The Constitutional Convention A Few Problems to Sort Out

A Little Background… Many people across the new nation, especially farmers, merchants, and veterans were frustrated with the Articles of Confederation A convention was called in 1787 to fix the failing Articles of Confederation The convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787 Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Delegates from 12 states attended most of the meetings

Who’s Who at the Convention? Alexander Hamilton Delegate from New York A Strict Federalist George Washington Unanimously elected president of the convention Former leader of the Continental Army

James Madison Roger Sherman Benjamin Franklin Delegate from Virginia Considered the ‘father of the constitution’ because of all the notes he kept Roger Sherman Delegate from Connecticut Helped to develop the ‘great compromise’ Benjamin Franklin Delegate from Pennsylvania Famous diplomat (travelled to foreign countries)

Issues facing the Convention How should people be represented in government? What should Congress look like? What should people do about slavery?

Representation The Virginia Plan Proposed by Edmund Randolph Wanted a bicameral (two house) Congress States would gain representatives based on the population Wanted for a national government that consisted of three branches with supreme power Legislative, executive, judicial Supported by the larger states of the south

Representation The New Jersey Plan One house Congress (unicameral) All states have an equal vote (this was similar to the Articles of Confederation) States were thought of as independent Support by the small states

The Great Compromise Suggested by Roger Sherman Decided on a bicameral legislation (Congress) The House of Representatives Based on state’s population Senate Represented by an equal number from each state

• It provided for a bicameral Congress. Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan - It called for a bicameral legislature, in which the number of representatives in each house would depend on the population of the state. - Both plans called for a strong national government with 3 branches. - It called for a unicameral legislature, in which every state received one vote. Great Compromise • It provided for a bicameral Congress. A. House of Representatives – each state is represented according to its population (satisfied the VA Plan) B. Senate – each state has 2 Senators (satisfied the NJ Plan) * Both houses of Congress must pass every law.

Should slaves count in the population? The south wanted to count slaves as part of their population because it would increase their representatives The northern states did not want this What should be done?!?!

The Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise For every five slaves, the state would receive a count of three people towards their representatives Created by James Wilson and Roger Sherman

Three-Fifths Compromise • In order to determine the population of a state, only 3 out of every 5 slaves would be counted.

…But What About Trade? Southern states wanted the states to have control over the regulation of trade Feared a national ban on the slave trade Feared a duty (or tax) on agricultural exports Northern States wanted the national government to regulate trade Wanted the national government to be able to collect tariffs and duties

Another Problem!?!? Almost every single state could agree that there was a new for strong central figures, like the president However, the issue of how to elect the new president, and about how that office should be served arose

Southern States Wanted the state legislations to elect the president Wanted the president to serve a short term Wanted a limit on the number of terms a president could serve

Northern States Wanted the direct election of the president by qualified voters Wanted a longer term for the president Did not want any limits on the number of terms a president could serve

Presidential Compromise Indirect election of the president by the Electoral College 4 year term No limit on the number of terms* * A two limit term was added by the 22nd amendment in 1951

Final Results Three branches of government House of Representatives Population Senate Equal representation Slaves count at 3/5 in population

More Results Federal regulation of interstate and international trade No export duties for 20 years No slave bans for 20 years President is elected by the Electoral College 4 year term No limit on number of terms

Your Job! You are a reporter just about to break the story about the new US Constitution. You must report on: Who is involved What were the main issues dealt with What were the proposed plans What was the final solution Your article must be at least TWO paragraphs, or 8-10 sentences, long