We The People Packet Chapter 12- Objective (8.1A,B,C): Describe who attended the Philadelphia Convention & how it was organized. When was the Philadelphia Convention held? What was the intended goal of the convention? How many delegates were at the Philadelphia Convention? What do you think Patrick Henry meant when he said, I smell a rat? What other groups were not represented at the convention? Define the word framer: Why would historians call these men framers? Describe the average Framer at the Philadelphia Convention: Identify the home state and significance of the following framers: James Madison George Washington Benjamin Franklin Gouverneur Morris
What rules did the Framers agree to follow during the convention? 1. 2. 3. Chapter 13 Objective: Identify how the Framers resolved the conflict about representation in Congress. Using the map on p 115, assume that a small state is any state with a population < 250,000 A. If each state has one vote. 1. How many total votes (out of 13) would the small states have? 2. How many total votes (out of 13) would the large states have? B. Assume there is one representative for every 30,000 people & each has one vote. 1. How many total votes would the large states have? 2. How many total votes would the small states have? p. 119 The Great Compromise Was this compromise widely accepted? How do you know? Extra Credit: How does the United States government maintain an accurate number of representatives in the House for each state? Chapter 14 Objective: Identify how the Framers resolved conflicts between Northern and Southern states. Economic Differences Describe the Southern economy: Describe the Northern economy:
Tariff: Why did the Northern states believe in protective tariffs? Why did the Southern states disagree with protective tariffs? What concerns did all of the states have about giving Congress powers over trade? On page 285, read Article I, Section 9, clause 1. Summarize the main idea of this clause within the Constitution. Although the words slave, slavery, or slave trade do not appear in the Constitution, it was a major source of debate at the Philadelphia Convention. Northern states for the most part had no need for slaves, and many had made slavery illegal in their states. Southern slave owners, believed that: The Three-Fifths clause On page 281, read Article I, Section 2, Clause 3. Who were the Framers referring to as, those bound to service for a Term of Years? Did the Framers include Native Americans in their population totals? Why or why not. This clause of the Constitution was changed by which amendment? Chapter 18 Objective: Identify how the people approved the new Constitution. Why did some delegates not sign the Constitution? What were they called? Article VII of the Constitution describes the ratification process. According to James Madison s plan, how would the states ratify the Constitution? How were delegates chosen to attend the ratification conventions?
Federalist: The Federalist Papers: a series of essays describing the Constitution and its benefits. These were published in a New York newspaper anonymously by an author named Publius. Today, historians recognize three Federalists as the authors:,, Excerpt from The Federalist Number 51 by James Madison It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure. There are but two methods of providing against this evil: the one by creating a will in the community independent of the majority that is, of the society itself; the other, by comprehending 1 in the society so many separate descriptions of citizens as will render an unjust combination of a majority of the whole very improbable, if not impracticable. 2.. Whilst 3 all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority. In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other in the multiplicity of sects. 4... In the extended republic of the United States, and among the great variety of interests, parties, and sects which it embraces, a coalition 5 of a majority of the whole society could seldom take place on any other principles than those of justice and the general good.... It is no less certain than it is important... that the larger the society, provided it lie within a practicable sphere, the more duly capable it will be of self-government. And happily for the republican cause, the practicable sphere may be carried to a very great extent by a judicious modification 6 and mixture of the federal principle. 1. comprehending: understanding. 3. whilst: while. 5. coalition: alliance of groups. 2. impracticable: not practical or realistic. 4. multiplicity of sects: large number of groups. 6. judicious modification: careful change. Define republic. What is the argument made in paragraph one? According to the final paragraph, what is the argument that this government will work? List some of the famous people who were also Anti-Federalists: Excerpts from Objections to the Constitution, by George Mason OVERVIEW In the 1780s, George Mason, a state leader in Virginia, opposed the Constitution and worked against its adoption by writing his own pamphlets. He was concerned that too much power would be concentrated in the new federal government and that individual rights would not be protected.
There is no declaration of rights: and the laws of the general government being paramount to the laws and constitutions of the several states, the declarations of rights, in the separate states, are no security... In the House of Representatives there is not the substance, but the shadow only of representation; which can never produce proper information in the legislature, or inspire confidence in the people. The laws will, therefore, be generally made by men little concerned in, and unacquainted with their effects and consequences. The Senate have the power of altering all moneybills, and of originating appropriations of money, and the salaries of the officers of their appointment... will destroy any balance in the government, and enable them to accomplish what usurpations they please, upon the rights and liberties of the people. The judiciary of the United States is so constructed and extended, as to absorb and destroy the judiciaries of the several states; thereby rendering laws as tedious, intricate, and expensive, and justice as unattainable by a great part of the community, as in England; and enabling the rich to oppress and ruin the poor. The President of the United States has no constitutional council and will generally be directed by minions and favorites or he will become a tool to the Senate Whereas, had a constitutional council been formed (as was proposed) of six members, viz., two from the eastern, two from the middle, and two from the southern states, to be appointed by vote of the states in the House of Representatives the executive would always have had safe and proper information and advice. Hence, also, sprung that unnecessary officer, the Vice-President, who, for want of other employment, is made President of the Senate; thereby dangerously blending the executive and legislative powers; besides always giving to some one of the states an unnecessary and unjust preeminence over the others.... By requiring only a majority to make all commercial and navigation laws, the five southern states (whose produce and circumstances are totally different from those of the eight northern and eastern states) will be ruined Whereas, requiring two-thirds of the members present in both houses, would have produced mutual moderation, promoted the general interest, and removed an insuperable objection to the adoption of the government. Under their own construction of the general clause at the end of the enumerated powers, the Congress may grant monopolies in trade and commerce, constitute new crimes, inflict unusual and severe punishments, and extend their power as far as they shall think proper; so that the state legislatures have no security for the powers now presumed to remain to them; or the people for their rights. There is no declaration of any kind for preserving the liberty of the press, the trial by jury in civil cases, nor against the danger of standing armies in time of peace.... This government will commence in a moderate aristocracy; it is at present impossible to foresee whether it will, in its operation, produce a monarchy, or a corrupt oppressive aristocracy; it will most probably vibrate some years between the two, and then terminate in the one or the other. What is the argument presented by George Mason in paragraph one? Why does he feel that this is important? In paragraph four, what does George Mason feel are the weaknesses of the Judicial Branch? What is Mr. Mason s suggestion to make sure that the President is not manipulated by the Senate? What was the major argument of the Anti-Federalists Why did the Federalists agree to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution? (p. 162)