The Constitutional Convention Section 7.2 The Constitutional Convention
Why it matters Weaknesses of the AOC prompted a meeting to revise the Articles. The realization that the AOC was too weak to help the nation, the delegates created a new framework of government The Constitution is born
Rhode Island did not send any representatives The Delegates 55 delegates from 12 states Rhode Island did not send any representatives Washington becomes president of convention
Virginia plan Edmund Randolph Called for central government to have 3 branches Judicial, Executive and Legislative Branches Randolph proposed executive branch appoint 3 people to serve as chief executive Many delegates argued one chief executive would be able to get urgent action when needed
A Two-House Legislature Lower House and an Upper House Should the state legislative elect both houses because people could be misled Why did some founding fathers fear the public would not make the right choice for the legislative Branch members?
The great compromise Virginia Plan called for representation based on population Larger states would have the edge over smaller states
New jersey plan Smaller states wanted each state to have the same number of votes in Congress as the larger states like represented in the AOC The New Jersey Plan called for a single house of Congress with equal representation Emotions grew stronger as the days got hotter STUCK
TERMS OF THE COMPROMISE Roger Sherman of Connecticut Two-House legislative with upper and lower house Upper house called Senate will have two seats for each state Lower House called House of Representatives will have members based on population of the state This pleased the small states
Debates over slavery Slavery is a very hot subject Three-fifths Compromise: For every 5 slaves, they would be counted as 3 for representation African Americans believed this compromise would preserve slavery = 5 slaves counted as 3 people for representation for House of Representatives
Slave trade Many Northern states wanted to ban slave trade Southern states protested with the fear that their economic base would be ruined Compromise: Importation of slaves allowed for 20 years and after 1808 Congress could bar trade Slave trade in the Union would not be affected
A New constitution Gouverneur Morris was responsible for writing the Preamble Preamble recognizes the difference between AOC and Constitution AOC was a pact between states Constitution takes it powers from the people “We the People”
Primary source from Ben Franklin “I agree to this Constitution with all its faults”. ? Did Ben believe this was the best form of government? ? What faults do you think he was referring to in this quote?
Ben Franklin quote on the constitution soapstone The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. Benjamin Franklin What does this mean to you?