Essay Constitutions Notes

Submitted By karasia15
Words: 2198
Pages: 9
Open Document
UNIT 5: The US Constitution

I. The Origin of American Government
A. English Contributions
i. 1215 – The Magna Carta (Great Charter) was signed insuring protection against the absolute power of the monarch. ii. 1628 – The Petition of Right was signed limiting the monarch’s power in many specific ways. iii. 1689 – The English Bill of Rights was produced guaranteeing citizen’s rights and preventing abuses by the monarchs.

B. Colonial Contributions
i. 1619 – Virginia House of Burgesses became the first elected legislative body in the America’s ii. 1620 – Mayflower Compact signed creating a social contract in which people agreed to be governed by established laws and principles iii. 1643 – The New England Confederation joined into a “league of friendship” in defense against hostile Native Americans. iv. 1754 – The Albany Plan of Union was proposed by Benjamin Franklin to attempt to form a political union of the 13 original colonies – in the end this failed from lack of support
v. 1765 – The Stamp Act Congress joined the colonies together for the first time to oppose British governing policies and taxes. vi. 1774 – The First Continental Congress called to establish formal opposition to taxation through organized boycotts of British goods vii. 1776 – The Second Continental Congress breaks formally broke ties with the British. The Declaration of Independence was signed officially placing the colonies in a state of rebellion. viii.1776 – 1777- Most state constitutions were written and adopted ix. 1781- The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation as the official governing body of the new United States of America
x. 1783- Treaty of Paris finally gives British recognition to American independence

II. State Governments
A. Most people held loyalties to their state instead of a national government
B. Most States passed their individual Constitutions before 1780
C. Themes
i. Limit Power of the executive (disliked Kings and royal Governors) ii. Strong Representative Legislatures iii. Assigned many of the powers traditionally given to the executive
a. Alliances and treaties
b. Appointments of government officials iv. Most Legislatures were bicameral (2 houses)
a. Senate – upper house
b. House of Representatives – lower house
c. Elections for both held often 1-2 years exhibited

III. America’s first National Government
A. Proposed by Richard Henry Lee
B. Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1781
C. Themes
i. Weak union of strong governments ii. 1 Branch of government
a. Legislative branch (Congress)
b. Each state had one vote
D. Strengths
i. Under the Articles the lands west of the 13 original colonies were organized
a. Land Ordinance of 1785
1. Organized the land in the west into organized plots
1 township  36 sections  640 acres  $1 an acre
b. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
1. Created a framework for territories to become states
5000 people = elected government
60,000 = apply for statehood
E. Weaknesses
i. Powerless to collect taxes ii. No person or group was in charge of enforcing the acts of Congress iii. No national court system iv. 9 of 13 states needed to pass a law (minority could block a majority)
v. In order to amend the Articles all states must agree (unanimous)
F. Consequences
i. Foreign Problems
a. Spain closed the Mississippi to American shipping
b. Britain refused to give up forts in lands owned by the US in the west ii. Domestic Problems
a. States taxed each other and quarreled with one another
b. The US was broke and could not raise any money
c. The inability to pay Revolutionary Veterans led to Shay’s Rebellion

IV. Annapolis Convention
A. Assembly of states called together to address the economic problems in the US
B. Only 5 states attend – disaster
C. Agreed to meet again later that year in Philadelphia

V. Philadelphia Convention
A. George Washington invited to attend and is unanimously elected
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Constitutions Notes

Ethical Standards Judiciary Professionals

Identify and explain which parts of the Constitution of the United States are most relevant to the ethical standards judiciary professionals. There are several parts of the Constitution of the United States of America, which are pertinent to the standard of ethics judiciary professional must follow. They include the 8th, 14th, 1st, 5th, & 9th amendments of the USA Constitution. To better understand how these USA Constitutional amendments are relevant to the ethical standards of judicial professionals…

