Constitutional Convention Blue Print for American Government

Characteristics Of The Delegates 55 white male College educated Relatively young (avg. age early 40’s) Wealthier than average American Lawyers, familiar with law and politics Wrote their state constitutions

Presiding Office Delegates voted and unanimously elected chairperson: George Washington They voted to conduct their meetings in secret and say nothing to the public

Revolutionary Leaders Not in Attendance John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Thomas Paine were on diplomatic business Samuel Adams and John Hancock were not chosen as delegates Patrick Henry opposed growth in federal power refused to take part. “I smell a rat”

Issues Change the Articles or draft an entirely new document? Nationalists – Madison and Hamilton took control of the convention – favored a strong central government System of Checks and Balances (one branch of gov’t having power to check the others)

Issues cont. Representation Madison’s Proposal – The Virginia Plan  Favored large states New Jersey Plan  Favored small states Connecticut Plan – The Great Compromise  Provided a two-house congress Equal representation in the Senate Representation based on population in the House of Representatives

Slavery How were slaves going to be counted? Were the slave trade and slavery itself to be allowed under the Constitution? 3/5 Compromise: counted each slave as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of determining a state’s level of taxation and population Slaves could be imported for 20 years (until 1808), at which time Congress could vote to abolish the practice “ Great as the evil is, a dismemberment of the Union would be worse.” --James Madison

Trade Northern states wanted Central government to regulate interstate commerce and foreign trade. South was afraid taxes would be placed on agricultural products i.e. tobacco & rice Commercial Compromise – Congress regulate interstate and foreign commerce, including tariffs on imports, but prohibited taxes on exports

Powers and Election of President How long? How? Some argued that President should hold office for life President’s term – 4 years but set no limit to the number of terms Electoral College –feared too much democracy might lead to mob rule Powers Veto acts of Congress May appoint federal judges who serve for life

Electoral College Election of the President was yet another compromise – Here is how it works People from each state would choose electors – based on population-each state would decide how to choose its electors Meet as one body and vote for President; vote for two people – most votes President the second most votes vice-President If no one received the majority – House of Representatives would select President, based on majority vote

Ratification of the Constitution After 17 weeks of debate, the convention approved a draft of the constitution 9 out of 13 states would be required for ratification Ratification was fiercely debated for almost a year Supporters – Federalists Opponents – Anti-Federalists

Struggle for Ratification Supporters recognized the Constitution went beyond the Convention’s mandate Phrase “We the People” makes Constitution a government of the people, not the states Succeed in winning ratification in 11 states by June 1788 North Carolina ratifies November 1789 Rhode Island ratifies May 1790 Americans close ranks behind the Constitution