Government officials realized after Shays’ Rebellion that a change was needed A convention of representatives from each state were called to Philadelphia in 1787
STATEHOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA SITE OF THE CONVENTION
INSIDE OF STATEHOUSE (TODAY) SITE OF THE CONVENTION
There were 74 men asked to come to Philadelphia but only 55 delegates arrived in Philadelphia
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION We Love you George George you Rock They are all staring at me I hope I don’t have a booger hanging out This is so embarrassing we wore the same thing
*The average age of a delegate was 44 years old * = Everyone must Know *Recognize key figures in the formation of our Government
JONATHAN DAYTON (New Jersey) was the youngest at age 26 *BEN FRANKLIN (Pennsylvania) was the oldest at age 81
*Most had some experience as politicians in their home states.
*40 of the delegates had been members of the Continental Congress
* 34 of the 55 were lawyers Also included soldiers, planters, educators, ministers, physicians, financiers, and merchants
*Most were very wealthy and many owned slaves
*All the delegates were white men
** James Madison- read more than a hundred books on Government to get ready * George Washington- the Hero of the Revolution * Benjamin Franklin- Famous scientist and statesman brougth his great wisdom with him to the convention
One of the greatest Founding Fathers His notes detailed the drama of the convention. Other delegates called him “The Best informed man of any point in debate” He was so important he was call “ The Father of the Constitution”
None of the delegates were African-Americans, Hispanic, women, poor Can I say something here! NO !
noun - a settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions (gives in a little) to come to a result which solves a problem * = Everyone must Know
1. GREAT COMPROMISE 2. *3/5 COMPROMISE 3. TRADE COMPROMISE
Major debate was over how to set up the *legislative branch of government
It becomes a battle between smaller states and the ones with larger populations VS
Several states submit plans for the type of legislature they want
1)The legislative branch would have two houses 2) Both houses would assign representatives based on wealth/population *James Madison
1) The legislature would have one house 2) Each state would have only one vote in the legislature
* This made the Legislative Branch of the Government
The legislature would have two houses
SENATE – number of representatives for each state are equal = 2 senators
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - based on population = 52 representatives (38,800,000 people) = 1 representative (493,000 people)
CONGRESS SENATE (100) EVERY DATE HAS EQUAL NUMBER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (435) BASED ON POPULATION SO NOT EQUAL FOR EVERY STATE *How our Government Works
TOTAL NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS FROM EACH STATE
Unit 5 – Creating a Government – Page 4 of 10 VIRGINIA PLAN NEW JERSEY PLAN GREAT COMPROMISE THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE 2 HOUSES 1)2 houses for legislature 2) NUMBER of people in congress set by wealth and population 1) 1 house for legislature 2) Each state would have only one vote in the legislature SENATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Number of people BASED ON EQUALITY = EACH STATE HAS SAME NUMBER Number of people BASED ON populations
Next major issue to be decided is slavery and if slaves should be counted as population
*
should slaves be counted as population for taxes and/or to determine representatives in the legislature
Northern states want slaves to not be counted to determine representatives but to be counted for taxes X
Southern states want slaves to be counted to determine representatives but not for taxes X
Compromise made was count slaves as 3/5 of a person This is used for taxes and to set up the number of reps in Congress
Northern states agree to do nothing about slave trade until 1808 Southern states agree to allow national government to regulate trade
No state gets everything they wanted but they wrote a constitution they thought would work overall