From the Convention to Ratification The U.S. Constitution From the Convention to Ratification
The Mount Vernon Meeting Meeting called by George Washington 1785 to discuss trade Maryland and Virginia attended Led to a call for interstate meeting the following year
Annapolis Convention 1786 Convention called by Virginia to discuss regulation of commerce 5 states attended Led to a call to meet in Philadelphia to discuss changes to the Articles Independence Hall, Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Convention Called for the “express purpose of revising the Articles” Decided to start over rather than revise Closed all sessions to outsiders to allow freer expression
The Delegates Average age was 42 Most had studied law Most had served in state government, or the federal Congress They were well versed in Enlightenment political thought
Who WAS present? George Washington Presided over the convention His reputation brought dignity and respect for the work produced
Who WAS present Benjamin Franklin The oldest delegate to the convention Brokered many of the compromises What kind of government? “A republic, if you can keep it”
Who WAS present? Alexander Hamilton Strongly nationalistic Put forward a draft plan that resembled British government
Who WAS present? James Madison “Father of the Constitution” Kept daily notes of the proceedings Co-sponsored the “Virginia Plan” or large state plan
Who WAS present? George Mason of Virginia Author of Virginia’s Bill of Rights Proposed creating a national Bill of Rights
Who was NOT present? Patrick Henry of Virginia He chose not to attend because he “smelt a rat” Feared strong national government at the expense of the states
Who was NOT present? Thomas Jefferson of Virginia Was in France at the time serving as America’s minister to France
Who was NOT present? John Adams of Massachusetts Was serving as minister to England at the time of the convention
Who was NOT present? Samuel Adams of Massachusetts Worked in the state of Massachusetts on the state constitution Initially opposed the Constitution, but came to support ratification
Divisions of Power Federal System: national vs. state Delegated Powers: given to national govt. Reserved Powers: reserved to state govt. Concurrent Power: Both National and State Limited Government: limited by Constitution
Painting by Howard Chandler Christy: “Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States” It hangs in the House of Representatives side of the Capitol building Washington is standing behind the desk Richard Dobbs Spaight of North Carolina is signing the document (behind him and stepping up are the other two N.C. delegates) Franklin is sitting in the front. To his right is Hamilton, to his left, Madison The secretary of the convention raises four fingers (William Jackson) probably beckoning the South Carolina delegates to come and sign The Painting was done about 150 years after the signing
Foresight of the Forefathers? Convention made the Constitution flexible enough to adapt to the future Elastic Clause Amendment Process
Ratification Debate The Constitution was submitted to the states to be ratified Immediately, this escalated into a major debate over the Constitution FEDERALISTS supported it ANTI-FEDERALISTS opposed it
Federalists Included those that wanted a stronger central government Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote a series of anonymous essays: The Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalists Opposed the constitution for a variety of reasons No Bill of Rights Fear of strong central/executive authority Weakening of state governments