Constitutional Convention & Ratification The Delegates Rhode Island did not participate Began May 25, 1787 55 delegates (members representing states) 8 signed Dec. of Ind. 7 state governors 39 members of Continental Congress No women, Native Americans, African Americans Ben Franklin was oldest Future presidents George Washington & James Madison were there Other key leaders were not there Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were serving the U.S. government in Europe

Constitutional Convention & Ratification Rules & Procedures Washington was selected to lead meeting Each state got one vote 7 votes (of 12) would decide issues All proceedings would be secret Windows & doors guarded & closed Main record we have is James Madison’s personal notes Quickly began to realize that fixing the Articles of Confederation wouldn’t work – U.S. needed a new plan of government

Constitutional Convention & Ratification Plans for structuring the government Representation of states Virginia Plan Called for federal gov’t with president, courts, congress with 2 parts (houses) Population would decide how many votes states have Populated states like this; smaller states didn’t New Jersey Plan Similar to Articles of Confederation – 1 house congress, each state 1 vote, committee instead of president Smaller states liked this Great Compromise (also called Connecticut Compromise) A compromise is an agreement where each side gives up something but gains something else Roger Sherman proposed – 2 houses of congress – in 1 house state population determines votes, in other house 2 equal votes per state No group fully satisfied, but all agreed

Constitutional Convention & Ratification The Three-Fifths Compromise In 1787, more than 550,000 African slaves, mostly in south Counting them in population would give southern states more votes in Congress Northern states did not want slaves counted Compromise – 3 of every 5 slaves would count for population for representation in Congress (yet they wouldn’t be considered citizens or be eligible to vote themselves)

Constitutional Convention & Ratification The ratification process and debate Completed September 17, 1787 Needed to be ratified (approved) Each state had own meeting 9 of 13 states had to ratify for Constitution to take effect Federalists supported Constitution & strong federal (nat’l) gov’t Anti-Federalists opposed Constitution Believed nat’l gov’t would ignore rights of states, overpower them Wanted a list of rights included Compromise again! Bill of Rights would be added as soon as ratified New Hampshire was 9th state to ratify in 1788 – Constitution took full effect, Rhode Island was 13th to ratify in 1790