7.2 Convention and Compromise Limited Government 7.2 Convention and Compromise

Shays’ Rebellion p. 195-196 Farmers could not sell their goods Trouble paying money to states States the seized lands to pay for debt and threw farmers in jail Angry farmers forced courts to close so judges couldn’t take away farmers’ lands A year later, Daniel Shays led farmers to a federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts in search of guns and ammunition State milita ordered them to stop and fired over their heads Militia fired again killing 4 farmers

The Issue of Slavery p. 196-197 Contradiction between the American battle for liberty and the practice of slavery By 1786, 11 states outlawed or heavily taxed importation of slaves 1st American antislavery society = Quakers Manumission = the freeing of individual enslaved persons

The Constitutional Convention p.197-198 Articles too weak to deal with problems of the new nation Initial demand was to reform the Articles Presence of Washington and Franklin allowed people to trust outcome of convention

People John Adams Pushed for a new government as opposed to simply revisiting the Articles James Madison Virginia planter “Father of the Constitution” because he wrote basic plan of government that convention adopted Supported strong national government Notes documented convention’s work Alexander Hamilton New York lawyer Proposed convention in Philadelphia to discuss issues with Articles of Confederation Becomes 1st Secretary of Treasury Benjamin Franklin Oldest person at convention, over 80

James Wilson Did important work on the details of the Constitution Gouverneur Morris Powerful speaker and writer Wrote final draft of Constitution

Meeting Specifics At least 7 of the 13 states needed to be represented to hold meetings Sessions not open to public to ensure delegates could speak freely Who presided over meetings? George Washington How was voting determined during meetings? Each state got one vote on all questions, Simple majority of states present would make decisions

Why is representation important? The more representation the state has… the more say state has in government… the more power state has

Representation issues Representation based on Population Equal Representation Large States Met their needs for representation More people meant more problems, so they should have more say Small States Would have less delegates, and there less power and say in government more fair, everyone’s voice equally heard

Virginia Plan p. 199 Proportional = corresponding in size Edmund Randolph = strong central government Bicameral legislature (2-House legislature) Chief executive chosen by legislature Court system with Supreme Court Members of lower house only would be elected by people Members of upper house chosen by lower house Representation in BOTH houses based on population

Reaction to V. P. Small states objected because they would be outvoted

New Jersey Plan William Paterson = did not want convention to take away smaller states equality that Articles gave them Kept one-house legislature One vote per state Congress could set taxes and regulate trade Congress elect weak executive branch consisting of more than one person Main purpose of this plan was to amend Articles

Reaction to N.J. Plan Many argued to start over as opposed to amend (changes meant to improve) Articles Larger states have more people, which meant more problems

Comparing 2 plans p. 200

The Great Compromise p. 200 Roger Sherman Bicameral (2-house) legislature Lower house = House of Representatives = representation based on population Upper house = Senate = each state would have 2 President chosen by electors

Representation and Slavery Count enslaved people towards population North Banned Did not have slaves, therefore they would have less representation and less power South Essential for economy Having slaves, this gave them the advantage along with more representation and power

Three-fifths Compromise Count each enslaved person as three-fifths of a free person for both taxation and representation OR every 3 out of 5 slaves counted towards population Agreed that Congress could not interfere with slave trade until 1808

Bill of Rights Several delegates worried that the Constitution was not enough and wanted to ensure that individual rights were protected more explicitly George Mason worried that the national government would abuse its powers Proposed a bill of rights to protect individual rights His proposal was defeated He and a few other delegates refused to sign the Constitution without a bill of rights

Debate Strongest criticism: NO bill of rights to protect individual freedoms Several states refused to ratify until a bill of rights was added Eventually passed 10 Amendments, which became known as the Bill of Rights in 1791 Amendment = something added to a document that changes the original wording

Ratification Final draft of Constitution was signed on: September 17, 1787 States needed to ratify (pass) the Constitution before it became law Based on Articles of Confederation, 9 of 13 states were required to ratify (pass) the Constitution It was ratified by June 1788 and went into effect 1789