One summer in Philadelphia

Chapter 6-3 “We the People” A MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA Along with widespread economic problems, Shays’s Rebellion forced some Americans to consider the future of the Confederation Congress and republican government itself.

Two concerns Americans had were, “did allowing the people to rule mean that they would resort to violence whenever their government did something they disliked and would debtors get out of paying their debts whenever they gained control of the legislature?”

Some political leaders and business people considered reforms, or improvements to the Articles. After a series of meetings they called for a gathering of representatives from all the states to discuss the national government.

Congress approved the proposal and 12 of the states agreed to send delegates to the meeting. May 25, 1787, the delegates gathered at the Pennsylvania State House for the first session of the Constitutional Convention. George Washington was elected President of the meeting. It was also decided to keep the proceedings secret until they had completed their work.

James Madison decided to keep careful notes James Madison decided to keep careful notes. He was not only a leading Patriot (and future President) he had helped write Virginia’s constitution. These notes give us a thorough account of the speeches and events at the convention.

REPRESENTATION: CONFLICT AND COMPROMISE Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph presented a set of resolutions that would create a new system of government instead of merely revising the Articles of Confederation. Madison helped to draft the Virginia Plan.

The Virginia Plan proposed that the “league of friendship” among the states become a truly national government. The Virginia Plan provided for a central government with three separate branches. There would be an executive and a bicameral or two house legislature. "League of Friendship"

It also suggested that state population determine The plan also mentioned a system of national courts. It also suggested that state population determine representation in both houses of the legislature. Members of the legislature would then choose the executive.

This plan was favored by delegates from states who had large populations. States with smaller populations were uneasy because they feared that the heavily populated states would take control of the new government. In mid-June, William Paterson offered the New Jersey Plan. Mid-

A set of delegates from states with small populations proposed to continue the one-state, one-vote system used under the Articles. The delegates rejected the New Jersey Plan and decided to continue their discussions using the Virginia Plan as he model for the new government.

VIRGINIA PLAN Favored by the large states Population determines representation in both houses of the legislature. Proposed by Edmund Randolph

NEW JERSEY PLAN Favored by the small States. One state one vote Proposed by William Paterson

The smaller states fought against the Virginia Plan for weeks and threatened to break up the convention. Finally, the delegates accepted the Great Compromise. Population would determine representation in the national VS

legislature’s lower house, while each state would have an equal vote in the upper house. = Upper House Lower House

THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY The next argument for the delegates was over the issue of slavery. Specifically whether or not slaves should count towards a state’s population. The northern delegates feared counting slaves would give southern states to much power and encourage slavery

Southern delegates insisted that slaves be counted in a state’s population to give the South more votes in the legislature. The delegates agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise. It set up a system of counting “the whole number of free persons” and three-fifths of “all other Southern delegates insisted that slaves be counted in a state’s population to give the South more votes in the legislature. The delegates agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise. It set up a system of counting “the whole number of free persons” and three-fifths of “all other

persons. ” -slaves, for the purposes of representation persons.” -slaves, for the purposes of representation. Also, it allowed for the importation of new slaves until 1808 and the return of run away slaves. Many delegates were prejudiced or had an unreasonable opinion unsupported by facts.

Many delegates also thought that individual states should decide the issue of slavery. Also many delegates from the north and south were slave holders. Most delegates believed that they had to accept the existence of slavery if they wanted to form a truly united nation

The delegates believed that if they threatened slavery some of the Southern states would not join the Union.

FORMING A GOVERNMENT The delegates eventually wrote a constitution that described the powers and shape of the new government. It consisted of three main parts. 1)The legislative branch- to write the laws.

2) The executive branch- to carry out the laws. 3) A judicial branch- to interpret the laws. It also outlined various processes, i.e. making treaties and electing government officials.

The legislature. The most powerful part of the new government The legislature. The most powerful part of the new government. Would not be controlled by a monarch or a prime minister. The lower house, or the House of Representatives, would act on behalf of the people. The upper house, or the Senate, would give the executive advice and consent on appointments and foreign treaties.

The presidency. It was one of the most important results of the convention, the creation of a powerful executive branch. After much debate on the power of the new office, they decided on a strong executive, a president who would act as the head of state. Many assumed this would be George Washington which is why they gave the office so much power. To create a way of choosing his successor they created the Electoral College.

The judiciary. The Constitution established a system of national courts that would be separate from those of the individual states. It only mentioned a “supreme” court, but it also allowed for the creation of lower courts. Congress decides the number of judges on the Supreme Court and the actual number of lower courts.

“THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND” The Constitution replaced the articles “league of friendship” with a national government. The Constitution divided power between state and national governments in a system known as federalism.

In the end it fixed many problems of the Articles In the end it fixed many problems of the Articles. Because the “People” were creating a “more perfect Union,” the Constitution would “promote the general Welfare” by supplying the national unity lacking under the Articles.

POWERS RESERVED TO THE STATES Right to tax their citizens. Control public education. Punish criminals. Make all sorts of local regulations.

POWERS RESERVED TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Collect Tariffs and other taxes on goods. Regulate interstate and international trade. Coin money. Maintain an army and navy.