Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution

Chapter Outline

Political Philosophers Contributed to the Founders' Ideas

Narrow Interests and Political Conflicts Shaped the First Founding

• British Taxes Hurt Colonial Economic Interests
• Political Strife Radicalized the Colonists
• The Declaration of Independence Explained Why We Wanted to Break with England
• The Articles of Confederation Created Our First National Government

The Failure of the Articles Made the "Second Founding" Necessary

• America's Weakness at Home Made It Weak Abroad
• The Annapolis Convention Was Key to Calling a National Convention
• Shays's Rebellion Showed How Weak the Government Was
• The Constitutional Convention Didn't Start Out to Write a New Constitution

The Constitution Created Both Bold Powers and Sharp Limits on Power

• The Legislative Branch Was Designed to Be the Most Powerful
• The Executive Branch Created a Brand New Office
• The Judicial Branch Was a Check on Too Much Democracy
• National Unity and Power Set the New Constitution Apart from the Old Articles
• The Constitution Established the Process for Amendment
• The Constitution Set Forth Rules for Its Own Ratification
• The Constitution Limits the National Government's Power

Ratification of the Constitution Was Difficult

• Federalists and Antifederalists Fought Bitterly over the Wisdom of the New Document
• Both Federalists and Antifederalists Contributed to the Success of the New System

Constitutional Amendments Dramatically Changed the Relationship between Citizens and the Government

• Amendments: Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen
• The Twenty-Seven Amendments Are about Power and People

Links

Norton Website
College Books
Professional Books
Trade Books
Help Desk

About W. W. Norton

W. W. Norton & Company has been independent since its founding in 1923, when William Warder Norton and Margaret D. Norton first published lectures delivered at the People's Institute, the adult education division of New York City's Cooper Union. The Nortons soon expanded their program beyond the Institute, publishing books by celebrated academics from America and abroad. By mid-century, the two major pillars of Norton's publishing program—trade books and college texts—were firmly established. In the 1950s, the Norton family transferred control of the company to its employees, and today—with a staff of 400 and a comparable number of trade, college, and professional titles published each year—W. W. Norton & Company stands as the largest and oldest publishing house owned wholly by its employees.