Steps to US Constitution 1781: Articles of Confederation take effect 1787: Constitutional Convention to “fix” weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 1789: New Congress Convenes under the current Constitution 1791: Bill of Rights added to Constitution

Important Terms Ratify—to approve Framers—delegates present at the writing of the Constitution Bill of Rights—list of basic rights of the people Federalists—approved the ratification of the Constitution Anti-federalists—did not approve of the ratification of the Constitution.

Compromises at the Convention Compromises allow for the varied needs of States

The Great Compromise Virginia v. New Jersey

Side: Virginia Plan (Large States) Goals: 3 branches (leg, exec, judicial) Congress-bicameral Representation based on population

Side: Virginia Plan (Large States) Reasons: Wanted a truly NATIONAL government w/ greatly expanded powers and the power to enforce its decisions Gave more power to the large states that were expected to dominate the new government

Side: New Jersey Plan (Small States) Goals: Unicameral Congress Equal representation of states Congress given limited powers to tax and regulate trade between states

Side: New Jersey Plan (Small States) Reasons: Make small states equally important as large states Feared protecting their interests

Results of the Great Compromise Also called Connecticut Compromise 3 branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) Bicameral legislature (Congress) House of Representatives—representation based on population—benefited large states Senate—Equal representation (two per state) -benefited small states

Three-Fifths Compromise Representation and Taxes Should slaves be counted when determining the population of a state?

Side: Southern States Goals: Count slaves in the population in order to boost their numbers (reminder: slaves had no rights at this time!) Reasons: Increase their population for the sake of the House of Representatives (more people meant more votes)

Side: Northern States Goals: Do not count slaves in population Reasons: Did not want South to have more representation in Congress

Results 3/5 Compromise said that all free people counted in the population Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person (every 3 out of 5 slaves were counted)

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Tariffs and Servitude

Side: Southern States Goals: Protect the agricultural South Protect Slave Trade Reasons: Afraid Congress would try to regulate the slave trade and pay for the new government with export duties (from Southern tobacco)

Side: Northerners Goals: Protect Northern Commercial Interests Reasons: Afraid new taxes would burden businesses

Results of the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any state Congress also forbidden the power to act on the slave trade for at least 20 years

Bundle of Compromises Constitution was drafted at Philadelphia and is called the bundle of compromises because they settle the differences of opinions of delegates from 12 different states

Ratification of the Constitution

Federalists Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution. They wanted a strong national government

Anti-federalists Opposed the ratification of the Constitution They disliked the increased power given to the national government. They also disliked the lack of a bill of rights.

Ratification process The constitution called for 9 of the 13 states to ratify. While 9 of 13 did originally ratify, New York and Virginia did not—states with the largest populations. Because of the this the Constitution did not actually go into effect until NY and VA ratified.