The document summarizes key points about the creation and adoption of the US Constitution. It outlines that the Constitution was created to form a more perfect Union, with an introduction (Preamble) establishing the legislative (Article I), executive (Article II), and judicial (Article III) branches. Ratification was tricky, with 9 of the 13 states needing to approve. John Hancock convinced Massachusetts to ratify by arguing rights could be added later, and Virginia then also ratified, allowing for George Washington to become the first president.
Ppt constitution review and intro to the bill of rights
1. Ok…So, what have we
learned?
1) The people of the delegates and
framers of the Constitution created it with
a goal to________________
Form a more perfect Union
across the U.S. They wanted
one document that everyone
could agree upon!
2. 2) What do you suppose the “Preamble”
of the Constitution might be?
• The part of the Constitution that
comes BEFORE the amendments,
and Bill of Rights
• The introduction
3. 3) Article I of the Constitution declares
we should have a legislative branch.
• It is made up of the House of
Representatives and the Senate
• It has a job to make laws
4. 4) Article II declares the
president will be the head of the
• Executive branch
*He can make
treaties, enforce
laws, and appoint
S.C. Justices
5. 5) Article III states we will
have a Judicial Branch
• They interpret laws/decide if laws are
constitutional
•They include the Supreme Court
6. These were all important
developments within our Constitution.
• However, the formal adoption of the
Constitution was tricky!
• 9/13 states had to approve
• Massachusetts objected that the
Constitution did not list rights of people!
7. So…What Happened?
• MA supporters of the Constitution looked to John
Hancock who was the governor of MA at the time.
• He did not contribute at the Constitutional Convention
because he had Gout.
• People who wanted to ratify the Constitution took
advantage of this…They said that if Virginia did not
agree to ratify the Constitution, then George Washington
(governor of Virginia) could not become president!
8. Hancock fell for it!
• He decided to be carried into
the Constitutional
Convention! He gave a
dramatic speech about how
the Constitution should be
approved as it was written.
• Lists of citizens’ rights could
always be added he said.
9. John Hancock never did become
president. Virginia did ratify the
Constitution in a close vote!
In the first presidential election in 1789,
George Washington became the nation’s
first president. Hancock was vice
president.
10. The first ten amendments made to the
Constitution are known as the Bill of
Rights.
