Constitutional Convention May 25, 1787: delegates gathered in Pennsylvania to consider fixing the Constitution. However, delegates realized the system was too broken and they re-wrote the entire Constitution.

Representation in Congress Small v. Large states Each state had different ideas on how they should be represented in Congress. Large states: favored the Virginia Plan. Smaller states: favored the New Jersey Plan.

Virginia Plan Proposed by James Madison – “Father of the Constitution” It provided for a central government with three separate branches of government. It was to establish a bicameral, two house, legislature. It was also to create a national court system.

Virginia Plan State population would determine the number of representatives in each house (Proportional representation)

New Jersey Plan William Patterson of New Jersey came up with a plan that favored the smaller states. It proposed to keep the one-vote system used under the Articles. However, this plan was rejected after a couple of days of debate.

The Great Compromise small v. large They decided to go with the Virginia Plan. They decided to compromise between the small and large states over the question of representation in Congress They allowed population to determine representation in the lower house (House of Representatives) and equal representation in the upper house (Senate)

The issue of slavery Question: Should slaves be counted in a states population in order to determine how many representatives should be sent to the Lower House (House of Representatives)? Northern states felt that it gave slave states an unfair advantage and encouraged slavery. Southern states insisted that slaves be counted as part of their population.

Trade The economy of the north relied on free labor. A system in which a worker and employer agree on how much the worker will be paid. The south relied on slave labor. The North favored Protective tariffs, taxes on products imported from other nations, which will increase their cost. Northerners liked the idea of protective tariffs because it would make imported goods cost more than American goods. Thus, Americans would buy American goods.

The road to Compromise Some southern states refused to sign the Constitution if it did not allow their citizens to own and import slaves. Northern states wanted the right of Congress to collect taxes and duties. They also wanted the National government to regulate international and interstate trade.

Three Fifths Compromise North: Congress will have the power to collect taxes and duties. Congress would be allowed to regulate interstate and international trade. The importation of slaves would not be outlawed until 1808. South: Each slave would be counted as three fifths of a person for representation in Congress. Fugitive Slave Clause: slaves who escaped to other states must be returned.

Will it be ratified? The Constitution was based on Federalism. Power will be shared between the Federal government and the states. Those who supported the new Constitution would be known as Federalists. Those who opposed the new Constitution were known as Antifederalists.

Federalists v. Antifederalists Federalists believed in s strong central government. Antifederalists feared the federal government would eventually deny peoples rights. Federalist papers: Were written by the Federalists in order to convince people to support the New constitution. In order to protect peoples basic rights the Antifederalists demanded a Bill of Rights be added to the Constitution. If it was not added they would not ratify the new Constitution.

Bill of Rights These are the first ten amendments, formal changes, to the Constitution.