Chapter 5 Section 3

Constitutional Convention Feb. 1787 Confederation Congress invites each state to send delegates to Philadelphia to improve the Articles of Confederation. May 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.

The Delegates Most were well educated Many had served in their state legislatures George Washington elected president of the convention Ben Franklin and James Madison present Thomas Jefferson and John Adams absent No women, African Americans or Native Americans

Great Compromise Several issues divided the delegates Some only wanted small changes in the Art. Of Confederation Some want to rewrite it totally Small and Large states had different goals and ideas about representation, tariffs, and slavery Delegates disagreed over the strength of the national government

Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph of Virginia presented plan Proposed sovereignty (supreme power) to the central government Bicameral (2 houses) legislature~chosen by population Big states favor this plan

New Jersey Plan William Paterson presented Unicameral ( one house) legislature Equal number of votes per state Federal government would have the power to tax in all states and allowed the government to regulate commerce (trade) Small states favor this plan

Great Compromise Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed Bicameral ( two house) legislature Senate-each state has two representatives House of Representatives-number of representatives based on the population of state

Three-Fifths Compromise Southern delegates wanted slaves counted in the population for representation Northern delegates wanted slaves counted for taxes but not representation Compromise-each slave counted as 3/5 person for population ( representation in the House of Representatives) Example-50 slaves counted as 30 for representation 3/5 compromise

Commerce Compromise Foreign slave trade Some wanted it stopped Southern states said economy depended on slave trade and would leave the Union if slave trade was immediately ended Congress’s ability to tax imports and exports were also an issue Solution: Congress could set tariffs on imports but not exports and importation of slaves would end by 1807 No mention of “slaves” in Constitution

Living Constitution Wanted a strong Central Government that protected Popular Sovereignty-political power belongs to the people Federalism-balanced power between federal (national) and state governments All states must obey the Federal government States have control of: education, local gov., charters for corporations, create and oversee civil laws, must protect the welfare of their citizens

Checks and Balances Legislative Branch-makes laws Senate and House of Representatives Executive Branch-carries out the laws President and his departments Judicial Branch-interprets the laws Supreme Court and Federal Courts Checks and Balances help keep one branch from having too much power

Constitution Final draft completed September 1787 Only three refused to sign it Sent to Congress and the states for ratification