US Constitution

US Constitution

1. Historical

   • 13 American Colonies
     • Democracy was limited
       • Each colony had
         • governor
         • legislature
         • judiciary
       • limited voting
         • only men voted
         • black people couldn't vote
         • women couldn't vote
     • British Government
       • saw colonies as an economic benefit
       • colonies had no representation in british parliament
         • James Otis
           • "Taxation without representation is tyranny."
   • Wars of Independence
     • April 1775
     • Declaration of Independence
       • "we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal"
         • Ignores
           • Black people
           • Women
       • Thomas Jefferson
         • Natural Rights
           • Rights to which all people are entitled as human beings, such as those cited at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence
   • Articles of Confederation
     • 13 independent states ratified
       • March 1781
     • Treaty of Paris, 1783
       • End of war
     • "league of friendship"
       • feared centralised government
         • some believed it was essential
           • George Washington
           • Alexander Hamilton
     • weak
       • gained independence
         • failed to form a nation
     • Philadelphia Convention
       • May 1787
       • Purpose: streghten the confederation
       • 55 Delegates
         • 12/13 states
           • Rhode Island refused to send any
       • wrote a new form of government
         • the articles of confederation was flawed and weak
         • strong central government
         • preserved state rights
           • individual liberties
       • Virginia Plan
         • favoured by states with larger populations
         • more radical
       • New Jersey Plan
         • favoured by states with small populations
         • stregthen the articles of confederation
         • Connecticut Compromise
           • new national legislature
             • two chambers
               • House of Representatives
                 • lower house
                 • States are represented proportionally
               • Senate
                 • upper house
                 • States are represented equally
           • US Constitution was born