THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• Before the constitution, the government created the Articles.
• The articles govern loosely so they would not copy the tyranny of Britain.
• The articles weren't sufficient because congress could not tax, enforce treaties, or regulate commerce.
• The articles also required unanimous votes by the states to get any law passed.
• Because of these things debt grew, treaties were unhonored, and trade was hindered. No standing army.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

• Nationalists came together to create a national constitution.
• The delegates of the constitutional convention chose George Washington as presiding officer.
• The Virginia plan, introduced by Edmund Randolph proposed legislature be divided into two houses.
• The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Patterson, proposed a single house in congress.
• They vetoed the Virginia plan, but decided to make an entirely new constitution.

MULTIPLE COMPROMISES

• The small states wanted equal voting power.
• The Connecticut compromise proposed the senate has equal representation.
• It also stated that the House of Representatives would be represented according to size.
• The south wanted to count slaves as population for more representation.
• The three-fifths compromise counted every five slaves as three free people.

A NEW GOVERNMENT

• The constitution was based off of popular sovereignty, or rule by the people.
• It also had federalism, or division between federal and state governments.
• A separation of powers between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
• Checks and balances allow no branch to get too powerful.
• The president was the head of the executive branch and could veto bills.

CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION

• Any changes to the constitution are called amendments.
• To maintain a constant government, they made it difficult, but possible, to make changes.
• An amendment can be proposed by a vote of two-thirds members of both houses of congress.
• The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

FEDERALIST AND ANTIFEDERALISTS

• Federalists supported the constitution and antifederalist did not.
• Antifederalists provided no alternative for the constitution and had weak campaigning.
• Federalists were well-organized and had pamphlet, speeches. And debates.

RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION

• Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut ratified first.
• To get Massachusetts to ratify, the promised to attach a bill of rights.
• By June 1788, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire ratified the consitution.
• Rhode Island was the last to ratify the constitution.
• Once they ratified the constitution America had a new government.

THE AMENDMENTS

• The first amendment is freedom of speech, press, religion, assemble, and petition.
• The second amendment is the right to bear arms.
• The third prohibits the quartering act.
• The fourth amendment is against searching without a warrant.
• The fifth states you cannot be guilty without being put on trial first.

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• 6th- right to a speedy trial.
• 7th- evidence cannot be reexamined after you are found innocent.
• 8th- prevents cruel and unusual punishment.
• 9th- rights will not be construed.
• 10th- the rights not in the constitution are for the states and people to decide.

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• 11th- prevents suits against states from non residents
• 12th- electoral college uses separate ballots in voting for president.
• 13th- outlaws slavery.
• 14th- people born in the us are citizens.
• 15th- every man can vote, regardless of race.

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• 16th- income tax levied on a direct basis.
• 17th- people, instead of state legislatures, elect United States senators.
• 18th- prohibits sale, production, and transportation of alcohol.
• 19th- women can vote.
• 20th- sets new dates for congressional terms and inaugurations.

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• 21st- repeals the 18th amendment.
• 22nd- limits a president to two terms.
• 23rd- allows residents in D.C. to vote for president and Vice President.
• 24th- abolished poll taxes.
• 25th- allows the Vice President to take over if the president cannot lead.

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• 26th- voting age is 18
• 27th-congressional pay raises effective during the term following their passage

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