Federalists
- Leaders: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
- Favored ideas of a stronger federal government
- Wanted to ratify the Constitution
- Believed that checks and balances would protect people's rights
- Didn't think we needed a Bill of Rights
- Wanted a strong Executive Branch
anti-federalists
- Leaders: Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Samuel Adams
- Favored ideas of stronger state governments
- Wanted more power for Legislative Branch
- Refused to ratify without a Bill of Rights
- No national bank
who does what
- Federal: Declare war, create and maintain armed forces, establish foreign policy, regulate interstate and foreign trade within states, make copyright and patent laws, coin money, and establish postal offices.
- States: Establish local governments, maintain schools, conduct elections, provide for public safety.
Three Branches of government
The branches of government were created to prevent dictatorships. This is called checks and balances.
- Executive Branch: President. The president enforces the laws, commands the military, and signs the laws. He or she can serve up to four years and two terms. They also have a cabinet of advisers.
- Legislative Branch: Congress. Congress writes and passes the laws and declared war. It is divided into two sections, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate can have two representatives per state and can serve for up to six years with no terms. The House of Representatives is based on the population of the state and they serve for two years with no terms.
- Judicial Branch: Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rules if laws are constitutional and they check on the president and Congress.
electoral college
The Electoral College is a group of representatives from each state that votes directly for the president. This way, the minority can have a say and there will always be a clear winner.
bill of rights
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in 1791. It was the first ten amendments in the Constitution. It was created to protect our natural rights, which is our American Why (LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF PROPERTY). This meant that the government can't deprive you of those things. We have an opportunity to be successful without anyone stopping us. We as Americans have the right to choose how we want to be life, to be free, and to make our lifestyles how we want it to be.
- Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
- Right to keep and bear arms.
- No quartering of soldiers.
- Freedom from unreasonable search warrants.
- Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.
- Rights of accused persons- right to a speedy public trial.
- Right of trial by jury.
- Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
- No limited rights.
- Limits power of federal government, gives power to states if not stated in the Constitution.
Unit question
What does it mean to be free?
In the United States, being free mean taking responsibility of yourself. To do that you need to accept the consequences of you actions. The Bill of Rights tells you all the things that you are allowed to do and you definitely should not abuse those rights that were given to you. The Constitution sets all the ground rules that need to be followed to ensure that the Declaration stays in place. To be free means to respect the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Everyone in our society need to accept that fact in order to remain free. Knowing this, I can make my community and society better by letting people know to respect their freedom and independence and not to abuse it.
In the United States, being free mean taking responsibility of yourself. To do that you need to accept the consequences of you actions. The Bill of Rights tells you all the things that you are allowed to do and you definitely should not abuse those rights that were given to you. The Constitution sets all the ground rules that need to be followed to ensure that the Declaration stays in place. To be free means to respect the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Everyone in our society need to accept that fact in order to remain free. Knowing this, I can make my community and society better by letting people know to respect their freedom and independence and not to abuse it.