1. Creating and Ratifying The Constitution

2. I. Two distinct plans for the new government were proposed at the Constitutional Convention:

3. A. The Virginia Plan – Proposed by James Madison called for 3 branches of government.

4. Legislative – lawmaking branch
a. Bicameral – 2 houses

5. b. States would be represented based on population.
(1) Large states would have more votes than the smaller states

6. (2) Small states – afraid the large states would ignore their interests.

7. Executive –
Carries out the laws

8. 3. Judicial – interprets the laws (decides if they are Constitutional)

9. B.New Jersey Plan – Proposed by William Paterson also had 3 branches.

10. 1. Legislative Branch
a. Unicameral – 1 house
Each state would get vote
(1) Small states supported this plan
(2) Large states would not accept it.

11. II. Great Compromise
Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut (after 6 weeks of debates).

12. A. Provided for a two house legislature
1. Senate a. Each state would have equal representation
b. Please the small states

13. 2. House of Representatives
a. Representation – based on population
b. Pleased the large states

14. III. Three-Fifths Compromise
A. Questions arose as to how to count the African Americans who were enslaved

15. 1. South – wanted to count their slaves to give them more representatives
2. North, which had few slaves, opposed the plan.

16. B. Reached an agreement – the 3/5 Compromise
1. Every 5 slaves would count as 3 free people for representation
2. The same number would be used to figure taxes.

17. IV. Other Compromises
A. Trade Matters
1. North – wanted congress to regulate foreign commerce (trade) and trade between states.

18. 2. South – feared Congress would tax exports (goods sold to other countries)
a. Southern economy depended on exports

19. 3. South also feared Congress would stop the slave trade.

20. B. Compromise was reached
1. South agreed Congress could regulate trade between the states and with other countries.

21. 2. North agreed Congress could not tax exports nor interfere with slave trade before 1808

22. C. Presidential Elections
1. Some delegates thought Congress should choose the President.
2. Other delegates thought the people should vote for the President.

23. 3. Electoral College was set up:
a. Group of people select the President based on the popular vote

24. Electoral College
1. Each political party chooses electors for their state
a. The number of electors = the # of Senators + the # of Representatives in the House of Representatives

25. 2. On election day, the people cast their popular vote
3. Whichever party gets the majority of the popular vote, wins the electoral vote.

26. 4. In most states, it is a winner take all system and the winner gets all of the electoral votes for that state.

27. 5. The winning electors meet in their state capitals in December and cast their votes for the president and vice-president.
a. The electors send their votes to Congress to be counted.

28. 6. Winner must have 270 out of the 538 votes

29. 7. If no candidate wins the majority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the president. (1800, 1824)

30. V. The Constitution was signed on Sept
V. The Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787 but still had to be ratified by the states

31. A. Conventions to ratify (approve) the Constitution were held in each state.
1. 9 of the 13 states had to approve the new Constitution

32. Two different groups developed (beginning of political parties)
Federalists

33. (1) Said the Constitution created a system of federalism (system where power is divided between the national/federal government and the states)

34. (2) Favored a strong national government.
(3) Said Articles of Confederation were too weak

35. (4) Led by Alexander Hamilton
a. Wrote the Federalist Papers – essays supporting ratification of the Constitution

36. b. Anti-Federalists
(1) Opposed the new Constitution
(2) Said the new Constitution would not protect the power of the states and freedoms of the people

37. (3) Said national government was too powerful
(4) Wanted Bill of Rights.
George Mason

38. B. A Compromise was reached
1. Anti-Federalists agreed to ratify the Constitution if a Bill of Rights was added.
a. 1st ten amendments became known as Bill of Rights

39. 2. Most states ratified the Constitution between 1787 and 1789
3. Constitution went into effect June 21, 1788

40. 4. George Washington was sworn in on April 30, 1789.

41. 5. It is the oldest Constitution still in effect – more than 200 years old.
6. New York was the first Capital.
7. The Bill of Rights was added in 1791.