WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS, LIBERTIES,
AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS?
Creating a Country
1. There were two different ideas of how to create a country:
a. Federalist
b. anti-Federalist
1. There were two different ideas of how to create a country:
a. Federalist
b. anti-Federalist
Leaders:
Alexander Hamilton / James Madison / John Jay Ideas: The Federalists favored the ideas of a stronger federal (national) government. Here is a list of their opinions on how the government should be structured:
The Federalists thought the Constitution was structured well enough to guard against tyranny in the national government and that no Bill or Rights was necessary. They had answers to all of the Anti-Federalist complaints. They stated that:
Overall, the Federalists were more organized in their efforts. They had published The Federalist Papers to explain their viewpoint and counter any arguments posed by the Anti-Federalists. |
Leaders:
Patrick Henry / George Mason / Samuel Adams Ideas: The Anti-Federalists favored the ideas of a stronger state governments. Here is a list of their opinions on how the government should be structured:
The Anti-Federalists did not want to ratify the Constitution because they thought it gave the national government too much power, and that it might lead to tyranny once again. Basically, they argue that:
Of these complaints, the lack of a bill of rights was the most effective. The American people had just fought a war to defend their rights, and they did not want a intimidating national government taking those rights away again. The lack of a bill of rights was the focus of the Anti-Federalist campaign against ratification. |
Results:
The Federalists agreed that once Congress met, it would draft a bill of rights. The Bill of Rights was not originally a part of the Constitution, and yet it has proved to be highly important to protecting the rights of the people. It seems that compromise again proves an effective way to settle things. The Constitution was signed in 1787.
Below, is an explanation of the compromises that were made in the Constitution. It explains the powers of the Federal and State governments.
The Federalists agreed that once Congress met, it would draft a bill of rights. The Bill of Rights was not originally a part of the Constitution, and yet it has proved to be highly important to protecting the rights of the people. It seems that compromise again proves an effective way to settle things. The Constitution was signed in 1787.
Below, is an explanation of the compromises that were made in the Constitution. It explains the powers of the Federal and State governments.
2. Three branches of government were created to prevent dictatorships
a. This is called Checks and Balances
b. The three branches are the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and
Judicial Branch
1. Executive Branch - President
a. The President enforces the laws
b. The President is the Commander and Chief of the military
c. The President signs the laws
d. The President can serve 4 years, and up to 2 terms
a. This is called Checks and Balances
b. The three branches are the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and
Judicial Branch
1. Executive Branch - President
a. The President enforces the laws
b. The President is the Commander and Chief of the military
c. The President signs the laws
d. The President can serve 4 years, and up to 2 terms
2. Legislative Branch - Congress
a. Congress writes and passes the laws
b. Congress declares war
c. Congress is divided into two sections
1. Senate - Each state has two representatives
and serves for 6 years with no terms
2. House of Representatives - Based on the
population of the state, Representatives serve
2 years with no terms
The map below shows how many House of Representatives are in each state.
a. Congress writes and passes the laws
b. Congress declares war
c. Congress is divided into two sections
1. Senate - Each state has two representatives
and serves for 6 years with no terms
2. House of Representatives - Based on the
population of the state, Representatives serve
2 years with no terms
The map below shows how many House of Representatives are in each state.
3. The Judicial Branch - Supreme Court
a. The Supreme Court rules if laws are
constitutional
b. They also have the power to check on the Congress
and President
a. The Supreme Court rules if laws are
constitutional
b. They also have the power to check on the Congress
and President
3. The Electoral College
a. The Electoral College is a group of representatives from each state (Congress) that formally votes for the
President of the United States
b. The people of the United States do not vote directly for the president, our representatives officially vote for the
president - we are a Republic
c. Why did the Founding Fathers want a Republic?
1. They wanted the minority (least populated states) to have a say
2. They wanted to prevent ties and always have a clear winner
3. They wanted to make sure we always had a winner, even if the winning candidate doesn't get 50% of the
popular votes
a. The Electoral College is a group of representatives from each state (Congress) that formally votes for the
President of the United States
b. The people of the United States do not vote directly for the president, our representatives officially vote for the
president - we are a Republic
c. Why did the Founding Fathers want a Republic?
1. They wanted the minority (least populated states) to have a say
2. They wanted to prevent ties and always have a clear winner
3. They wanted to make sure we always had a winner, even if the winning candidate doesn't get 50% of the
popular votes
4. The Bill of Rights
a. The Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution in 1791
b. The Bill of Rights are the first ten Amendments in the Constitution
c. The Bill of Rights was created to protect our natural rights
(life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness)
d. Amendment means "to add"
e. Now we have 27 Amendments
f. Click on this link to view the Bill of Rights
a. The Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution in 1791
b. The Bill of Rights are the first ten Amendments in the Constitution
c. The Bill of Rights was created to protect our natural rights
(life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness)
d. Amendment means "to add"
e. Now we have 27 Amendments
f. Click on this link to view the Bill of Rights