The Constitutional Convention of 1787 The Issues

The Framers of the new Constitution... Agreed (in theory) on all of the following EXCEPT: Popular sovereignty Representative government Limited government The need for a stronger national government The details of how to carry out the above.

Economic issues: The Framers agreed that a strong national government was needed to promote economic stability and end economic chaos. As an economic elite (of sorts), they were more likely than the average citizen to: Be concerned that debtors, rather than creditors, were gaining too much power in the states Be concerned that cheap paper money being coined by the states would wipe out creditors Be concerned with the trade barriers among the states. All of the above.

Economic issues, continued. . . With little disagreement, the Framers agreed to give Congress (the national government): the power to tax (with some limitations) the exclusive (states were prohibited from coining money or issuing paper money) right to coin money and regulate its value the power to establish uniform bankruptcy laws the power to punish counterfeiting and protect copyrights and patents the power to pay debts and borrow money Create standard weights and measures All of the above None of the above

Areas of disagreement included: Representation Slavery Regulation of commerce Term and selection of the executive Voting qualifications All of the above

Issue: Representation in Congress (not a question) This issue was the first major obstacle that had to be overcome by the delegates. The sides in the issue: Supporters of the New Jersey plan called for each state to be equally represented in the new Congress. Supporters of the Virginia plan wanted representation based on population or financial contribution.

The Connecticut or Great Compromise called for: ???? representation in a unicameral Congress based on population. representation in a unicameral Congress based on equality among the States representation in a bicameral Congress based on financial contribution in the lower House and equality of states in the upper House Representation in a bicameral Congress based on population in the lower house (House of Rep.) and equality of states in the upper house (2 Senators per state)

The slavery issue (not a ?): One issue related to slavery was how the slave population would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation. Slave states wanted slaves to be counted for representation but not for taxation. Nonslave states said slaves should not be counted for representation but should be counted for taxation.

The issues was settled by: Abolishing slavery in the United States in the new Constitution Not counting slaves for either represen-tation or taxation purposes. Counting slaves as only 3/5ths of a person for both representation and taxation purposes Counting slaves for taxation only.

The 3/5ths Compromise . . . Ensured that all men were treated equally under the law. Built inequality, rather than equality, into the U.S. Constitution Ensured that slaves would be treated as human beings Ended discrimination in the U.S.

Issue: Regulation of Commerce (not a ?) Most agreed that the national government needed to regulate commerce . . . but to what degree and how? Slave states worried that the new government would be dominated by nonslave states and would pass laws to end the importation of slaves and slavery itself.

Issue: Regulation of Commerce (not a ?) Southern states also feared that a northern dominated Congress would try to interfere with the southern states’ lucrative trade with other nations Southern states feared that the new Congress would tax its exports of cotton and raw materials and place tariffs on imported goods from other nations The North wanted to give Congress the power.

The Commerce and Slave trade compromise: Congress given the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. Congress was not allowed to limit or ban the slave trade for at least 25 years (1808) All of the above Congress could not tax exports Regulation of intrastate trade was left to the states

The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise: Put off the issue of abolishing the slave trade for at least a quarter of a century. Kept slavery intact in the United States via the new Constitution Prevented Congress from regulating commerce within a state. All of the above. None of the above

Issue: Selection and term of President (not a ?) There were varied views on the selection of the president. Some delegates wanted direct popular election and a two year term. Hamilton wanted a monarchy for life with Washington as king. Others wanted the Congress to pick the President

A stronger executive? (Not a ?) Most of the delegates realized that stronger executive power was needed. Widespread respect for George Washington whom everyone correctly expected to be the first President allayed the fears of many concerning an executive becoming a tyrant.

Decision on how the president would be selected? direct popular election by the people. an electoral college with electors voting as free agents Selection by Congress

Decision on presidential term: 2 year term with limit of only being elected twice 4 year term with a limit of being elected twice. 4 year term with no limits on reelection. 4 year term with limit of being elected to only two consecutive terms.

Decisions about voting: Only white male property owners were given the right to vote in the new Constitution. Citizenship, 18+ years of age, registration and residency requirements were written into the new Constitution. Voting rights were left up to the states and not included in the new Constitution.

The compromises made at the. . . Constitutional Convention of 1787 made it possible for the document to be completed by September, 1787. Without agreement and compromise on these key issues, the outcome and our nation could have been very different. Not a question! Just info you need to know.

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