A More Perfect Union/Lesson 3: A New Plan of Government

To formally approve the

Constitution. Before it could go into

effect, 9 out of the 13 states had to approve the Constitution.

• challenge

• ratify

• oppose

• disapprove

Those who were in favor of the ratification

of the U.S. Constitution. They also

favored a strong federal government.

They were led by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

• Loyalists

• Patriots

Those opposed to the ratification of

the U.S. Constitution and wanted it to include a Bill of Rights. George Mason and Patrick Henry were the

most outspoken leaders of this group.

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

• Loyalists

• Patriots

Essays written by Alexander Hamilton,

James Madison, and John Jay to convince the American people to ratify the

Constitution.

• Common Sense

• The Crisis

• The Federalist Papers

• The Anti-Federalist Paperss

It was written in 1787 and ratified

when 9 out of 13 states approved it.

It consists of a preamble, or introduction, Articles 1 thru 7, a Bill

of Rights (first 10 amendments), and Amendments 11-27. It sets out the laws and principles of the

government of the United States.

• Articles of Confederation

• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

• English Bill of Rights

• U.S. Constitution

The first 10 amendments to the U.S.

Constitution which provide protection of individual rights and liberties. Ideas from the English Bill of Rights were

used when writing this document.

• Bill of Rights

• Articles of Confederation

• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

• Magna Carta

English philosopher who greatly

influenced Thomas Jefferson in the writing of the Declaration of

Independence. He believed that if a

government becomes abusive it was the people’s responsibility to remove its

leaders.

• Baron de Montesquieu

• Thomas Jefferson

• James Madison

• John Locke

French nobleman who wrote The Spirit

of the Law in 1748 and believed in the idea of separation of powers which

greatly influenced our Founding Fathers.

• Baron de Montesquieu

• Thomas Jefferson

• James Madison

• John Locke

The Constitution contains a system of ______________________. This means each branch of government has ways to check, or limit, the power of the other branches. With this system, no single branch can gain too much power in the government.

• federalism

• checks and balances

• Supreme Court

• Electoral College

The sharing of power between the states and the national government.

• checks and balances

• Bill of Rights

• federalism

• individual rights