Articles of Confederation - First governing document of the United States, Established a weak central government, Preceded the Constitution, Shays's Rebellion - Uprising of farmers in Massachusetts (1786-1787), Highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, Demonstrated need for stronger national government, Representative Government - System where elected officials make decisions on behalf of citizens, Contrasts with direct democracy, Fundamental principle of American political system, Direct Democracy - System where citizens directly participate in political decisions, Contrasts with representative government, Impractical for large, complex societies, Big Idea: Articles of Confederation - Its Design and Why It Failed - Intentionally created weak central government, No power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, enforce laws, required unanimous consent for amendments, inability to resolve economic and territorial disputes, The Framers - Delegates who wrote the US Constitution, Met in Philadelphia in 1787, Key Figures: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, Majority Rule - Principle that decisions are made by the preference more than half the group, Balanced with protections for minority rights, Fundamental to democratic process, Federalism - System dividing power between national and state governments, Allows for local governance while maintaining national unity, Provides checks on governmental power, The Great Compromise - Solution to representation in Congress, Created bicameral legistalture, House of Representatives (population-based), Senate (equal representation per state), Electoral College - Method of electing the President, Each state gets electoral votes based on Congressional representation, Counted each enslaved person as 3/5 of a person for population calculations, Deeply problematic racial compromise, Federalists - Supported strong central government, Believed Constitution provided. necessary structure, Key leaders: Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Antifederalists - Opposed strong central government, Feared potential tyranny, Demanded Bill of Rights, Key leaders: Patrick Henry, George Mason, BIG IDEAS - The Framers: Motivated to create more effective government after Articles of Confederation, Great Compromise: Balanced state interests through representation formula, Three-Fifths Comprise: Demonstrated ongoing tensions around slavery representation, Three Branches of Government - Executive, Legislative Branch, Judicial Branch, Executive - led by President, implements and enforces laws, Includes Cabinet departments, Legislative Branch - Congress: House of Representatives and Senate, Creates and passes laws, Controls federal budget, Judicial Branch - Supreme Court and federal courts, Interprets laws, Determines constitutionality of legislation, Checks & Balances - Each branch can limit powers of other branches, Prevents concentration of power, Ensures governmental accountability, Bill of Rights - First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth Amendments, First Amendment - Freedom of speech, religion, press, Second Amendment - Right to bear arms, Fourth Amendment - Protection against unreasonable searches, Fifth Amendment: - Due process, protection against self-incrimination, Eighth Amendment: - Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, Bill to Law Process - Complex journey from proposal to potential implementation, Checks and Balances: - Fundamental to preventing governmental overreach,

CAM: Creating a Republic

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