9/11: Constitution Readings Flashcards
Second constitutional congress, at which revolution was not a concern
May 10 1775
Thomas Paine’s crucial piece
Common Sense
The trust put by the people in the government to do things for them
Social contract
What did the declaration of independence purposely avoid mentioning?
Slavery
The first governing document of the USA, 1777
Articles of confederation
Reasons why the AOC was weak
- Little central govt
- no power to tax / regulate commerce
- unable to fund itself
Factors leading to the Constitutional Convention
- Discontent with the AOC
- Republicanist outlook
- Shays’s rebellion
Farmers took over the courts to prevent foreclosures in Massachusetts
Shays’s rebellion
Godfather of the constitution - “we should start over”
Madison
What were the convention’s delegates NOT?
Black, female, or native american
Bicameral legislature, bigger states get more power
Virginia Plan
Unicameral legislature, states get equal power
New Jersey Plan
Combination: bicameral legislature, each house with either equal or proportional representation
The Great Compromise
Compromise as not to inflame the public over slavery as an issue while already rewriting the law
3/5ths compromise
Constitutional convention accomplishments
- republican form of government
- federalism (distributed powers)
- checks and balances
How many states were needed to approve the constitution
9/13, 11/13 approved
Added to quell the fears of anti-federalists who wanted their rights stated directly
Bill of rights
Three ways amendments can be added:
- Article V
- Judicial review
- President’s signing statement
States that sent framers to the convention
All but Rhode Island
Number of framers
55 (39 signed)
The constitution is high stakes - although its success will be great for humanity, if it fails, we’re done for
Brutus sentiment
When the people give up power to a larger body…
…they may never regain it (Brutus)
Brutus’ primary concerns in the written law
necessary and proper clause, “supreme law of the land”
A single central government…
…is not a confederation (brutus)
