Section 1: The Road to the Constitution

Constitutional Convention: By 1787, the Articles of Confederation was obviously not working so each state was asked to send representatives to correct the flaws The convention was held in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall beginning May 1787

INDEPENDENCE HALL

Constitutional Convention: There were 55 delegates from all the states except for Rhode Island (they did not want a big central government) The delegates included Benjamin Franklin (the oldest at age 81), George Washington (who presided over the meeting), and James Madison (who would later become a US President)

Constitutional Convention: More than half the delegates were under the age of 40 with two great qualifications – education and experience

MISSING LEADERS . . . Thomas Jefferson (Rep. in Paris) John Adams (Rep. in London) Patrick Henry (did not agree with the meeting)

A committee was appointed to set rules . . . No meeting unless at least 7 states sent delegates Decisions would be based on majority rule Each state only had one vote

Constitutional Convention: Also decided to keep the meeting a secret Madison took notes Originally they just wanted to revise the Articles of Confederation but they decided to discard them completely and create a stronger national government!

Creating and Ratifying the Constitution SECTION 2 Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Three-fifths Compromise: Main Concern: How to count the slaves for population purposes

Three-fifths Compromise: SIDE ONE: southern states had a large population of slaves and wanted to count slaves to increase their representation number in the House of Representatives SIDE TWO: Northern states had fewer slaves and did not want to count them towards population.

Compromise Reached? All agreed that every 5 slaves would count as 3 persons toward the population count (thus the name – 3/5 compromise)

Slave Trade Compromise: Main Concern: Slave trade continuing and trade issues

Slave Trade Compromise: SIDE ONE: Northern states wanted Congress to regulate trade both inside and outside the country SIDE TWO: Southern states were afraid that Congress would use the power to tax exports (their livelihood) and stop the slave trade

Compromise Reached? The south agreed to give congress these powers; however, Congress would not pass any laws on taxing exports or affecting the slave trade until 1808 or later.

Electoral College Compromise: Main Concern: Who should elect the President

Electoral College Compromise: SIDE ONE: Some delegates believed that Congress should elect the President since they were better educated to make this decision SIDE TWO: Some delegates believed that the people of this country should elect the President

Compromise Reached? The electoral college was developed. A group of electors named by the state legislature would elect the President.

Approving the Constitution: At least 9 of the 13 state had to ratify the Constitution before it went into affect The Federalists supported the Constitution: they wanted a government where power was divided up between the national government and the states

Approving the Constitution: The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution: they felt the national government had too much power and was taking away from the states The Federalists drummed up support in a series of essays known as The Federalist

The Federalist Most were written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison Anti-Federalists argued that there was not a bill of rights to protect individual liberties Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights IF the Constitution was adopted

Ratifying the Constitution On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution . . . Why is this important? Rhode Island was the last state in 1790 and Georgia was the 4th (Think of the state quarters!)