ERIC+Q+ --+ “The+United+States+Constitution+of+1787

Home List of Themes Model - Articles of Confederation

**Theme:** Constitution **Topic:** Constitution a Victory for American Elite **Free Response Question**: “The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an economic and ideological victory for the traditional American political elite.” Assess the validity of that statement for the period 1781 to 1789. Introductory Paragraph **Setting:** Constitution created in Philadelphia in 1787. **Basis for Analysis **: A government that favors the political elite is one that has increased centralized power and has unchecked authority. **Partitions**: Idealogically, political elites gain power through increased centralization. Economically, interests of elites are protected. However, Constitution prevents too much federal power by protecting state powers. **Thesis:** The statement "the United States Constitution of 1787 represented an economic and idealogical victory for the traditional American political elite" is partially true. Outside Knowledge (OK) for each partition: delete these instructions after you have read them. **Partition 1:** type here Articles of Confederation government is less centralized, less power to political elite. As a response, the constitutional convention gave the elite more power over the states.

- Supremacy of federal law over state law More power given to those in Washington - Countries can negotiate with one nation (U.S.) vs. the many sovereign states in Articles of Confederation Gives more power to federal government (power in international affairs) - Does not explicitly give states right to secede or form revolution Reinforces idea of federal power over state power (more authority to political elite)

**Partition 2:** type here The Articles of Confederation had weak laws regarding economy and trade. As a result, the Constitution had many provisions in the elite's interests.

- Power given to the United States government to levy tariffs and trade restrictions Benefits the elite business owners. Not in the interests of the poor (forced to pay more for goods) - Institution of slavery is preserved through provision indicating no touch slavery for twenty years Benefits wealthy slave owners (keep slaves) - The federal government assumed state debts Deal benefits creditors because countries would see U.S. as a trustworthy business partner (bad for poor because debts need to be paid)

<span style="background-color: #0000ff; color: #00ff00; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">** Partition 3: ** type here Even though the new government had more centralized power than Articles of Confederation, the power is restrained in a system of checks and balances. The authority of the government is limited.

- No one branch, executive, legislative, or judicial, can have too much power System makes sure abuse of federal authority does not occur - Powers not given to federal authority in Constitution delegated to states Makes sure that state powers are not usurped by federal government (states decide social arrangement, voting requirements, local governmental issues) - Wording "we the people" show that the common man in the end has ultimate power Even though drafted largely by elites, people are the root of the government's power

<span style="background-color: #800080; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 23px; text-align: left;">General Information: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">- Knowledge of the Constitution Article I, Article II, and Article III <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">- Knowledge of Articles of Confederation <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">- Knowledge of drafters of Constitution (wealthy politicians) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">- Interests of wealthy in time period <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">-Economic situation of the United States (lots of war debt) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">