1787

Why did was there a convention? After Shay’s Rebellion the delegates realized the Articles of Confederation were not working At first just wanted to fix the Articles Realized would need to give more power to a national government Decided to write a Constitution

Terms to Know Delegate: person picked to represent you Framer: A delegate at the Constitution Convention who helped with the Constitution Founder: A Delegate who helped with the Revolutionary War Ratification: formal approval of the Constitution Independence Hall in Philadelphia

Who were the Framers? George Washington James Madison After Revolutionary War wanted to retire back to Virginia Went to the Convention so others would also go Became the President of the Convention Wanted everyone to share their opinions Wanted a strong national government From Virginia Wanted a Strong National Government Wrote the Virginia Plan Known as the “Father of the Constitution” because most of his ideas were used Secretly wrote notes about the convention Representative Dem0cracy

Who were the Framers? Alexander Hamilton Ben Franklin Wanted a strong national government Became angry and left convention early Suggested a King for the new leader & people were angry Will later set up our economic system From Pennsylvania Oldest delegate at the convention Respected & helps negotiate the Great Compromise Wants a strong national government

Who were the Framers? George Mason Roger Sherman From Virginia Does not agree with a strong national government Wants a list of rights that will protect the rights of the people called a Bill of Rights From Connecticut Came up with the Connecticut Plan which became the Great Compromise

Not at the Convention Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson A Founder During Revolution said “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Did not go to the convention because he “smelled a rat” He feared a strong national government From Virginia Agreed with a strong national government Was in France as an ambassador so was not at the convention

It’s a Secret! Why? 1. Don’t want the delegates to be influenced by special interests of the people 2. Want an open discussion to get more ideas 3. Afraid the people will not agree with it

Issue #1 Small States Big States What did they want? Just wanted to fix the Articles of Confederation because each state only had one vote Equal Representation: Each state has same number of votes regardless of size Afraid big states would become too powerful What did they want? Proportional Representation: number of votes should be determined by population Bigger states would have more votes

Solution: Legislative Branch would have two houses 1. House of Representatives: Proportional Representation by population 2. The Senate: Equal Representation-every state has two Senators Proportional Representation Deals with Government Spending & Taxes HOR Equal Representation Every State has 2 Senators Senate Congress Legislative Branch

Issue #2: Northern States Southern States Wanted to end slave trade Did not want slaves to count as population for representation Wanted tariffs on foreign trade Tariff: tax on trade Did not want to abolish slavery Abolish: to rid of or end Wanted run away slaves returned Wanted slaves to count toward population so have more representatives Did not want tariffs on trade goods Why is this important?

Solution: Northern States Southern States If Southern states counted slaves toward population they had to pay more tax Congress got the power to control trade which helped Northern states Slave Trade could not end until 1808 Three-fifths Clause: each Slave would count as 3/5 of a person for representation Fugitive Slave Clause: run away slaves must be returned

Issue #3: Who Has More Power? National Government State Government Federalists: want a strong national government Afraid a Bill of Rights would limit the rights of citizens Feel need a stronger government to unify the states Anti-Federalists: want a weak national government Want a Bill of Rights to guarantee citizens’ rights Afraid of another king The Federalist Papers were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton & John Jay to encourage support for a strong national government.

Solutions: What the National Government Can Do: Apportioned: to divide and assign Ex: Taxes will be apportioned among the states Enumerated Powers: list of jobs given to Congress specifically listed in the Constitution Ex: The Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress Necessary & Proper Clause: Congress can make laws that are needed to carry out their powers Supremacy Clause: the Constitution is the highest law of the land & must be followed by everyone (including the states & courts)

Solutions: What the National Gov. Can’t Do: Bills of Attainder: Punishing someone for a crime without a trial Ex Post Facto: (After the Fact) Can’t punish someone for a crime if it wasn’t a crime when they committed it Writ of Habeas Corpus: can not hold a prisoner unless have a reason to put them in jail

Terms to Know: National Government + State Government= Federal System Treason: aiding the enemy during wartime; betraying your country The only crime listed in the Constitution Separated Powers: Each branch has different jobs Balance of Powers: no one branch can become too powerful over the other