1. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework for the federal government and outlining the rights and liberties of its citizens.
2. The U.S. Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789, after being ratified by nine of the thirteen original states.
3. One main concern of the Founding Fathers was creating a stronger central government than the one under the Articles of Confederation, while still protecting individual liberties and preventing tyranny.
4. Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed primarily on the balance of power between the federal government and the states; Federalists supported a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists feared it would overpower the states and infringe on personal freedoms.
5. The ultimate goal for the Constitution was to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for present and future generations.
6. They solved their problem with Constitutional principles such as federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, popular sovereignty, limited government, republicanism, and individual rights.
7. They chose Federalism to divide power between the national and state governments, preventing any single level from becoming too powerful and allowing local issues to be handled locally.
8. The seven Constitutional principles are: Popular Sovereignty, Republicanism, Federalism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Limited Government, and Individual Rights.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of constitution worksheet for high school.
