1. Chapter 5
Section 3

2. Constitutional Convention
Feb Confederation Congress invites each state to send delegates to Philadelphia to improve the Articles of Confederation.
May 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.

3. The Delegates Most were well educated
Many had served in their state legislatures
George Washington elected president of the convention
Ben Franklin and James Madison present
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams absent
No women, African Americans or Native Americans

4. Great Compromise Several issues divided the delegates
Some only wanted small changes in the Art. Of Confederation
Some want to rewrite it totally
Small and Large states had different goals and ideas about representation, tariffs, and slavery
Delegates disagreed over the strength of the national government

5. Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph of Virginia presented plan
Proposed sovereignty (supreme power) to the central government
Bicameral (2 houses) legislature~chosen by population
Big states favor this plan

6. New Jersey Plan William Paterson presented
Unicameral ( one house) legislature
Equal number of votes per state
Federal government would have the power to tax in all states and allowed the government to regulate commerce (trade)
Small states favor this plan

7. Great Compromise Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed
Bicameral ( two house) legislature
Senate-each state has two representatives
House of Representatives-number of representatives based on the population of state

8. Three-Fifths Compromise
Southern delegates wanted slaves counted in the population for representation
Northern delegates wanted slaves counted for taxes but not representation
Compromise-each slave counted as 3/5 person for population ( representation in the House of Representatives)
Example-50 slaves counted as 30 for representation
3/5 compromise

9. Commerce Compromise Foreign slave trade
Some wanted it stopped
Southern states said economy depended on slave trade and would leave the Union if slave trade was immediately ended
Congress’s ability to tax imports and exports were also an issue
Solution: Congress could set tariffs on imports but not exports and importation of slaves would end by 1807
No mention of “slaves” in Constitution

10. Living Constitution Wanted a strong Central Government that protected
Popular Sovereignty-political power belongs to the people
Federalism-balanced power between federal (national) and state governments
All states must obey the Federal government
States have control of: education, local gov., charters for corporations, create and oversee civil laws, must protect the welfare of their citizens

11. Checks and Balances Legislative Branch-makes laws
Senate and House of Representatives
Executive Branch-carries out the laws
President and his departments
Judicial Branch-interprets the laws
Supreme Court and Federal Courts
Checks and Balances help keep one branch from having too much power

12. Constitution Final draft completed September 1787
Only three refused to sign it
Sent to Congress and the states for ratification