Our founding fathers: after the American Revolution, how did the 13 colonies come together to create a nation?* OBJECTIVE Students should understand * how the federal government we have today was shaped by compromises made by a group of 55 men 218 years ago. * TERM TO KNOW pure democracy: a system in which every person has an equal vote in decisions, and the majority rules. * TEACHING STRATEGY Discuss: What is the Constitution of the United States Constitution of the United States, document embodying the fundamental principles upon which the American republic is conducted. Drawn up at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, the Constitution was signed on Sept. ? What important role does it play in the way our country is governed? * BACKGROUND Under the Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Early U.S. constitution (1781–89) under the government by the Continental Congress, replaced in 1787 by the U.S. Constitution. It provided for a confederation of sovereign states and gave the Congress power to regulate foreign affairs, war, , the only national government was Congress. (Its proper name was the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , in Congress Assembled.) Even after delegates had scrapped the Articles in 1787, they spent most of their efforts shaping Congress. The section on Congress is the first, and longest, in the Constitution. * CRITICAL THINKING COMPREHENSION: What sort of problems arose under the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation? (Congress had no authority to make states or individuals obey laws or pay taxes; there was no single currency accepted throughout the states and no reliable national defense.) MAKING INFERENCES: How did the three branches satisfy most delegates' fears of too-strong a central government? (The powers of making and enforcing laws were split among three separate branches.) * ACTIVITY WITNESSES TO HISTORY: Six men signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution: George Clymer
George Clymer (March 16, 1739 – January 23, 1813) was an American politician and Founding Father. , Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read George Read is the name of:
CAST OF CHARACTERS Alexander Hamilton, a delegate from New York James Duane, the Mayor of New York Elizabeth (Betsey) Hamilton, Hamilton's wife Blacksmith * } Seamtress * } citizens of Philadelphia Chambermaid * } George Washington, a delegate from Virginia Elbridge Gerry, a delegate from Massachusetts Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut George Mason } James Madison } delegates from Virginia Edmund Randolph } John Jay, a lawyer, writer, and government official Patrick Henry, the former Governor of Virginia Narrators A-E * An asterisk indicates a fictional character. INTRODUCTION Under British rule, the 13 American Colonies The American Colony was a Christian utopian society that formed in Jerusalem in 1881, as well as the eponymous modern neighbourhood where they lived. Overview Moved by a series of tragic losses, Chicago natives Anna and Horatio Spafford led a small American contingent in existed mainly as separate units. Each had been settled for different reasons. Economies and industries differed, and so did values and ways of life. Winning the American Revolution American Revolution, 1775–83, struggle by which the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic seaboard of North America won independence from Great Britain and became the United States. It is also called the American War of Independence. was a giant step toward nationhood. But the habits of more than a century proved hard to break. Once the states' common enemy was gone, they began to come apart. What united the 13 states of America? Scene 1 Narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. A: In 1781, a few months before Britain's surrender, America adopted the Articles of Confederation. The Articles established a central government, but it was too weak to enforce its own laws. In 1786, Alexander Hamilton, a veteran of the American Revolution, expresses his worry. Alexander Hamilton: The Articles of Confederation aren't working! James Duane James Duane (February 6, 1733–February 1, 1797) was a lawyer, jurist, and Revolutionary leader from New York. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, a U.S. District Judge, New York state senator, and as Mayor of New York. : Congress was so afraid of creating a federal [national] government as powerful as the King, it leaned too far in the other direction. Betsey Hamilton: Nothing requires states to cooperate. For instance, Congress may set taxes, but can't make anyone pay them. A. Hamilton: The same was true during the war. General Washington was desperate for soldiers and supplies. But if a state ignored Congress's order to send them, we were out of luck! If America is attacked again, it will be just as hard to defend ourselves. B. Hamilton: The money is a mess, too. A shopkeeper who gave me a South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. dollar as change last week refused it as payment today. Duane: James Madison has called a convention to be held this September in Annapolis, Maryland “Annapolis” redirects here. For other uses, see Annapolis (disambiguation). Annapolis is a city in the United States of America with a population of 