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American History Lecture Three (view source)
Revision as of 20:04, August 30, 2008
, 20:04, August 30, 2008no edit summary
The deliberations were held in secret, without any news leaking to the reporters. This secrecy benefited the Convention because the delegates could proceed freely and try different ideas without fearing that their actions would be misunderstood by the public. Everyone was ordered to destroy their notes after the convention. James Madison, however, kept his and they were released when he died fifty years later. Those notes provide the knowledge we have about the debates that occurred during the Convention.
The deliberations were held in secret, without any news leaking to the reporters. This secrecy benefited the Convention because the delegates could proceed freely and try different ideas without fearing that their actions would be misunderstood by the public. Everyone was ordered to destroy their notes after the convention. James Madison, however, kept his and they were released when he died fifty years later. Those notes provide the knowledge we have about the debates that occurred during the Convention.
The Constitutional Convention was governed by strict rules. For example, "Every member rising to speak, shall address the President; and whilst he shall be speaking, none shall pass between them or hold discourse with another, or read a book, pamphlet or paper." Nothing was to be considered final until the entire Constitution had been written. Each state received one vote.
While most delegates agreed that stronger central government was necessary, they were uncertain how they could accomplish this without too much power. Their fear of the corruption power brings reflects the Christian beginnings of our nation. Christianity teaches that humans are sinful and prone to corruption. Very few religions teach that.
While most delegates agreed that stronger central government was necessary, they were uncertain how they could accomplish this without too much power. Their fear of the corruption power brings reflects the Christian beginnings of our nation. Christianity teaches that humans are sinful and prone to corruption. Very few religions teach that.
As the Constitutional Convention began, the delegates agreed that the Articles of Confederation had not created a functional government. Congress was in shambles, and so sporadically attended that between October 1785 and April 1786, it had the minimum attendance to business on only three days. The stated purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of Government and the preservation of the Union."
As the Constitutional Convention began, the delegates agreed that the Articles of Confederation had not created a functional government. Congress was in shambles, and so sporadically attended that between October 1785 and April 1786, it had the minimum attendance to business on only three days. The stated purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of Government and the preservation of the Union."
Those words left the Convention somewhat open in purpose. Delegates had a choice. First, they could amend the articles, this would be difficult however because unanimous approval from the states was required. Instead, they could draft a new constitution. Some questioned whether the Convention had authority to do this, but consensus was that a new constitution was the only choice.
Those words left the Convention somewhat open in terms of purpose. Delegates had a choice. First, they could amend the articles, this would be difficult however because unanimous approval from the states was required. Instead, they could draft a new constitution. Some questioned whether the Convention had authority to do this, but consensus was that a new constitution was the only choice.
Thus, the attendees did not limit their actions to fixing the Articles of Confederation. This same debate rages today by calls for a constitutional convention to balance the budget (1980s) or, more recently, to protect traditional marriage. There is no way to limit what a constitutional convention does. The only protection for the people is that the document still must be ratified by the states. This debate over whether a constitutional convention can be called for limited issue continues today, with many saying that there is never a way to limit a constitutional convention.
Thus, the attendees did not limit their actions to fixing the Articles of Confederation. This same debate rages today by calls for a constitutional convention to balance the budget (1980s) or, more recently, to protect traditional marriage. There is no way to limit what a constitutional convention does. The only protection for the people is that the document still must be ratified by the states. This debate over whether a constitutional convention can be called for limited issue continues today, with many saying that there is never a way to limit a constitutional convention.
Dangers aside, the delegates knew that it was their task to write a new constitution. But what form of government would be sufficiently effective without being corrupted by power? Two plans attempted to answer this question.
Dangers aside, the delegates knew that it was their task to write a new constitution. But what form of government would be sufficiently effective without being corrupted by power? Two plans attempted to answer this question.
The first was submitted by Edmund Randolph and was called the Virginia Plan, or the Large States Plan because it was favored by the larger states. Our three branches of government originated in the Virginia Plan. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws. Under this plan, Edmund Randolph wouldn't sign in the end.
The first was submitted by Edmund Randolph and was called the Virginia Plan, or the Large States Plan because it was favored by the larger states. Our three branches of government originated in the Virginia Plan. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws. The Virginia land assigned delegates to both houses of Congress based on a state's population. The Virginia plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph refused to sign it in the end.
The New Jersey Plan departed much less from the Articles of Confederation. This plan was favored by small states because each state was represented equally in Congress. This allowed small states to have an equal amount of power. The Virginia plan, in contrast would have allowed large states much more power that small ones because representation in Congress was based on population.
This issue may have been the greatest in the Convention, and for weeks, there was no progress. Then Benjamin Franklin proposed that each day be opened by prayer. He said, "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probably that an empire can rise without His aid?" Benjamin Franklin's greatest contribution to the Convention was not his ideas, but his wise advice.
Franklin's word had an impact when after many weeks of argument, a compromise was reached. It was called the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, and resolved that Congress would have one house with equal representation and one house with representation based on population. This compromise became part of the Constitution, and today we have both Senate and the House of Representatives.
This compromise reflected the spirit of the Constitutional Convention. Disagreements arose on a myriad of issues. Again and again, the delegates compromised, gradually formulating the Constitution that we still use today.
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 resulting 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 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 three branches are these:
The three branches are these:
The Legislative Branch which makes the laws is Congress. Congress is established in Article I.
The Legislative Branch makes the laws. Congress is established in Article I of the Constitution.
Executive branch carries out the laws President. Established in Article II.
The Executive Branch carries out the laws. The President's powers are established in Article II.
Judicial branch interprets the laws, established in Article III.
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 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 VI declares the Constitution the supreme Law of the Land.
Article VII provides for the procedure to ratify the Constitution.
Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly, 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.
Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly, 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.
A huge debate followed in some of the states, particularly Virginia and New York. To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist papers, which was a series of editorials that ran in a big 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.
A huge debate followed in some of the states, particularly Virginia and New York. To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay 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 debate over ratification pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry). Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked a bill of rights.
Once the ninth state ([[New Hampshire]]) ratified the new Constitution on June 21, 1788, the Constitution became law of the land. Shortly afterward, New York and Virginia followed.
North Carolina and Rhode Island, however were more difficult, and did not ratify the Constitution until 1789 and 1790, respectively.
George Washington was elected a few months afterwards as our first president.
==Slavery==
==Slavery==
Also, be aware that there many slaves in Virginia and other colonies long before Bacon’s Rebellion. <include info about how early the first slaves were brought from Africa>
Also, be aware that there many slaves in Virginia and other colonies long before Bacon’s Rebellion. <include info about how early the first slaves were brought from Africa>
3/5s compromise.
==George Washington's Presidency==
==George Washington's Presidency==