The document summarizes key events and ideas in the establishment of the US government under the Constitution. It discusses: 1) The Articles of Confederation, the first national governing document which proved ineffective. Daniel Shay's Rebellion demonstrated the need for change. 2) Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Rousseau influenced the founding era with ideas of natural rights and consent of the governed. 3) The Constitutional Convention drafted the US Constitution to replace the Articles, giving more power to the national government while establishing separation of powers and checks and balances between the three branches. 4) The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties and limits government power through amendments like freedom of speech and religion and due process.

1. Birth of a Nation
Establishing a Government

2. Articles of Confederation
First national body of laws adopted by the US following its
declaration of independence.
It proved ineffective because it did not give enough power to
the national government.

3. Daniel Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts which arose in protest to state taxes in
the midst of a national financial crisis.
It demonstrated the need to revise the Articles of Confederation.

4. How the Enlightenment Affected Politics and Government
The Enlightenment, or Age of Enlightenment, rearranged politics and
government in earthshaking ways. This cultural movement embraced several
types of philosophies, or approaches to thinking and exploring the world.
Generally, Enlightened thinkers thought objectively and without prejudice.
Reasoning, rationalism, and empiricism were some of the schools of thought
that composed the Enlightenment.

5. John Locke
The English philosopher and political theorist who laid much of the groundwork
for the Enlightenment. His political theory of government by the consent of the
governed as a means to protect “life, liberty and estate” deeply influenced the
United States’ founding documents.
Locke believed these things:
• Men were basically good.
• Men were born free before governments existed.
• All men had rights such as life, liberty, and
ownership of property.
• Government was legitimate only as long as
people continued to agree to be governed.

6. Jean Jacques Rousseau
A French political philosopher who published The Social Contract in 1762,
which outlined his philosophy of government.
Rousseau believed that sovereign power resides in the citizens and that the
government gets its authority from the consent of the governed. This was a
radical doctrine in a country where the king ruled by divine right.
“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in
chains.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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“People who know little are usually great
talkers, while men who know much say
little.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau

7. Constitutional Convention
In 1787, a delegation met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation.
All the delegates in attendance (only Rhode Island did not send representatives.
The delegates were selected by their states and met in Philadelphia
More than fifty delegates from twelve of the original thirteen colonies
met to begin writing the Constitution of the United States. They were
educated, patriotic, and experienced men, ranging from the ages of 40
to 81. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Some men were
landowners and some were lawyers or judges. This group is
sometimes called the "Founding Fathers." There were no women or
minorities.

8. United States Constitution
National body of laws adopted in 1787 that replaced the Articles of Confederation.
Gave more power to the national government.
Some big names were absent from
the Constitutional Convention.
When Thomas Jefferson gushingly
called the Constitutional
Convention delegates “an assembly
of demigods,” he wasn’t being full
of himself. Jefferson was not
among the founding fathers who
gathered in Philadelphia; he was in
Paris serving as minister to France.
John Adams was also abroad,
serving as minister to Great
Britain. Samuel Adams, John
Hancock and Patrick Henry—who
turned down an invitation because
he “smelt a rat in Philadelphia,
tending toward the monarchy,”
also did not participate.

9. New Jersey Plan
Called for three branches of government, but it wanted the legislative
branch to consist of only one house with each state getting a single vote.

10. Virginia Plan
• Proposed a federal government made up of three branches.
• The greater a state's population, the more representatives it would
have.

11. Great Compromise
Established a legislative branch with two houses.
 The two houses would comprise Congress.
• One house, called the House of Representatives,
would be elected directly by the people and each state granted a certain
number of seats based on population.
• The other house, called the Senate, would be elected by state legislatures
with each state having two senators, regardless of population.

12. Slave Trade Compromise
Northerners opposed the slave trade.
Southerners insisted that their economy could not survive without the slave
trade.
A compromise was reached by stating that Congress could not prohibit the
slave trade for 20 years (until 1808). But after which time Congress could
impose regulations.

