The Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention and Ratification, 1787–1789 The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation..

Remember… the Articles of Confederation were not working, so the states decided to send delegates back to Philadelphia in May of 1787 to revise them Shays’ Rebellion pointed this out clearly only 12 of the 13 states sent delegates –Rhode Island, the smallest state, decided not to attend for fear that any changes would be based on population and they would lose power

Why didn’t Rhode Island come? Remember: under the Articles of Confederation it took all 13 states to make any changes, so if Rhode Island did not attend no changes could be made!

Who came? 55 delegates attended “Never before or since, has so remarkable a group been brought together in this country” Jefferson, who could not attend because he was overseas, called them “an assembly of demi-gods”

Who came? Men of wealth, privilege, and education Many had fought in the Revolutionary War 39 had been members of the Continental Congress or the Congress of the Confederation 8 served in state constitutional conventions 7 had been state governors 8 had signed the Declaration of Independence 31 had attended college 2 were college presidents 3 were professors 2 would become presidents 1 would become a vice president 17 would become senators 11 would become representatives in the House the average age was 42

Who did not come? Patrick Henry: “smelt a rat” Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Richard Henry Lee: not chosen as delegates by their states Thomas Paine: in Paris Thomas Jefferson: American Minister to France John Adams: American envoy to England and Holland

Lets Get to Work, Men: began on May 25, 1787 immediately set to work on May 28 they agreed to several rules of procedure –majority of states in attendance would be needed to conduct business –each state delegation would have one vote on all matters –a majority of the votes cast would carry any proposal –Deliberations would be kept secret! To protect delegates from outside pressures James Madison kept copious notes that have become the official record of all happenings

Why did we come here ? The original purpose of the convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, however, almost at once the delegates decided that the Articles needed to be abandoned and a new government needed to be created for the United States On May 30 they adopted this proposal: –“Resolved,… that a national government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary.” Edmund Randolph, Delegate from Virginia

Let’s get down to Business… The following slides detail the issues that were before the delegates of the Constitutional Convention and the various views on the issues.

How should we set up our Government? The Plan of the Large States Known as the Virginia Plan Set up a 3 branch government (a President, a Congress, and federal courts) Believed that representation in Congress should be based on population Believed it is fair that states with more people have more votes Favored by states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia

How should we set up our Government? The Plan of the Small States Known as the New Jersey Plan Set up a 3 branch government (a President, a Congress, and federal courts) Believed that each state should b equal like under the Articles of Confederation Believed that Congress should have the ability to tax and regulate trade Made small states equal in power to the large states Favored by Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland

The Compromise on how should we set up our Government? The Great Compromise Roger Sherman of Connecticut came up with a plan to have a two house Congress or legislature. It included a House of Representatives and a Senate The House of Representatives was based on population This pleased the states with large populations = The Senate would have an equal Number of representatives per state Pleased the states with small populations

How should slaves be counted? The View of the North The Northern states believed that because slaves could not vote or participate in government at all that they should not count when calculating representation in Congress

How should slaves be counted? The View of the South The Southern states wanted the 550,000 enslaved people to count toward representation to give the South more voting power in the South

How should slaves be counted? The 3/5 Compromise Every 5 enslaved persons would count as 3 free persons when calculating the population for the purpose of representation in Congress

Should Congress regulate trade? The North’s View Yes trade should be regulated with foreign countries and between states

Should Congress regulate trade? The South’s View The South felt that trade should not be regulated because it feared taxes on exports Why? Because they made their money off selling tobacco and rice They also didn’t want the slave trade stopped because it gave them reduced costs (no labor)

Should Congress regulate trade? The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress can regulate trade but cannot tax any exports Congress cannot interfere with the slave trade before 1808

How should we choose the President? By the People People should choose the President by voting The person with the majority of votes wins.

How should we choose the President? Congress should choose Believed that people were not informed enough to choose the best candidate Believed that their educated representatives would make informed decisions that were in the best interest of the people

How should we choose the President? The Electoral College A group of people that choose the President for a state Step one- People vote Step two- Electors are chosen based on number of votes Step three- The winner of the most electors wins all the electors for that state Example- NC has 13 electors, Bush received all 13 of NC electors in election