 Chapter 2 Origins of American Government Sections 4 & 5 The Constitutional Convention and Ratification and the Bill of Rights

The Constitutional Convention  How should or government be organized?  Key compromises had to be made

Drafting a New Constitution The Convention Meets  May 25, 1787  12 of 13 states (Rhode Island)  Framework for new govt.  Meetings held secretly Framers of the Constitution  55 Delegates, framers  1/3 were army veterans  8 signed Declaration of Independence  Washington was President of convention  James Madison

Framers of the Constituions DelegateKey Role and Contributions Ben Franklin, PA81, oldest and most admired delegate Alexander Hamilton, NY Federalist Papers, strong supporter of constitution James Madison, VAVirginia Plan, strong national govt. William Redmund, NJNew Jersey Plan, one house legislature and equal state representation Edmund Randolph, VAVirginia Plan, 3 branches, representation based on population or wealth Roger Sherman, CTGreat Compromise, equal representation in Senate and representation based on population in the House

Rival Plans Virginia Plan  3 Branches of central govt.  Strong national government  Bicameral legislature New Jersey Plan  Strong national government  3 branches of central government  Unicameral legislature  Equal representation among states

Conflict and Compromise The Great Compromise  June 30, 1787  Elements of VA and NJ plan  Bicameral legislature  Lower house based on state’s population and elected directly by the people  Upper house based on 2 members per state and was selected by state legislatures Compromise over Slavery  Key Points: Does slave population count towards representation?  Three-fifths Compromise:3/5 of slave population counted  Protected slave trade for 20 more years

Conflict and Compromise Presidential Election  Directly elect or state legislatures  Compromise: State elects  State electors = number of people in both houses of Congress  Popular vote  No winner house of representatives would choose Finalizing the Constitution  Debated issues, settled disputes, and key decisions in 1787  Some delegates would not sign without a Bill of Rights  39 people from 12 states signed the constitution  Adjourned September 17, 1787

Ratification and the Bill of Rights  Heated debates between Federalists and Antifederalists  Federalists supported the constitution  Antifederalists v Federalists  Drastic changes in government  New national government would reduce state powers and restructure congress  Outlined ratification 9 of 13

Antifederalists V Federalists Antifederalists  Opposed constitution  Feared strong national government  Small farmers  Bill of Rights is necessary Federalists  Supported constitution  Strong national government  Larger farmers, merchants, and artisans  Bill of Rights unnecessary

The Federalist Papers Best Commentary  Circulated through states  American Political Theory  Federalist Papers Rebuttal Essays  Antifederalist released  Protecting liberty Writing Team  Hamilton, Madison, Jay  Publius  85 Essays total Defended Constitution  10 and 51 influence different factions  Limiting national authority, preserve liberty

The Fight for Ratification Winning Over the States  Federalist better prepared  Target small states  Delaware first to ratify  Bill of Rights  All 13 states ratified Bill of Rights  Bill of rights is priority  10 amendments made up the Bill of Rights  Freedom of speech, press religion, due process, right to fair trial, trial by jury

Vocabulary FramersDelegates to the constitutional convention Virginia PlanA proposed plan for government that called for a strong central government divided into three branches, bicameral legislature, and representation based on the state population New Jersey PlanAnother proposed plan for government that called for a strong central government divided into three branches, with a unicameral legislature and 1 vote per state Great CompromisePlan of the government that included a bicameral legislature in which membership in one house would be based on state population and membership in the other would be one per state

Vocabulary Three-fifths CompromiseThe resolution to count enslaved people as part of the population of a state, but only 3/5 of the people FederalistsSupporters of the constitution AntifederalistsOpponents of the constitution PubliusThe pen name used by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to defend the constitution Federalist PapersEssays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to defend the constitution Bill of RightsA series of 10 amendments to the constitution ratified by the states that protect such rights as freedom of speech, press, and religion