Words 423 - Pages 2

Study Questions: Principles Of A Representative And Responsible Government

Legal Studies Unit 3 Note taking and study guide Unit 3, Area of Study 1: ‘Parliament and the citizen’ Notes summary Use the following headings as organisers to summarise your notes: • Principles of a representative and responsible government, including how our government is representative and responsible. • The principle of the separation of powers, and the extent to which the powers are separated. • The structure of the Commonwealth Parliament (names of both Houses, number of members and…

Words 2291 - Pages 10

How Did James Madison Contribute To The Constitution

ratification of the Constitution. At the Constitutional Convention he was the chief recorder and primarily responsible for the documentation of said Constitution; his role in the Constitution is highly respected amongst the American people today. However, what exactly did James Madison do for the American government other than note taking? Some form of government structure would have been written and signed eventually; as we needed a strong central government. Therefore a constitution would have been…

Words 1040 - Pages 5

Ratification Of The US Constitution In 1788

The ratification of the US Constitution in 1788 was a contentious issue that divided the American people. While some, like Jonathan Smith, believed that the Constitution was necessary for the new nation to set up a strong central government, others, like Amos Singletary and “Cato,” had reservations about the proposed Constitution and feared it would lead to the oppression of the people and the establishment of an aristocracy. In my opinion, the US Constitution should have been ratified. Despite the…

Words 397 - Pages 2

Chapter document 3 word Book of Bailey and Hollitz Essay

Favors the Constitution In the book of Bailey’s nine readings in Section D document three, an article called “A Farmer Favors the Constitution,” Jonathan Smith is one of the many few farmer ’s that support the Constitution. In this article Smith makes note of the importance of Shay’s rebellion and apologizing on behalf of the citizen’s actions for uprising and instead should’ve been grateful for the chance of a government. Smith realizes that those trying to commit to the constitution don’t want…

Words 362 - Pages 2

Summary Of Brutus Anti-Federalist No. 1

In the Anti-Federalist No. 1, Brutus asserts that the Constitution is at risk of bestowing too much power to the central government. They are insinuating that even though there have been general concerns over malicious matters in the U.S., all of the proposed solutions to combat these issues have not been successful. Brutus states that if you accept the constitution as a document designed to protect the rights of all citizens, you will lay down an infrastructure for future generations. They also…

Words 356 - Pages 2

Essay on Austraian Legal Sysytem

* 1900: * The British Parliament passed the Australian Constitution Act 1900 (Imp) * 1901: * The Commonwealth of Australia came into existence on 1 January * The colonies (now States) gave up powers, rights and duties to the new central government, but retained their individual identities and a great deal of legislative authority I n Australia, We have common law system, which is based on those countries whose development was influence by British colonialism. Looking…

Words 550 - Pages 3

And Frederick Douglass

Discussion 1 Topic 1 response It is interesting to note that both Smalls and Douglass had white masters for fathers and were perhaps given a little more freedom and more advantage. However, they did not squander the opportunity and helped advance the cause of freedom. In his autobiography, “My Bondage and My Freedom”, Douglass very eloquently spoke of the hardships he had endured and how he was taught to read by his slave mother. Many of the intellectual white Black Suffrage groups lauded…

Words 381 - Pages 2

Childhood Memory Essay

Notes-Social Studies, text book pages 192-198: Thirteen Independent States: British not obeying Treaty of Paris, troops at frontier posts in American territory-they believed the U.S. gov. was week Americans need to establish their own political institutions State Constitutions: Continental Congress ask colonies to org. gov.(may 1776) Constitution-a plan of government End of 1776-eight states had drafted constitutions NY and GA followed suit in 1777, and MA in 1780 CT and RI retained their…

Words 432 - Pages 2

Essay on POL 201 Final

judge, or jury. It asserts that accusers deemed innocent until proven guilty, accusers possessed the right to representation, appear in person, and charges brought forth. This note will seek to define habeas corpus and illustrate is evolvement throughout history dating back to its foundation in the United States Constitution. It will reveal instance of its suspension by the United States, its bearing throughout the war on terror, and the United States Supreme Court's interpretation. Seemingly, these…

Words 1963 - Pages 8