U.S.

History
Thursday, November 9th
 Warm Up
The Answer Is

CONSTITUTION
 Today in History
1938 Nazis launch Kristallnacht
1989 East German officials open the
Berlin Wall, allowing access into West
Berlin. The next day, Germans begin
tearing down the infamous symbol.
The Federalist Years
Launching the New Government
The first several years of the
new government were
challenging, but resulted in
strengthening it.
 Launching a New
Government
Cabinet Washington had to set up the
government according to the
Constitution.
He asked Congress to approve creating 3
Departments:
State
Treasury
War
 Launching a New
Government
Washington then appointed men to
serve as secretaries, or chiefs, over
those departments.
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander
Hamilton
Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of War Henry Knox
Attorney General Edmund Randolph
 Modern Cabinet
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration
/cabinet
 President George
Washington
Early Acts of Congress
Judiciary Act of 1789 set up a
federal court system.
Established a Supreme Court with a
Chief Justice and 5 associate judges.
John Jay was the first Chief Justice.
Established 13 district courts one for
each state.
3 circuit courts handled appeals.
 President George
Washington
In the beginning, the Supreme Court
had very little power.
Planners forgot to include a place for
the judicial branch in D.C. so they met
in the basement of the Capitol
building.
However, a provision declared that the
Supreme Court was a higher authority
than state courts
Todays Supreme Court
Todays Chief Justices:
John G. Roberts Steven Breyer (D)
Chief Justice (R)
Samuel Anthony
Anthony Kennedy Alito, Jr. (R)
(R)
Sonia Sotomayor (D)
Clarence Thomas (R)
Elena Kagan (D)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
(D) Neil Gorsuch (R)
 Launching the New
Government
Accomplishments of Congress
The first session of Congress
accomplished more than any of its
successors. Its sometimes called the
Second Constitutional Convention.
Drafted the Bill of Rights
Organized the Executive and
Judicial Branches
Passed financial measures
 Launching the New
Government
Of the original 95 member of
Congress:
Over half were Revolutionary
War veterans.
6 had signed the Declaration of
Independence.
20 had participated in the
Constitutional Convention.
 Launching the New
Government
Issues facing Congress:
How to pay off national debt
without raising taxes.
What is the right protocol for
the government.
Congressional salary - $6 a day
(approx $155). Today $174,000
annually.
 Launching the New
Government
John Adams wanted the
President to be called, His
Highness, the President of the
United States and Protector of
Rights of the same.
They eventually settled on Mr.
President
 Launching the New
Government
We are in a wilderness without
a single footstep to guide. Our
successors will have an easier
task. James Madison
 Launching the New
Government
Bill of Rights
In 1789, James Madison honored
his commitment to introduce the
Bill of Rights to Congress, which
would guarantee and protect
individual rights.
In 1791, it was approved by 3/4th
of the states.
 Launching the New
Government
Bill of Rights
First Amendment protects
freedoms of religion, speech, press,
assembly and petition.
2nd-4th Amendments protect
security rights of the individual
through the right to bear arms,
prohibiting quartering troop in
homes, restricts unreasonable
search and seizure.
 Launching the New
Government
Bill of Rights
5th- 8th Amendments Guarantee
fair judicial procedures for accused.
9th & 10th Amendments restrict
powers of the national government
by limiting it to Constitutional
bounds and guaranteeing rights
not listed in the Bill of Rights.
 Launching the New
Government
Bill of Rights
It was specifically intended to
restrict the power of the
national government.