Building the Blueprint: The US Constitution, Power, & Slavery
Building the Blueprint: The US Constitution, Power, & Slavery
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Building the Blueprint: The US Constitution, Power, & Slavery
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson you will understand the ideas that influenced the US Constitution, the people involved, the issue and legacy of slavery, and the debate over federal power.
What do you already know about the ideas behind the US Constitution?
Roots of the Constitution
The Constitution blended ideas from Enlightenment thinkers, British law, and colonial experience. It aimed to create a balanced government.
Who Was Involved?
James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton led the debates.
Key Founders
Others Involved
Ordinary citizens, enslaved people, women, and Native Americans influenced and were affected by the outcome.
Who was a key founder of the debates?
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
George Washington
Which group influenced the debates?
Ordinary citizens
Enslaved people
Wealthy landowners
Foreign diplomats
Who led the debates besides Madison?
Alexander Hamilton
John Adams
George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
The Constitutional Convention
In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to address problems with the Articles of Confederation and create a new framework for government.
The Federal System
The Constitution created a federal system dividing power between state governments and the national (federal) government.
Debate: How Much Power?
Federalists wanted a strong central government. Anti-Federalists feared it would threaten states’ rights and individual freedoms.
The Bill of Rights
What is the Bill of Rights?
A military document
First ten amendments to the Constitution
A Supreme Court ruling
A tax law
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
State laws only
Foreign treaties
Individual liberties and rights
Government financial power
Slavery and the Constitution
The Constitution allowed slavery to continue. Compromises like the Three-Fifths Compromise embedded racial inequality.
Long-Term Costs of Slavery
Slavery denied freedom and opportunity to millions. Its legacy includes persistent racial inequality and national division.
Federal Government: Then and Now
Original Role
Today, the federal government is involved in education, healthcare, and social justice—shaped by history and debate.
The government protected rights, maintained order, and regulated some affairs.
Modern Role
The Constitution’s Enduring Legacy
Write down 2 things you want to know more about.
