1. Constitution
1.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
1.1.1. Organized Executive and Judicial Branches, Waged war, and veto leglislation bills
1.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
1.2.1. James Madison drafted and wrote the Constution
1.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
1.3.1. 1789-Now
1.4. How is the document structured?
1.4.1. Starts with a preamble then has articles
1.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
1.5.1. 1. Divides government into three branches
1.5.1.1. 2. President becomes commander in cheif in times of war
1.5.2. 3. Said it would abolish slavery in the next 20 years
1.5.2.1. 4. Father of the Constitution is James Madison
2. Declaration of Independence
2.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
2.1.1. The general purpose was to break all ties with Great Britain including their British rule.
2.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
2.2.1. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin,Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman were in the Declaration committee which appointed Thomas jefferson to draft the Declaration
2.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
2.3.1. July 4, 1776 to present-day
2.4. How is the document structured?
2.4.1. The Declaration starts with the Preamble then goes to the "truths" about the american people as an independent nation. Thirdly, "long train of abuses and usurpations" is referring to how Britain has trated the american people poorly.
2.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
2.5.1. 1. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates on July 4th, 1776
2.5.1.1. 2. About 20% of America's population at the time were loyalists
2.5.2. 3. The Declaration states all citizens have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
2.5.2.1. 4. Also states why the 13 Colonies wanted to break off of Great Britain
2.5.3. 5. The Colonies were at war with Britain for over a year when it was drafted and signed
3. Northwest Ordinance
3.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
3.1.1. To make the territories have laws and eventually turn into states so that they may become a part of the United States
3.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
3.2.1. Nathan Dane was the framer, drafter, and writer of the Northwest Ordinance on July 13, 1787 it was passed for government past the Ohio River
3.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
3.3.1. 1787-1858-now when all the Northwest Ordinance territories became states
3.4. How is the document structured?
3.4.1. Broken up into 14 sections and 6 articles each stating on population of the territory, when it could become a state, and slavery issues on which it was not alllowed
3.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
3.5.1. 1. Outlawed slavery in some areas
3.5.1.1. 2. Territories became states
3.5.2. 3. No more than 5 states could be carved out of the territory.
3.5.2.1. 4. When population reached 60,000 residents it could become a state
3.5.3. 5. No slavery was allowed within the borders of the Northwest Ordinance
4. Articles of Confederation
4.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
4.1.1. Provided a governing structure had the first set of rules and laws. Also, set up the national government
4.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
4.2.1. John Dickinson drafted and wrote the the Articles of Confederation
4.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
4.3.1. 1781-1789 Did not enforce laws well enough this was before the drafting of the Constution
4.4. How is the document structured?
4.4.1. Started with a preamble and included thirteen articles
4.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
4.5.1. 1. Weak National Government
4.5.1.1. 2. Each state had one vote
4.5.2. 3. States had lots of powers Congress was limited
4.5.2.1. 4. To amend a law all the 13 states had to agree
4.5.3. 5. Very unsuccessful and did not enforce laws well
5. Bill of Rights
5.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
5.1.1. States everyones natural born rights
5.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
5.2.1. George Mason and James Madison
5.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
5.3.1. 1776-now
5.4. How is the document structured?
5.4.1. Stated 10 amendments of every USA citizen
5.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
5.5.1. 1. States everyones natural born rights
5.5.1.1. 2. Your rights cannot be taken away
5.5.2. 3. 10 amendments
5.5.2.1. 4. Freedom of religion, press, and speech
5.5.3. 5. Right to bear arms
6. Federalist Papers
6.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
6.1.1. 85 articles promoting ratification of Constitution
6.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
6.2.1. James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton
6.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
6.3.1. 1787-1789
6.4. How is the document structured?
6.4.1. 85 articles
6.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
6.5.1. 1. helped promote constituion
6.5.1.1. 2. 85 articles support benefits
6.5.2. 3. wrote after revolutionary war
6.5.2.1. 4. Alexander Hamilton wrote over 60% of the notes
6.5.3. 5. Had an immediate impact on ratification debate
7. Anti-Federalist Papers
7.1. What is the general purpose of this document?
7.1.1. To not ratify the Constution
7.2. Who was responsible for writing it?
7.2.1. Anti-federalist party who did not want the Constution
7.3. What time frame was/is the document significant?
7.3.1. 1787-1789
7.4. How is the document structured?
7.4.1. articles each bringing the bad effects of the Constitution if it was drafted
7.5. What are the top 5 most important things we need to know about this document?
7.5.1. 1. did not want constitution 2. worked against the constitution 3. stated reasons why the constitution was bad 4. government should have less interference in government 5. Anti-federalists were usually poorer people in the sates like farmers who wern't as important as wealthier people