Creating the Constitution 1789-1790 (learn about it Teacher Led)

8.C&G.1.1 - Summarize democratic ideals expressed in local, state, and national government
8.C&G.1.2 - Evaluate the degree to which democratic ideals are evident in historical documents from North Carolina and the United States

8.C.1.1 - Explain how influences from Africa, Europe, and the Americas impacted North Carolina and the United States

And So it begins...

Our Nation is new compared to those of Europe. America was an experiment. Could a former colony successfully become a nation. How would this Nation rule itself, let alone maintain stability between 13 regional governments (States). 

The Articles of Confederation

This was a loosely written document that gave some rights to the federal government, but the vast majority of power was with each individual state. This led to many problems and miscommunication.

The Preamble of the Constitution states...

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

But what does it mean?

We the people... As it was written in 1787, the founding fathers were very specific with who they were referencing. At this time in our society the only people that were truly represented in this document were Men, White, and Land owning.

Sadly, ladies, your opinions and thoughts would not be truly recognized until 1920... 130 yrs after our founding fathers penned this document.

Slaves and even freed persons of color, or to use the antiquated historical term prominent for most of our nations history Negros, were seen as inferior and on the same level as domesticated animals. 

Native Americans, were not recognized or treated with the same dignity even though they were here first.