Name _________________________ Period _____ #____________ DUE DATE:_________

LESSON PACKET - We The People

7th Social Studies Parent Signature
(EC)_________________
1Many challenges remained for the new nation after the end of the Revolutionary War. Americans set up a
2republic, a government in which citizens rule through elected officials. The Articles of Confederation created
3a weak national government that could not regulate trade, impose taxes to pay debts, or make states obey its
4laws. Instability followed.
5
In 1787 state delegates met to address the problems. This Constitutional Convention drafted a
6Constitution calling for a strong central government, including a chief executive to enforce national laws, a
7court system, and a two-house legislature. One house, called the senate, included two members from each
8state. The other house, called the House of Representatives, included members from each state based on the
9states population.
10
The Framers of the Constitution believed that the government is based on a contract between people
11and a ruler, and worried about a central government that might become too powerful. To limit government
12power, they separated the central government into branches and built in checks and balances.
13
Congress, the legislative branch, makes laws. The executive branch, headed by the president, carries
14out the laws. Courts make up the judicial branch which makes sure that laws passed by lawmakers and
15signed by the president are constitutional. The Framers left many important powers to the states. Sharing of
16powers between a national government and states is called federalism.
17Federalists who supported the Constitution feared that without a strong government there would be chaos.
18Opponents feared a strong government could take away individual liberties. For the constitution to become
19law, 9 of the 13 states had to ratify, or approve, it. All 13 states voted to ratify. Antifederalists won guarantees
20that a bill of rights, protecting individual freedoms, would be added to the Constitutions amendments, or
21changes.
22
In 1789 George Washington became the 1st president. That same year Congress created executive
23departments. The heads of those departments made up the presidents cabinet. Congress also set-up the
24Supreme Court and other federal courts with the powers to reverse state court rulings.
25
In 1791 the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. These 10 amendments guaranteed personal
26liberties. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton found ways to pay the government debts and
27strengthen the nations economy. Congress also approved a plan for the nations new capitol.

Answer the following using the reading above:

1. Word the author chose to show what the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation created?
___________
a. Circle the word that could best replace the word the author chose: STRENGTH / CHAOS
b. UNDERLINE 3 things the author listed as facts to support his statement.
2. Why did the Constitutional Convention meet in 1787? Circle correct answer
a. Go back to being British
b. Fix the Problems in the Articles of Confederation
c. Make all the states independent countries
3. Why was the government separated into branches?
______________________________________________
a. The President is to the Executive branch as the ____________________ is to the Legislative.
b. Which 2 branches create laws that the ___ U ___ ___ C I ___ ___ Branch checks to make sure they
are Constitutional?
___________________________

_________________________
4. Federalist supported the Constitution and feared that without it there would be ___ H ___ ___ S
Anti-Federalist feared a strong government could take away individual ___ I ___ ___ ___ T ___ ___ ___
5. a. In 1789 this happened that would make Federalist happy: ______________________________
b. In 1791 this happened and would make Anti-Federalist happy: __________________________

Definition:
Bicameral (p.165)

Examples:

Anti-federalist (p. 170)-

Examples:

Federalist (p. 170)-

Examples:

Federalism (p.202)

Examples:

Ratify (p.203)

Examples:
Veto (p.184)

Examples:
28
29
30
31
32

Write a Context Sentence

Illustration

We the People - Lesson Packet

33

OBJ #1: Draw conclusions about the impact on the new Constitution played
35
by compromise and leaders.
34

36 What

was the biggest

fear the U.S. had
before creating the
Articles of
Confederation?

________________
____________
What weakness of the
Articles was a result
of the first fear from
above?

________________
____________
What two
governments were
battling for
POWER?
______________
______________

A. Events leading to the Constitution

1. Fear of Strong National (federal) Government
a. King had too much power
b. States/Colonies didnt want to be told what to do
2. Articles of Confederation
(1st National Government)
a. VERY WEAK POWERS
b. NO LEADER (Ex. President or King)
c. Congress only Federal Branch of Government
d. STATES HAVE ALL THE POWER
-Have their own: Money / Militias / Laws
3. Shays Rebellion
a. Took Volunteers to get Militia Ready
b. Scares Founding Fathers (Washington)
4. Convention called to Fix Articles
a. 12 States send delegates
b. GOAL: Fix the Articles
c. Result: Throw Away the Articles
d. Problems: How much Federal Power?
Big States vs. Small States
B. Father of the Constitution . . .James Madison
1. Came Prepared: Studied governments of the world
2. Creates Virginia Plan: 3 Branches of Government
3. Friends with Thomas Jefferson

1. Draw conclusions about the impact on the new Constitution played by compromise and leaders. A. What
man came the most prepared and is called to as the Father of the Constitution. B. Name two compromises that saved the
Constitution, what topics were they about? C. What group supported the new Constitution and wrote essays to get it
ratified? D. What government did the Constitution replace?
(U.S. Ch. 5 pgs. 152-168)

A.

