| Line 11: |
Line 11: |
| | The men were "delegates" sent from 12 of 13 colonies (every colony except Rhode Island). The total number of delegates who attended was 55, but only 39 of them signed the final document, as others gave up during the process or disagreed with the final result. The eldest was Benjamin Franklin, who was too weak at age 81 to walk up the stairs to the room, and the youngest was 26 years old.<ref name="UMKC list">http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/marryff.html</ref> | | The men were "delegates" sent from 12 of 13 colonies (every colony except Rhode Island). The total number of delegates who attended was 55, but only 39 of them signed the final document, as others gave up during the process or disagreed with the final result. The eldest was Benjamin Franklin, who was too weak at age 81 to walk up the stairs to the room, and the youngest was 26 years old.<ref name="UMKC list">http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/marryff.html</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | The convention was conducted in total secrecy, so that the media could not report on and influence the decisions. Participants were ordered to destroy the notes that they took. At the conclusion, a woman noticed Benjamin Franklin outside and asked him, "What have we got — a Republic or a Monarchy?" Benjamin Franklin responded, "A Republic, if you can keep it."<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/73/1593.html</ref> Franklin's quote explains that the Constitution neither creates a monarchy (rule by a king or queen, as in Europe at that time) nor a democracy (rule directly by the people, as in ancient Athens), but a "Republic" (rule by representatives of the people, in accordance with the law). By saying "if you can keep it," Franklin emphasized that it requires constant work and education to maintain a Republic against pressures to convert it to a less favorable system of government, such as a monarchy or democracy. | + | The Constitutional Convention was conducted in total secrecy, so that the media could not report on and influence the decisions. Participants were ordered to destroy the notes that they took. At the conclusion, a woman noticed Benjamin Franklin outside and asked him, "What have we got — a Republic or a Monarchy?" Benjamin Franklin responded, "A Republic, if you can keep it."<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/73/1593.html</ref> Franklin's quote explains that the Constitution neither creates a monarchy (rule by a king or queen, as in Europe at that time) nor a democracy (rule directly by the people, as in ancient Athens), but a "Republic" (rule by representatives of the people, in accordance with the law). By saying "if you can keep it," Franklin emphasized that it requires constant work and education to maintain a Republic against pressures to convert it to a less favorable system of government, such as a monarchy or democracy. |
| | | | |
| | The United States Constitution has been successful longer than any other written legal document in the history of the world - nearly 230 years. This Constitution is relatively short, less than 5,000 words, and can be read easily in less than hour. It contains only seven separate Articles (entitled Article I, Article II, Article III, etc.) Subsequent to the adoption (ratification) of the Constitution, 27 Amendments have been added to it, pursuant to Article V which sets the rules for amendments. The Constitution is the greatest legal document ever written, and this course will enable you to understand and use it beneficially. | | The United States Constitution has been successful longer than any other written legal document in the history of the world - nearly 230 years. This Constitution is relatively short, less than 5,000 words, and can be read easily in less than hour. It contains only seven separate Articles (entitled Article I, Article II, Article III, etc.) Subsequent to the adoption (ratification) of the Constitution, 27 Amendments have been added to it, pursuant to Article V which sets the rules for amendments. The Constitution is the greatest legal document ever written, and this course will enable you to understand and use it beneficially. |
| Line 17: |
Line 17: |
| | == The most valuable thing in the world? == | | == The most valuable thing in the world? == |
| | | | |
| − | What is the most valuable thing in the world? The [[Bible]] would rank first. But what is second? Some might say the "Mona Lisa" painting by the Christian painter Leonardo da Vinci; others might say the Hope Diamond, which is in the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. The patents on the iPhone might rank high today in value, but they will expire. | + | What is the most valuable thing in the world? The [[Bible]] would rank first. But what is second? Some might say the "Mona Lisa" painting by the Christian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci; others might say the Hope Diamond, which is in the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. The patents on the iPhone might rank high in value today, but they will expire. |
| | | | |
| | The answer is the U.S. Constitution. It has created far more wealth and prosperity than all other human works combined. | | The answer is the U.S. Constitution. It has created far more wealth and prosperity than all other human works combined. |