13. Three-Fifths Compromise
Slaves made up one-third or more in many southern states. A compromise
was reached which stated that each slave would count as 3/5 of a person
when considering representation in Congress.

14. Montesquieu
Montesquieu believed that political liberty could best be preserved if the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government had equal power
and authority.
The theory of separation of powers would become an important element of the
U.S. Constitution.

15. Separation of Powers
Divides authority to govern between different branches of government.

16. Checks and Balances
Powers given to each branch that allow each branch to check the powers
of the other two.

17. Legislative Branch
Responsible for making the laws of the country.

18. Executive Branch
Responsible for enforcing the laws and is headed by the president of the
United States.

19. Judicial Branch
The federal court system whose role is to make sure the laws are applied fairly
and appropriately.

20. U.S. Supreme Court
Serves as the highest court in the land.

21. Federalists
Political faction and eventually a political party that favored a strong central
government, supported ratification of the Constitution, and held to a "loose
interpretation" of the Constitution.

22. Anti-Federalists
Political faction and eventually a political party that opposed a strong
central government, did not support ratification of the Constitution, and
held to a "strict interpretation" of the Constitution.

23. Federalist Papers
Essays that were written to persuade New York's legislature to ratify the
Constitution by easing fears that the document left the government
Susceptible to any one faction seizing too much power.
Must include a Bill of Rights

24. Levying Taxes Congress has the right to levy taxes on individuals.
Federal Courts Court system created to handle issues between citizens and
states.
Regulation of Trade Congress has the right to regulate trade between states.
Executive Executive branch headed by a president who chooses a
cabinet and checks the power of the legislative and judicial
branches.
Amending documents 2/3 of both houses of Congress plus ¾ of state legislatures or
national convention.
Representation of states Upper house (Senate) 2 votes.
Lower House (House of Representatives) based on
population.
Raising an army Congress can raise an army to deal with military situations.
Interstate commerce Interstate commerce controlled by Congress.
Disputes between states Federal court system to handle disputes.
Sovereignty (power or authority) Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land.”
Passing laws 50% of both houses plus the signature of the President.
Constitution

25. James Madison
Federalist leader who played a key role in drafting the Constitution and is
often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution."

26. Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments (additions) to the Constitution and its purpose is to
protect citizens' rights and maintain limited government

27. First Amendment
Guarantees citizens' rights for:
 Freedom of Speech
 Freedom of the Press
 Freedom to Petition the Government
 Freedom to Assemble
 Freedom of Religion.
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom to Petition the Government
Freedom to AssembleFreedom of the press

28. Second Amendment
Guarantees the right to bear arms.

29. Third Amendment
Restricts quartering (housing) of federal troops in the homes of U.S. citizens.

30. Fourth Amendment
Protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures.

31. Fifth Amendment
Ensures that no person shall be imprisoned or deprived of their property
without due process.
Double Jeopardy
• A person cannot be tried for the same crime more than once.
 Self-Incrimination
• Defendants cannot be forced to testify against themselves in court.
 Eminent domain
• The government cannot take a citizen's property without paying "just
compensation"

32. Sixth Amendment
The right to a public and speedy trial by jury:
 Trial by jury simply means that a group of an accused person's peers
decides his or her guilt or innocence, rather than a single government
official.
 This amendment also guarantees the right to legal representation (a
lawyer) and the right to call and confront witnesses.

33. Seventh Amendment
Right to a trial by jury to civil cases as well (i.e., when one person
sues another for money).

34. Eighth Amendment
Prohibits the government from imposing excessive bail or fines.
Bail- Money an arrested person must pay to get out of jail until the date
of his/her trial.
Fines- Amounts of money imposed as punishment for a crime one has
been found guilty.

35. Ninth Amendment
States that the rights specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights are not
necessarily the only ones enjoyed by the people.

36. Tenth Amendment
Those powers not restricted by the Constitution, nor delegated to the US
government, are reserved for the states.