B.
C.
D.

OBJ #1 . . .
C. Compromises
Continued
37We
the People - Lesson Packet

Save the Constitution

1. GREAT COMPROMISE
COMPROMISE
38
OBJ #2: Differentiate the roles and duties of the 3 branches of government.
a. Big States and small states fight for power
39
means giving a little
b. New
Jersey Plan
State)
A. What
the branches
of (Small
Our Government
Represent
to get
a little,
Federal
Power made
-Kept
much of Articles of Conf.
explain
what each
1. Form
of Government
the country
like a
of the
-1 house Legislature
F __following
__ __ __ __
a. RepublicPeople chose the people to lead
GAVE to GET
-Every State
Equal
in Congress
Them
(Not
real Democracy!)
A Republic is like a
c.
Plan (BIG STATE!)
(Madison)
2. Virginia
Federal Power
BIG
STATES:
_______________
-3 Must
Branches
of Government
(L, E,
J)
a.
be more
important than
State
Gave:
________
because
_________
-Bicameral
Legislature
(2 Houses)
(1 Nation
NOT 13 Countries)
_______________
____________
DecidedBranch
by Population
B. Article I -Leg.
. . . .Legislative
Get: _________
1.
Congress
of Representatives & Senate)
d. The
Great(House
Compromise
____________
a. GREAT
-3 Branches
ofCOMPROMISE!!!!
Government
Match these 3
*House
of Representative
-Bicameral
Legislature
(2 Houses) (Population)
words
...
BIG
STATES:
*Senate
(2 per state -No matter how big or small)
*Senate2per state
2. Powers
of Congress
(Article
I Section 8)
*House
of Rep.- By
Population
Gave:
________
-Interprets
a.
MakeBig
and&Pass
Laws
(Bills)
*Made
Small
States
Happy
____________
-Makes
House&and
Senate
must pass and agree on
-Executive-Both
(A leader)
Judicial
(Courts)
Get-Enforces
: _________
the
law before
sending it to the president for approval
2. same
3/5 COMPROMISE
(Slavery)
____________
with the following .
b. Declare
a. South
wants toWar
counts slaves as population
c.
Provide
Money
to of
Executive
-Helps raise their House
Rep. #sto run government
. . States:
Slave
d. Approve
Appointments
(Senate)
b. Deal:
Every 3 Presidential
out of 5 slaves
will be counted
Executive:
__________
Gave:
________
Members/Judges/Military Officers
as part of-Cabinet
the population
Legislative:
_________
____________
e. Impose Taxes
Judicial: __________ D. Federalist & Anti-Federalist
Get: _________
Approve
Treaties with other Countries (Senate)
1. Federalistf.Support
Constitution
C. Article
. . Madison,
. .Executive
Branch and Hamilton
a. LedIIby
Washington
____________
. . . In Reference
1.
is to
enforce Papers
the laws
b. Job
Wrote
Federalist
. . and
.essays supporting
to LAWS
putConstitution
someone in(We
the need
role of
a leader
(President
the
stronger
Government)
Free STATES:
2. Anti-Federalist DO NOT Like Constitution
Gave: ________
a. Led by George Mason
____________
b. Believed the Constitution did not protect
Get: _________
peoples rights
____________
-Wanted a list of Rights added
the Constitution!
2. Differentiate the rolesE.
andApproving
duties of the(Ratify)
three (3) branches
of government in the U.S. Constitution.
Needed
9 of 13 States to Approve (All 13 impossible)
Name each branch, its main job, and 1.
its top
position.
(U.S. Ch. 6 pgs. 182-200)
2.
1787 Delaware 1st state to approve Constitution
*1788 NH-Article
approves
-Article I
II (9th State)
-Article III
*1791
Constitution
begins
Branch:
*1791 Bill of Rights becomes part of Constitution
People:
Job:

