Constitution Timeline
When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
July 4, 1776
Who was the President of the Convention?
George Washington
What are the first words of the Preamble?
"We the people..."
What ensures the separation of powers in the government?
Checks and Balances
The Bill of Rights is meant to do this for citizens
Protect their rights
Protect them from the government having too much power over their lives
What was the first constitution of the United States called?
Articles of Confederation
Who was called the "Father of the Constitution?"
James Madison
How many Articles are there in the Constitution?
Seven (7) articles or parts
Which office, as defined by the Constitution, must be held by a natural-born citizen?
The President
This is one big issue delegates argued about, and this issue caused the American Civil War.
slavery
Why did delegates meet at the State House in Philadelphia in 1787?
Revise or fix the Articles of Confederation
How long did it take to write the Constitution?
About 100 days or 3 months
All summer!
What is the purpose of a Constitution?
To organize the government
How many Amendments are in the Bill of Rights?
10
"Ratify" means to
approve or agree to
When was the new Constitution of the United States signed?
September 17, 1787
What was a major problem or issue when writing the Constitution?
representation for Large State vs. Small State
Which Amendment granted freedom of speech, press and assembly?
First Amendment
The States wanted to fix the Articles of Confederation because it was too
Weak
What year did all states finally ratify (agree to) the Constitution?
1791
What did they call the plan that determined that the Senate would have equal representation and that the House of Representatives would have representation based on population?
"The Great Compromise"
How many Amendments are there to the Constitution?
27
Who invented many things and was involved in writing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but was never president?
Ben Franklin
What is the meaning of "compromise"?