| Line 27: |
Line 27: |
| | Second, the Constitution recognizes and protects against tyranny, or the tendency for some men or groups of men to try to take control of a people. Throughout all of history evil has attempted to triumph over good. The Constitution was developed as a safeguard against that. It divides power into three branches of government, and limits the power of each branch. It establishes a "limited government," not an unlimited one. | | Second, the Constitution recognizes and protects against tyranny, or the tendency for some men or groups of men to try to take control of a people. Throughout all of history evil has attempted to triumph over good. The Constitution was developed as a safeguard against that. It divides power into three branches of government, and limits the power of each branch. It establishes a "limited government," not an unlimited one. |
| | | | |
| − | As James Madison, one of the participants in the drafting of the Constitution said, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary."<ref>http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_madison.html#A3tR1MWXjTFjM3ki.99</ref> But government should be sharply limited in its power, as James Madison further said, "All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree."<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/63859.James_Madison</ref> | + | As James Madison, one of the participants in the drafting of the Constitution said, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary."<ref>http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_madison.html#A3tR1MWXjTFjM3ki.99</ref> Power-hungry men are not angels, so limits on government are essential; James Madison added, "All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree."<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/63859.James_Madison</ref> |
| | | | |
| | == Before the Constitution: The Articles of Confederation == | | == Before the Constitution: The Articles of Confederation == |
| | | | |
| − | The "United States of America" existed before the Constitution was written and approved. Written in 1777 (a year after the Declaration of Independence) and adopted by all 13 colonies by 1781, the "Articles of Confederation" brought together the 13 colonies while they were still fighting in the American Revolution to win independence from the King of England. The Articles of Confederation had 13 Articles, but did not establish a federal executive branch (now led by the president) or a federal judiciary. Instead, nearly all the power remained in the hands of the States, the former colonies. Each State had equal power in the Continental Congress established by the Articles of Confederation.<ref>http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/artconf.asp</ref> A major defect to the Articles of Confederation is that unanimous approval was required to amend it - unanimity is almost impossible to attain for any good law. | + | The "United States of America" existed before the Constitution was written and approved. The Articles of Confederation had already established the "United States of America." Written in 1777 (a year after the Declaration of Independence) and adopted by all 13 colonies by 1781, the Articles of Confederation brought together the 13 colonies while they were still fighting in the American Revolution to win independence from the King of England. The Articles of Confederation had 13 Articles, but did not establish a federal executive branch (now led by the president) or a federal judiciary. Instead, nearly all the power remained in the hands of the States, the former colonies. Each State had equal power in the Continental Congress established by the Articles of Confederation.<ref>http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/artconf.asp</ref> A major defect to the Articles of Confederation is that unanimous approval was required to amend it - unanimity is almost impossible to attain for any good law. |
| | | | |
| | Only a few good things were achieved after the Articles of Confederation were adopted, most notably the passage by Congress of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to set rules for the settlement and eventual creation of what became the new states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were "northwest" of the original 13 colonies.<ref>http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/nworder.asp</ref> | | Only a few good things were achieved after the Articles of Confederation were adopted, most notably the passage by Congress of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to set rules for the settlement and eventual creation of what became the new states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were "northwest" of the original 13 colonies.<ref>http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/nworder.asp</ref> |
| Line 164: |
Line 164: |
| | == Honors == | | == Honors == |
| | | | |
| − | 6. Find something in the original Constitution (i.e., not including the amendments) which you find to be particularly important. Discuss in a short essay (a few hundred words would be fine). | + | 6. Find something in the original Constitution (i.e., not including the amendments) which you find to be particularly important. Discuss it in a short essay (a few hundred words would be fine). |
| | | | |
| | == References == | | == References == |