can become valid or
operative of the Constitution)and those
that did not called the Anti-Federalists.
Antifederalists opposed the Constitution for a variety of
reasons.
 Some argued that the delegates in Philadelphia had
exceeded their congressional authority by replacing the
Articles of Confederation with an illegal new document.
 Others complained that the delegates in Philadelphia
represented only the well-born few and consequently had
crafted a document that served their special interests and
reserved the franchise for the propertied classes.
 Another objection was that the Constitution gave too much
power to the central government at the expense of the
states and that a representative government could not
manage a republic this large.
 The most serious criticism was that the Constitutional
Convention had failed to adopt a bill of rights proposed by
George Mason.
Federalists were convinced that
rejection of the Constitution would
result in anarchy (absence of
government: a state of lawlessness or
political disorder due to the absence
of governmental authority) and civil
strife (civil disorder or unrest that
could result in a civil war – a war
between people who live in the same
country).
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the
last time to sign the document they had created.
1.Washington, George,
VA
2.Franklin, Benjamin, PA
3.Madison, James, VA
4.Hamilton, Alexander,
NY
5.Morris, Gouverneur, PA
6.Morris, Robert, PA
7.Wilson, James, PA
8.Pinckney, Chas.
Cotesworth, SC
9.Pinckney, Chas, SC
10.Rutledge, John, SC
11.Butler, Pierce, SC
12.Sherman, Roger, CT
13.Johnson, William
Samuel, CT
14.McHenry, James, MD
15.Read, George, DE
16.Bassett, Richard, DE
17.Spaight, Richard
Dobbs, NC
18.Blount, William, NC
19.Williamson, Hugh, NC
20.Jenifer, Daniel of St.
Thomas, MD
Image courtesy of Office of the
Curator, Architect of the Capitol
In May of 1787, outstanding citizens from 12
states (Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, N.
Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, & Pennsylvania) gathered in
Philadelphia. They planned to be there only a
little while. They had come to improve the
Articles of Confederation and try to create
more unity and cooperation among the states.
Rhode Island sent no representatives.
State
Date
Order
Votes For
Votes
Against
Delaware
December
7, 1787
1
30
0
Pennsylva
nia
December
12, 1787
2
46
23
New
Jersey
December
18, 1787
3
38
0
Georgia
January 2,
1788
4
26
0
Connecticu January 9,
t
1788
5
128
40
Massachus February
etts
6, 1788
6
187
168
Maryland
April 28,
1788
7
63
11
South
Carolina
May 23,
1788
8
149
73
New
Hampshire
June 21,
1788
9
57
47
Virginia
June 25,
1788
10
89
79
New York
July 26,
1788
11
30
27
North
Carolina
November
21, 1789
12
194
77
Rhode
Island
May 29,
1790
13
34
32
The Bill Of Rights
(first 10 amendments of Constitution)
Amendment 1 Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and
Petition»
Amendment 2 Right to Bear Arms»
Amendment 3 Quartering of Soldiers»
Amendment 4 Search and Seizure»
Amendment 5 Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due
Process, Takings»
Amendment 6 Right to Speedy Trial by Jury, Witnesses, Counsel»
Amendment 7 Jury Trial in Civil Lawsuits»
Amendment 8 Excessive Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment»
Amendment 9 Non-Enumerated Rights Retained by People»
Amendment 10 Rights Reserved to States or People»
Amendments 11 – 27
Amendment 11 Suits Against States»
Amendment 12 Election of President and Vice President»
Amendment 13 Abolition of Slavery»
Amendment 14 Citizenship Rights, Equal Protection, Apportionment, Civil War Debt»
Amendment 15 Right to Vote Not Denied by Race»
Amendment 16 Income Tax»
Amendment 17 Popular Election of Senators»
Amendment 18 Prohibition of Liquor»
Amendment 19 Women’s Right to Vote»
Amendment 20 Presidential Term and Succession, Assembly of Congress»
Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition»
Amendment 22 Two-Term Limit on Presidency»
Amendment 23 Presidential Vote for D.C.»
Amendment 24 Abolition of Poll Taxes»
Amendment 25 Presidential Disability and Succession»
Amendment 26 Right to Vote at Age 18»
Amendment 27 Congressional Compensation»
THINK ABOUT
1. What, to you, is the most important right for a citizen to have in a free
country? What's the most important right for a student to have?
2. How do we know what our rights are? Have we always had the same rights?
3. Do you think all citizens should have the same rights? Why or why not?
4. Can your rights ever be limited? In what ways or for what reasons?
5. Are there any rights that we don't necessarily have that you believe we
should? Why?
Watch Video (20 minutes w/questions)
http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/hall-pass/constitutionday-2010/
Watch Video (20 minutes w/questions)
http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/hall-pass/constitution-day-2010/
1.Where did the ideas for changes to the Constitution
come from? What kinds of changes were being
suggested?
2. How did the Bill of Rights become part of the
Constitution? Were all of the proposed changes
accepted? How long did it take for them to be approved?
3. Which freedoms are protected by the Bill of Rights?
Which ones do you use regularly or rarely?
4. When did the Bill of Rights become a more central
part of how the Constitution is interpreted? Why?
5. How do citizens-not the government-use the Bill of
Rights to define their freedoms?
Which Founder Are You?
The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787 by a group of 55 men with one
purpose and many different personalities. Discover which Founding
Father you're most like!
URL: http://constitutioncenter.org/foundersquiz/
Grade: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, K
Standards: 5 - Individuals, Groups, and Institutions, 10 - Civic Ideals and
Practices
Create our own Classroom Constitution
http://constitutioncenter.org/constitution
Go to the website above and select one thing
to read about: an article, an amendment, or an
issue. In 400 words or more write what you
choose to read, what it was about, and why you
think it was important.
• YOUR response paper will be due Thursday,
September 19 by the end of the day.