36,408 (July 2006 est.), the capital of the State of Maryland and the county seat of Anne Arundel County. . State delegates will discuss our problems with trade and finance. A. Hamilton: I will propose that we hold another convention, to discuss the Articles of Confederation. They are broken and must be fixed--or tossed out! Narrator A: Only 5 of the 13 states send delegates to Annapolis. The rest fear that a stronger federal government could turn America into a monarchy. But the attending delegates agree with Hamilton. They schedule a convention to start on May 14, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Scene 2 Narrator B: Every state but Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. sends delegates to the Philadelphia convention Historical context Before the Constitution was drafted, those who came to be known as Federalists and Anti-Federalists both agreed about the government's failure to deal with commerce. . Most delegates have been told to make only minor changes to the Articles. Any changes must be approved by the legislature [lawmaking law·mak·er n. One who makes or enacts laws; a legislator. Also called lawgiver. law  mak body] of every state. Suspicion runs high. On a
Philadelphia street corner ...Blacksmith: Those fellows keep the doors locked and windows shut--in this heat! I'll bet I'll Bet was an NBC game show that aired from March 29 1965 to September 24 1965, that was created by Ralph Andrews. The host of this program was Jack Narz. It was a precursor of It's Your Bet, which aired with four different hosts during its four year run: Hal March, Tom they're plotting to seize control of the country. Seamstress: I heard that they are going to invite King George's son to become King of America. Chambermaid: But General Washington and Mr. Franklin are in there! After all they risked to win our freedom from Britain, I don't think they will let anyone else grab it. Scene 3 Narrator C: Is it possible to give a federal government enough power to be effective, but not so much that it overwhelms the rights and freedoms of states and individual people? The delegates search for solutions. George Washington: Mr. Randolph has proposed a national government whose officers are elected by the people. Mr. Gerry is opposed. Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry (pronounced IPA: /ˈgɛri/ : That kind of government would take power away from the states! Roger Sherman: What if we have state legislatures A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: Gerry: Fine with me. We already suffer from too much democracy. In a democracy, the majority rules. But most people are ill-informed and easily misled. George Mason: disagree. We must respect the rights of every class of people, not just the wealthy and educated! James Madison: If people elect only local leaders, and local leaders elect state leaders, and then state leaders elect national ones, we will lose sight of the people altogether! Narrator C: The delegates realize that there is no way to fix the Articles. To remain a nation, they must come up with an entirely new agreement--a Constitution of the United States. Scene 4 Narrator D: Through the long, hot summer, proposals are made, argued over, and scrapped. By September ... Washington: We have established a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. We shall have one executive, instead of the three proposed by Mr. Randolph. Edmund Randolph Edmund Jenings Randolph (August 10, 1753 – September 12, 1813) was an American attorney, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney General. : I am now satisfied that the other two branches will balance the power, keeping the executive from having too much. Hamilton: We also balanced Congress. Virginia Plan The Virginia Plan (also known as the Randolph Plan, after its sponsor) was a proposal by Virginia delegates, drafted by James Madison while he waited for a quorum to assemble at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. supporters wanted Congress's membership based on a state's population or wealth. New Jersey Plan supporters wanted every state, large or small, to have the same number of members. We were deadlocked dead·lock n. 1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions. 2. Sports A tied score. 3. . Madison: Then Mr. Sherman proposed the Great Compromise. Senate membership will be two per state, regardless of size. House membership will be based on each state's population. Gerry: I hate the decision to count a slave as three fifths of a person! Hamilton: Not counting slaves at all would misrepresent mis·rep·re·sent tr.v. mis·rep·re·sent·ed, mis·rep·re·sent·ing, mis·rep·re·sents 1. To give an incorrect or misleading representation of. 2. the Southern states' sizes. But if we count each slave as a person, how could we not let him vote? We had to compromise! Gerry: Everything we have decided so far is about structure. Form of government, who controls the military, who the money. But we are forgetting the people's basic rights! Madison: Isn't it clear that all rights not spelled out as belonging to government belong to the people? Gerry: No. Not everyone is honest and fair. If we don't spell out individual rights, we will leave the people unprotected from leaders who abuse power! Narrator D: Finally, the delegates have a Constitution acceptable to most. On September 17, 39 of the 42 delegates still in attendance sign it. Gerry, Mason, and Randolph do not. Scene 5 Narrator E: For the Constitution to become law, at least 9 of the 13 states must ratify ratify v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even though it was not approved beforehand. Example: An employee for Holsinger's Hardware orders carpentry equipment from Phillips Screws and Nails although the employee was not authorized to buy anything. [approve] it. But a war of words explodes. Federalists want a national government, which the Constitution would establish. Anti-Federalists do not. Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay anonymously publish a series of essays, now known as The Federalist Papers Federalist papers formally The Federalist Eighty-five essays on the proposed Constitution of the United States and the nature of republican government, published in 1787–88 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in an effort to persuade . Hamilton: More people are reading our essays than we ever imagined! John Jay: Madison's latest essay argues that the Constitution would create a republic, which is better than a pure democracy. Pure democracies--citizens assembling to administer government themselves--eventually fail. Hamilton: The Constitution would help officials balance the desires of the people who elect them against the good of the nation as a whole. Senators, elected statewide, will see things differently from House members, who answer to smaller communities. But to make laws, the Senate and House must compromise. Then the President must agree. Jay: We also have the Supreme Court to strike down laws that violate the Constitution. Narrator E: In June 1788, leading Virginians meet to vote on ratification The confirmation or adoption of an act that has already been performed. A principal can, for example, ratify something that has been done on his or her behalf by another individual who assumed the authority to act in the capacity of an agent. . Patrick Henry, a fiery speaker, addresses the assembly. Patrick Henry: Are states to give up their independence? This Constitution grants too much power to federal officials. What is to keep them from abusing that power? Guard the public liberty with jealous attention. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel! Narrator E: Eventually, it becomes clear that the only way to ensure full acceptance of the Constitution will be to add a Bill of Rights. In 1789, 10 amendments, written by Madison, become that Bill. They guarantee individual rights that Americans still rely on, including freedom of speech. Afterword af·ter·word n. See epilogue. Some of the men involved in creating the Constitution and Bill of Rights went on to play key roles in the new republic. Washington was the first President. Madison was the fourth. Jay was the first Chief Justice of the U.S. (head of the Supreme Court). Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury. Along with John Adams There have been several notable people called John Adam:
Words to Know * confederation: an alliance of independent groups united for a common need or interest. * delegate: a person authorized to represent others, such as al a convention or conference. * democracy: a system of government by the people in which the majority rules, directly or through representatives. * executive: the branch of government that manages the country's affairs and carries out its laws. * monarchy: a system of government led by someone whose power is inherited and who usually rules for life. * republic: a system of government in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. Your Turn WORD MATCH
1. delegate A. government led by
a King or Queen
2. legislature B. government run
by citizens'
representatives
3. monarchy C. approve
4. ratify D. lawmaking body
5. republic E. representative at
a convention
ANSWERS 1. E; 2. D; 3. A; 4. C; 5. B STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * Power, authority, and governance: How an ineffectual government affected the country, and what improvements were proposed. * Civic ideals and practices: How the first U.S. leaders struggled to find a compromise to solve serious problems in government. RESOURCES * Freedman freed·man n. A man who has been freed from slavery. freedman Noun pl -men History a man freed from slavery Noun 1. , Russell, In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America's Bill of Rights (Holiday House, 20031. Grades 5 & up. * Hamilton, John, The Constitution: Government in Action (Checkerboard checkerboard the pattern of a chess or draft board; used in many circumstances to display the results of mixing a specific number of variables. The variables are listed in columns designated along the horizontal border and the same or different variables in lines along the vertical Books, 20041. Grades 4-7. WEB SITES * Constitution/Bill of Rights archives.gov/national-archivesexperience/charters/charters.html * James Madison Papers memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/madison_papers write it! Imagine that you are responsible for writing the basic laws of your town or city. List the five laws that you think are the most important. Then write a paragraph explaining your choices. |
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