The Constitutional Convention How did the 13 States create and ratify a new Constitution? Do Now: review – Shays Rebellion what are some obvious weaknesses of the articles of confederation?

What caused Shay’s Rebellion? Shays' Rebellion –A wave of farm foreclosures in western Massachusetts caused rioters over high taxation –The Farmers marched on the commonwealth's supreme court, then broke into the jail to free imprisoned debtors. –Wealthy Bostonians would have to raise the money themselves to create an army to put down the rebellion.

Do Now: Review What were some of the Major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? –States have most of the power. –No executive officer to carry out the laws of congress –No national court –Congress is responsible to the states –9 out of 13 states have to approve a law before it can go into effect –Congress has no power to tax –Congress can not regulate commerce –Each state coins its own money. No national currency

Why did Representatives meet in Annapolis Virginia? The Annapolis Convention To rectify the problems of the Articles of Confederation; five states met in Virginia to discuss the problems with the Articles of Confederation –The convention was a failure –led to the Constitutional convention in 1787

The Constitutional convention: delegates, representing all states except RI met in PA, May 1787, The Goal of the Convention eventually became change –Extending power to the Federal government was the issue; many distrusted government and feared that officials would seize every opportunity to abuse their powers.

How did Small States want the government to be set up? The New Jersey Plan: Braches: Three - The legislature appoints people to serve in the executive branch, and the executive branch selects the justices of the Supreme Court. Legislature: One house (unicameral). States would be represented equally, Other powers: The national government could levy taxes and import duties, regulate trade, etc…

How did Large states want the government to be set up? The Virginia Plan: Branches: Three - The legislature was more powerful, as it chose people to serve in the executive and judicial branches. Legislature: Two houses (bicameral). Both were represented proportionally Other Powers: The legislature could regulate interstate trade, strike down laws deemed unconstitutional and use armed forces to enforce laws.

How did the Delegates in Philadelphia compromise on there differences concerning government? A bicameral legislature, with equal representation in the upper house (the Senate) and in the lower house (House of Representation), representation was based on population

How did the founding fathers deal with the issue concerning slaves and state representation? Northern view: Slaves should not be counted as a person Southern View: Slaves should be counted as a full person Vs. Compromise: slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person

To deal with the peoples fears, the constitutions would set up a system of checks and balances, to guard against abuses in the government.