The Road to the Constitution The Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention Began on May 25, 1787 Held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA 55 delegates attended (8 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 7 state governors, and 41 previous members of the Continental Congress)

Convention Continued George Washington was chosen to preside over the convention. Each state was given one vote; a simple majority would pass motions. The work was done in secret.

What type of government to create? There were two major proposals: The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan

The Virginia Plan Written by James Madison This proposal would have created a government that included a president, a court system, and a bicameral legislature . The representation in each house of the legislature would be based upon the state’s population. This plan favored the larger states.

The New Jersey Plan Written by William Patterson This plan would create a government very similar to the one that had been established under the Articles of Confederation. There would be a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation and equal votes. The national government would have the power to set and collect taxes and regulate trade. It would also have an executive and judicial branch.

The Great Compromise This was created by Roger Sherman of Connecticut. This established a bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives). Senate- Each state would have equal representation (2). Designed to represent the interest of the states. House of Representatives- The number of representatives would be based upon the state’s population. Designed to represent the interests of the people.

Three-Fifths Compromise Slavery existed during the time of the Constitutional Convention. More than 550,000 people were enslaved (mostly in the South). The Southern states wanted the slave population to count for the purposes of representation in Congress.

Continued The Northern states opposed the idea. The compromise that was reached counted every five enslaved persons as three free persons for the purposes of representation in Congress and the amount of taxation that would be assessed to the states. This provision in the Constitution was nullified with the passage of the 13th Amendment following the Civil War.

September 17, 1787 39 of the 42 remaining delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. However, before it could truly go into effect it would have to be ratified by at least 9 of the 13 states.

Debate over the Constitution Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists The Federalists were supporters of the Constitution. They argued that the United States would not survive without a strong central government. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay authored the Federalist Papers in support of ratifying the Constitution.

Continued The Anti-Federalists were those who were opposed to the Constitution. They argued that the Constitution created a strong central government at the expense of the states. They also argued that there was no bill of rights protecting individual freedoms. Well known Anti-Federalists included: Patrick Henry, Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry.

Ratification The Federalists eventually agreed that a bill of rights was necessary and promised that it would be added if the Constitution was approved. The LAST State to ratify the constitution was RHODE ISLAND.

Federalists vs. Anti-federalists A. Federalists: Favored ratification. Wanted a strong national government. B. Anti-federalists: opposed ratification and wanted a weak national government. Feared that a strong national government would threaten people’s rights.

Federalists vs. Antifederalists supported the Constitution opposed the Constitution believed that the Constitution made the national government too strong and states too weak wanted a strong national government and weaker state governments believed in the need for a strong executive branch thought that the President had too much power

Formation of the Bill of Rights • Federalists, such as Alexander Hamilton, were against the Bill of Rights, claiming it was unnecessary since all state constitutions already had a bill of rights. They wrote about it in the FEDERALIST PAPERS. Alexander Hamilton: Against the Bill of Rights Thomas Jefferson: Favored the Bill of Rights

• James Madison wrote the first ten amendments in 1791, which are known as the Bill of Rights. James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights and 4th President of the United States.

THE ONLY WAY FEDERALISTS GOT THE ANTI-FEDERALISTS TO RATIFY THE CONSTITUTION WAS TO ADD THE BILL OF RIGHTS!

On June 21, 1788 New Hampshire became the 9th state to approve the Constitution. The Constitution took effect and eventually the other four states would ratify it as well.