The Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention begins May 25,1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Delegates from all the states invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation, which were not working Only RI didn’t attend 55 Delegates attended

Leaders of the Convention George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention. James Madison kept notes of the discussions and is often called “The Father of the Constitution.” The men who wrote the Constitution are called the “Founding Fathers.” All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males.

The Founding Fathers

Issues that divided the Nation’s leaders The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most power? Representation in Congress (How many members on Congress would each state get? – small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?

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 stronger national government with 3 branches. - It called for a unicameral legislature, in which every state received one vote. Virginia Plan Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation Three separate branches of government. – a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch Representation in the legislative branch based on population of state Large states like the plan, small states don’t New Jersey Plan Legislature - has one house. Each state gets one vote. Small states like the plan, the large states hate it. There would have to be a compromise.

Three Braches of the Government Legislative: Makes the laws Judicial: Interpret the laws and settle legal disputes Executive: Carries out the laws Legislative Branch: The U.S. Congress (made up of the House of Representatives & the Senate) Executive Branch: The President, Vice President, and the Cabinet Judicial branch: The U.S. Supreme Court (made up of the Chief Justices and 8 associate Justices) & the Federal Court System Checks and Balances: was built into the new constitution to prevent any of the other branches overpowering the others. Each branch had certain powers to check the others to keep a balance of power.

Georgia’s Role in the Constitutional Convention GA appointed 4 delegates to the convention: William Pierce, William Houstoun, William Few & Abraham Baldwin Only 2 of the appointed delegates stayed until the signing of the US constitution…Abraham Baldwin & William Few Abraham Baldwin helped draft the great compromise Opposed a ban on slavery Wanted a strong central gov’t Baldwin vote with the small states and Houstoun voted with the larger states split GA’s vote This causes a tie at the convention, which opens up the door for a compromise. Which Baldwin helps write and it is known as the Great Compromise

The Great Compromise (The Connecticut 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) Presented at the convention, because there was mush dispute over the plans for setting up the national gov’t by the large and small states as well as Northern and Southern states. The convention reached a completed deadlock over the issue of representation. Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth developed the plan- which is why its called the Connecticut compromise. Which consisted of the idea of proportional representation in the lower house( House of Rep) and Equal representation of the states in the upper house(Senate) * Both houses of Congress must pass every law.

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

Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise Congress could NOT ban slave trade until 1808 Congress given power to regulate interstate and foreign trade Congress could NOT impose export taxes

Ratification of Constitution Anti-Federalists – opposed the Constitution - drew support from those who feared a strong national government Federalists – supported the Constitution To gain support of the Anti-Federalists – Federalists added Bill of Rights

• issuing drivers licenses • establishing marriage laws Powers of the National Government (U.S. Constitution) Powers of the State Governments (ex. Constitution of 1777) • declaring war • coining money • regulating trade • establishing post offices • making treaties with foreign nations • taxes • building roads • establishing courts • making laws • building schools • issuing drivers licenses • establishing marriage laws Virginia Plan Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation Three separate branches of government. – a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch Representation in the legislative branch based on population of state Large states like the plan, small states don’t New Jersey Plan Legislature - has one house. Each state gets one vote. Small states like the plan, the large states hate it. There would have to be a compromise. Shared Powers

End of the Convention • On September 17, 1787, the delegates signed the final draft of the new United States Constitution. On January 2, 1788, Georgia became the 4th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The new national gov’t officially went into effect on March 4, 1789.

After the Constitutional Convention To protect the freedoms of the people, the Bill of Rights were added to guarantee basic human rights.