OBJ #2 . . .
40
We the People - Lesson Packet
Continued
2. Powers . . .Man of Many Hats
41
42

OBJ #3: Explain the

Checks
and Balances*
a. system
Head ofof
State
(Represents
U.S. to thefound
World)in the
Constitution.
-Secretary
of State is Cabinet member

Write a POWER
sentence for each
branches power of
Checks and balances:

-Allowed to make treaties with other countries

b. Commander in Chief (Head of the Military)
-Secretary of Defense is Cabinet Member
-Commands military
Executive:
c. Chief Law Enforcer (Enforces Laws)
______________
-Attorney General is Cabinet member
______________
d. Cabinet Members: People hired to run each area while
the president does the other jobs
______________
-15 today . . . Washington had 4
______________
-1st 4: Treasury, State, War, Attorney General
______________
-Newest: Homeland Defense
3. Term in Office
Legislative:
a. Elected every 4 yrs. (Can only serve 8)
______________
**Electoral College
______________
b. Must be born in US / Must be 35 yrs. old
______________
D. Article III . . . . Judicial Branch
______________ 1. Reviews laws and disputes. (Supreme Court)
______________
a. Supreme Court
*Highest Court in the U.S. (What they say goes)
Judicial:
b. Lower Courts *Created By Congress
______________
*Listen to cases before the Supreme Court
______________
(ex. Military/Appeal/District/Maritime/Civil)
______________ 2. Judicial Review
a. Courts can decide if laws passed and enforced by
______________
Congress & President are Constitutional
______________
3. Terms in Office
a. President picks judges and the Senate approves
b. Life for all judges (Until you die or go crazy)
c. 9 Supreme Court Judges

43

We the People - Lesson Packet

A. Checks & Balances

44 OBJ #4: Summarize types of rights protected in the Bill of Rights and the
1. Each branch has power to keep the other from
45
imporatnce of being able togetting
add Amendments
too powerful to the Constitution.
46
a. President
The 1st 10 Amend. were
A. *Amendments
= Changes to the Constitution (Article 5)
not called the Bill of
-PickstoJudges/Makes
Treaties/Hires
1. Allows country
change without
throwing thePeople
entire
Rights until many years
-VetoCan
cancel
a
law
passed
by
Congress
constitution away
after they were
Congress
(Senate)
2. Twob.ways
to create
Amendments
adopted . . . What would
-OKs
Presidents
picks
(Canor
say NO!!)
#1- 2/3 of House & Senate
approve
be another name that
Override
Veto
#2- 2/3-Can
of State
Convention
might apply?
c.
Judicial
-Then
3/4 of State Legislatures must approve to
-Judicial
. . declare laws
______________
become part of Review
Constitution
unconstitutional
find
people accused by
3. 27 Amendments
today (lastor
one
in 1992)
government
not guilt
Create a Symbol for
B. Bill of Rights (First
10 Amendments)
these Amendments:
1. Guarantees the basic rights that the
government cannot take away.
1.
a. Protects the MINORITY
(people who disagree or have been out voted)
1. Freedom- Press/Speech/Religion/Assembly
2. Right to bear Arms (Militia?)
3. No Troops in Homes
2.
Jefferson 4. Search & Seizure (Rules)
V.
5. Rights of Accused
(People who are arrested)
Madison 6. Right to Speedy Trial & Jury
7. Jury Trial in Civil Cases
**Your Choice # __
pg. 204 U.S.
8. Bail & punishment (No Cruel & Unusual)
9. Powers given to the People
10. Powers given to the States
3. A. Explain the system of Checks and Balances* found in the U.S. Constitution. B. Give one example for
each branch of government in its use of Checks and Balances against the other two. C. Identify reasons for Checks
and Balances.
(U.S. Ch. 5 pg. 167 & Ch. 6 pg. 182-185)

4.
A.A. Summarize types of rights protected in the Bill of Rights and the imporatnce of being able to add
Amendments to the Constitution. B. How many amendments made up the Bill of Rights? C. Name two ways
amendments can be added. D. How many amendments have been added to the Constitution today?

B. U.S. Ch. 5 pgs. 173 & Ch. 6 pgs. 204-205, 216-221 Constitution pg. 242-243)
A.
C.
B.
C.
D.

n state & Federal Govt

A. Federalism

FEDERAL POWERS

Powers SHARED between State

STATE POWERS

FEDERALISM

Copy the Federalism Chart on U.S Pg. 201

47