The Constitutional Convention 8-3.2 Focus Question: What would it take to finally get the Constitution put in place?

The Articles of Confederation were just not working! With the economy of the United States in serious trouble, the state governments racked by debt, and fear of anarchy spreading throughout the nation, the time had come to rethink the central government that bound the states together.

"Nothing spoken or written can be revealed to anyone — not even your family — until we have adjourned permanently. Gossip or misunderstanding can easily ruin all the hard work we shall have to do this summer." -George Washington, presiding officer Psssst! Keep it a Secret! Most of the delegates at the CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION had already risked being hanged as traitors by the British. No wonder that they worried about their states' reactions to their decision to abandon the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION and create a whole new document!

Keep it a Secret! The Constitution was written in secrecy over the summer of 1787 at the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention. Twelve of the thirteen states were represented. Once the drafters signed the Constitution, as seen here, it began to make a slow path around the states in search of ratification.

South Carolinians played a role in the writing of the Constitution Four men were sent to represent South Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. All were very familiar names in state politics: Pierce Butler, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, and his cousin Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

Compromise was key For the most part, Convention delegates agreed that the United States needed a stronger central government. However, they differed on the best way to achieve this goal. They resolved their differences through compromise, which has become a hallmark of our government.

The Virginia Plan supported the creation of a three branch government. Delegates would debate two plans- The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan The Virginia Plan supported the creation of a three branch government. Large states supported it because it called for representation based on population. SC delegates supported this plan. The New Jersey Plan supported by smaller states called for equal representation for all states.

In the end, delegates supported the Connecticut Plan, or the Great Compromise. This plan blended the two options and created a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the Senate and a lower house called the House of Representatives. Representation in the House would be proportional, while representation in the Senate would be equal; each state would have two senators. This is still how our Congress is organized.

But they weren’t done debating or compromising! The issue of slaves still needed to be tackled

The Great Compromise raised the issue of whether or not slaves should be counted for the purposes of determining representation in the new government. Of course, South Carolina, as a slaveholding state, wanted slaves to be counted. Northern states, many of which were emancipating, or freeing their slaves, did not.

So they agreed on ANOTHER compromise- The Three-fifths Compromise It allowed Southern states to count three out of every five slaves in their population for the purpose of determining representation in the House. South Carolina did not support this compromise.

Regulating exports would be bad for SC And they are still not done compromising and debating! Regulating exports would be bad for SC Cotton Export Rice Export South Carolina delegates were concerned that a stronger national government might attempt to regulate trade. They objected to any regulation of exports since South Carolina made most of its money exporting its cash crops. They also feared any control of the international slave trade through a tax on imports.

And yet another compromise would be reached- the Commerce Compromise It promised that the federal government would not tax exports or attempt to regulate the international slave trade for at least 20 years.

Let’s go home to South Carolina! Although South Carolina delegates did not get everything they wanted in the Constitution, they were satisfied with the new document and returned to South Carolina to lobby for its ratification. Let’s go home to South Carolina!

Political tensions between the Lowcountry and the Upcountry played a prominent role in the ratification of the Constitution. Upcountry Hey! Not fair!!!! Lowcountry The South Carolina ratifying convention was held in Charleston despite the fact that the state capital had already been moved to Columbia.

Anti-FEDERALISTS Backcountry opponents of the new constitution in several states were called the anti-Federalists because they opposed a stronger federal government. They feared that the elite would have too much power in such a government and abuse the rights of the individual. They also feared that the national government would be located far away from the people who had enough trouble influencing their own state government.

Federalists Federalists, argued for a strong government that could be influential in foreign affairs and establish better trade relations that would restore economic stability. Charles Pinckney and other members of the elite were Federalists.

SC ratifies the Constitution The anti-Federalists were outvoted and South Carolina ratified the Constitution, thus making it the 8th state to join the United States of America. Opposition to ratification by anti-Federalists in several states, prompted the Federalists to promise to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.