Louis B. Vega
8th Grade Social Studies
Chapter 6 Section 4: We, the People
___________________________________________________________
THE CONTINENTAL CONVENTION
confidence of governing
taking advantage of freedom in debt and use power to
collect
desire to increase the power of central government at the
expense of the states
where the minority could rule the majority
a stronger central government could maintain order
The Articles of Confederation were planned to be revised
5 states met in Annapolis to discuss foreign trade
Alexander Hamilton of New York -staff of Washington during
war
called for a general meeting
all but Rhode Island sent delegates
Met at Philadelphia, elected George Washington as President
of convention
he and Ben Franklin were older, the younger people like
James Madison of Virginia was 36
decided to draft a new constitution, became the Constitutional
Convention
was illegal, only had authority to revise not change,
decided to recommend change to the states
THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND
delegates agreed to the fundamental changes
the convention proposed a national government- not a
league of friendship of independent nations
a central government is able to enforce its laws directly
on all its people
this is stated in the Preamble - the famous first sentence
of the Constitution ... We the people, not states
it would be the supreme law of the land by Article 6
including any state constitution
state legislators were required to take an oath to uphold
it
not all agreed to this, it was too soon, too fast...Sam
Adams -not a delegate
the Revolutionary war stirred up nationalism - a
feeling of national pride, first heroes and flag
intra state visits during war beyond state boundaries
delegates added powers, like tax, trade and took the power
of states to coin money = federalism
Central government could raise money without dependence on
states, stabilization of money
Congress now was like Parliament
Goal of making
a more perfect union...
justice
domestic tranquility
provide for the common defense
promote the general Welfare
secure blessings of liberty
...unity, order and prosperity, what the Articles of
Confederation lacked
embodied to the ideals of the European Enlightenment and
Awakenings
the BIBLE
John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau -by will of the people
Montesquieu
-
-proposed a government of 3 branches dividing power.
Voltaire
-contributed the ideals of personal unalienable rights