Changes

And there was one additional compromise required for slavery:  the new Congress could not ban the importation of slavery for 20 years, until 1808.

And there was one additional compromise required for slavery:  the new Congress could not ban the importation of slavery for 20 years, until 1808.

After all the compromises most (but not all) agreed to the final form of the new Constitution, and it was sent to the states for ratification.   

After all the compromises, most (but not all) of the delegates at the Convention agreed to the final form of the new Constitution, and signed it.  Next it was sent to the states for ratification, and the publicity and political arguments began.   

The government established by the Constitution is not easily classified, but rather a mixture of other forms of government.  At the time, nearly every county in the world was a monarchy.  Many elements make American government the first of its kind.   

The new government established by the Constitution is a mixture of other forms of government.  At the time, nearly every country in the world was a monarchy.  The new American government was the first of its kind.   

The Constitution breaks government into three separate branches that can check and balance each other.  If one branch grabs too much power, then the other two can work together to stop it.   

The Constitution divides government into three separate branches that can check and balance each other.  If one branch grabs too much power, then the other two can work together to stop it.   

The three branches are these:

The three branches are these:

The Legislative Branch makes the laws.  Congress is established in Article I of the Constitution.  The Executive Branch carries out the laws.  The President's powers are established in Article II.  The Judicial Branch interprets the laws.  The Supreme Court is established in Article III.

:The Legislative Branch makes the laws.  Congress is established in Article I of the Constitution.  The Executive Branch carries out the laws.  The President's powers are established in Article II.  The Judicial Branch interprets the laws.  The Supreme Court is established in Article III.

Article IV of the Constitution outlines the relationship between the federal (national) government and the states.   

:Article IV of the Constitution outlines the relationship between the federal (national) government and the states.   

Article V outlines the procedures for amending the Constitution, contrary to the Articles of Confederation, unanimous consent of the states is not required for an amendment.   

:Article V outlines the procedures for amending the Constitution.  Contrary to the Articles of Confederation, unanimous consent of the states is not required to amend the Constitution.   

Article VI declares the Constitution the supreme Law of the Land.   

:Article VI declares the Constitution the supreme Law of the Land.   

Article VII provides for the procedure to ratify the Constitution.

:Article VII provides for the procedure to ratify the Constitution.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish ordinary citizens.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.

Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

Massachusetts ratified the Constitution only after the Antifederalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  After that nearly all the ratifications by other states also demanded amendments as part of their ratifications.

Massachusetts ratified the Constitution only after the Anti-Federalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would immediately consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  Subsequently nearly all the ratifications by other states also demanded amendments as part of their ratifications.

To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay anonymously wrote the Federalist papers, which were a series of editorials that ran in a prominent New York newspaper.  Most famous of these is Madison’s Federalist No. 10: "Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction."  Madison's insight was that a new United States of America, with its large size and separation of powers, could protect freedom against the tyranny of a small group better than individual colonies could.  The Federalist papers set forth the arguments to be used by supporters of the Constitution to obtain ratification in Virginia and New York, and the many other states that had not yet ratified.  Later, the Federalist papers became a reference source for courts in interpreting what the Constitution means.

To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay anonymously wrote the Federalist papers, which were a series of editorials that ran in a prominent New York newspaper.  Most famous of these is Madison’s Federalist No. 10: "Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction."  Madison's insight was that a new United States of America, with its large size and separation of powers, could protect freedom against the tyranny of a small group better than individual colonies could.  The Federalist papers set forth the arguments to be used by supporters of the Constitution to obtain ratification in Virginia and New York, and the many other states that had not yet ratified.  Later, the Federalist papers became a reference source for courts in interpreting what the Constitution means.