I can describe how the national government was created and explain the difficulties the founding fathers faced throughout the process.
What were some struggles faced by our founding fathers while creating the new government?
What were major issues debated by our founding fathers while creating the new government?
Describe the process of the ratification. What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention throughout that process?
What were the arguments for adding the Bill of Rights?
How did the Constitution reflect American ideals of democracy?
Representation
Slavery
The Constitution will only give the Federal government too much power
The purpose of the Constitutional convention was to create a compromise between the states to create a strong central government.
Equal representation for all.
"Representation would be adjusted every ten years through a federal census that counted every person in the country." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15d.asp
Second, this strengthened central government would have a close relationship with the people, who could directly vote for some national leaders."
(2017) American History from pre-columbians to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15c.asp
Mutiple branches of power to divide power
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT be made up of three distinct branches: a BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE, an EXECUTIVE, and a JUDICIARY." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15c.asp
"the national government would remain a republic with a direct link to ordinary people even as it expanded its power." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15c.asp
"Although the division between large and small states (really between high and low population states) might seem simplistic, it was the major hurdle that delegates to the Convention needed to overcome to design a stronger national government, which they all agreed was needed."
American History from pre-columbian to new Millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15c.asp
"They suggested that representatives in each house of the proposed bicameral legislature be selected through different means." (2017) American History from pre-columbian to new millennium. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15d.asp
Many states did not want change.
"The delegates had decided that they should craft a new constitutional structure to replace the Articles.This was so stunning a change and such a large expansion of their original instructions from the Congress that two New York delegates left in disgust"
American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15c.asp
"Their fierce opposition allowed no room for compromise and as a result the issue of slavery was treated as a narrowly political, rather than a moral, question." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15d.asp
Pro Slavery (South)
Anti Slavery
"Some delegates considered slavery an evil institution and GEORGE MASON of Virginia even suggested that the trans-Atlantic slave trade be made illegal by the new national rules." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15d.asp
"Delegates from South Carolina and Georgia where slavery was expanding rapidly in the late-18th century angrily opposed this limitation" American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15d.asp
Too much power for certain states.
"Slave states wanted to have additional political power based on the number of human beings that they held as slaves." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/15d.asp
The states shared different beliefs about the idea of a strong central government.
Anti- Federalsits
Federalists
the Federalists believed that the greatest threat to the future of the United States did not lie in the abuse of central power, but instead could be found in what they saw as the excesses of democracy as evidenced in popular disturbances" American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16a.asp
They believed that the greatest threat to the future of the United States lay in the government's potential to become corrupt and seize more and more power until its tyrannical rule completely dominated the people." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16b.asp
Conventions
Five state conventions voted to approve the Constitution almost immediately (December 1787 to January 1788) and in all of them the vote was unanimous (Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia) or lopsided (Pennsylvania, Connecticut)." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16c.asp
Mandatory assemblies
"The presence of these Antifederalists against their will, created the required number of members to allow a special convention to be called in the state, which eventually voted 46 to 23 to accept the Constitution." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16c.asp
Contest between States
"The first real test of the Constitution in an influential state with both sides prepared for the contest came in Massachusetts in January 1788." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16c.asp
The Constitution doesn't protect individual rights.
"Their key objection challenged the purpose of a central government that didn't include specific provisions protecting individual rights and liberties." American History from pre-columbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16e.asp
"the SEPARATION OF POWERS was far too mild a curb against the threat of government tyranny" American History from pre-olumbian to new millennium (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/16e.asp
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