Chapter 5: Shaping A New Nation Section 2: Drafting the Constitution

A. Nationalists Strengthen The Government 1787- Daniel Shays led Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts. Shays & poor farmers unable to pay taxes=land being confiscated Rebelled against gov’t & attempted to stop court proceedings and land confiscations. National government unable to respond. Causing many to worry the government could not protect itself from its own citizens.

A. Nationalists Strengthen the Government Plans were made for a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation May 1787- delegates from twelves states met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. One delegate, James Madison from Virginia came to the convention with a new plan for a new government known as the Virginia Plan Recommended throwing out the Articles and writing a new constitution Three branch government Bicameral (two house) Congress with states represented by population.

B. Conflict Leads to Compromise The Virginia Plan was adopted by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention, but there were many disagreements and problems to be worked out. There was a huge debate over representation in Congress The large states wanted representation to be based on population and felt that states with more people should get more votes. Smaller states wanted representation to be determined by equality so they would not be constantly overpowered by the large states. This argument nearly caused the convention to fall apart before a compromise was reached.

B. Conflict Leads To Compromise The Great Compromise- agreed the lower house of Congress (House of Representatives) would be based on population. The House of Representatives would also be elected by the people. The upper house of Congress (Senate) would be based on equality. The Senate would be chosen by state legislatures.

B. Conflict Leads to Compromise This solved the dispute over representation, but a new problem over slavery developed. Southern states wanted to count slaves as part of their populations. Northern states knew this would mean the South would overpower other regions. Agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise- slaves would count as three-fifths of a non-slave when determining representation.

C. Creating a New Government The Constitution creates a federal system, or a government based on federalism. Federalism- division of power between national and state government Also based on separation of powers, meaning there are three branches of government.

C. Creating a New Government Executive Branch (President)- enforces or carries out the law. Legislative Branch (Congress)- makes or writes the law Judicial Branch (Court System)- interprets or explains the law

C. Creating a New Government To further prevent concentration and abuse of power, a system of checks and balances was implemented. This system gives each branch of government checks on the others’ power to make sure that no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

C. Creating a New Government EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Can veto laws made by Congress Can introduce legislation President appoints justices to the Supreme Court Can grant pardons.

C. Creating a New Government LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Congress can override a Presidential veto Can impeach the President Must approve Presidential appointments Can amend the Constitution Can impeach judges

C. Creating a New Government JUDICIAL BRANCH Supreme Court can strike down an act of the President that is unconstitutional Supreme Court can strike down an act of Congress that is unconstitutional

C. Creating a New Government Delegates also argued over the process by which to elect a President because many felt the average citizen could not be trusted to make a wise choice. As a Compromise, the Electoral College was created Each state would have a group of electors (determined by the number of their representatives and Senators) that would cast votes for the President.