The US is in a depression due to the Revolutionary War. Economics slow/Trade drops Unemployment increased Money in the government used to pay of foreign debts Convention and Compromise

Shay’s Rebellion 1786 angry farmers lash out and force courts in western Massachusetts to close so judges could not take a farmers’ land. Daniel Shay is the leader ( former Connecticut army captain) Shay leads farmers to the arsenal in Spring field but is stopped by the state militia who fire and kill four rebels. May Americans worried that the government could not control the unrest and violence in the country

Issue of Slavery Between 1776 and states outlawed importation of slaves. Georgia and South Carolina abstained 1774 Quakers in Pennsylvania organize the first anti-slavery Society which led to the freeing of enslaved people within 6 years Between 1783 and 1804 Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey also passed laws against slavery All of this led to African Americans establishing their own schools, churches and mutual aide societies where they attended but were not given the right to vote.

Slavery in the South The south still hung onto the institution of slavery as the plantation system could not produce without them Virginia passed a law that encouraged Manumission or the freeing of individual enslave people which lead to a growth in population Result: North and South Divided and it would lead to years of debate, bloodshed, and ultimately a war to settle the issue

A call for change We had 13 states but not a nation Many wanted individual state governments that resembled the Colonial Times Other felt the need for a strong National Government as a solution to the increasing problems James Madison vs Alexander Hamilton (planter &lawyer) Once Washington agreed to attend the Convention in Philadelphia the significance of creating a new government was increased and the change from Articles of Confederation went in to the Constitutional Convention phase

The Constitutional Convention Meet in Philadelphia in May of 1787 George Washington is chosen to preside over the meetings 55delegates attended from all occupations Three delegates were under 30 and one was over 80 Ben Franklin Native Americans, African Americans, Women or the uneducated were not allowed to be part of the process Madison became the Father of the Constitution because he wrote the basic plan of government adopted by the delegates

The Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph proposed that the delegate create a strong National Government He introduces the Virginia Plan written by James Madison Tow house legislature (upper house and lower house) Chief executive to be chosen by the courts and legislation Members of lower house elected by the people The members of the upper house chosen by the lower house Number of representatives should be proportional to the population Smaller state immediately rejected this

The New Jersey Plan Keeps the Confederations one house idea with one vote for each state Congress could set taxes and regulate trade (powers not given under the AOC Congress could elect a weak executive branch consisting of more than one person Plan only devised to amend the original Articles of Confederation

Compromise Wins All agreed on June 19 th to write a National Government Plan based on the Virginia plan Issue of representation proved to be difficult

Steps to Compromise Franklin appoints a Grand Committee to resolve disagreements Roger Sherman Suggests what is know as the Great Compromise in which two or more sides agree to give up something to gain something else Proposed two house legislature House of Representatives and Senate HOR Seats vary according to population (property is counted for taxes and not population ie. Slaves) Senate each state has two members

The Three-Fifths Compromise Should slave be counted as population? Agreement –every five slaves would count for three free persons On July 12 th it was voted that this was how the house would get delegates and each state would receive 2 senators Slavery was not interfered with until 1808 as part of the original Constitution

Bill of Rights Proposed by George Madison to be included in the Constitution The reason was to insure personal rights without having the government be able to abuse its power It was defeated during the original convention

Approval of The Constitution In September of 1787 delegated assemble in Philadelphia to sign Franklin called for an approval of the document Three refuse to sign: Gerry, Randolph and Mason Gerry and Madison refused without a Bill of Rights Randolph calls for a Second Constitutional Convention and the draft is sent to the states for consideration as an amendment of the AOC requires a unanimous vote among the states

Frustration Delegates change the approval process to 9 out of 13 states having to agree Alas it passes