1. The Constitutional Convention

2. Shay’s Rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Can’t pay back Revolutionary War debt
Soldiers can’t be paid
No power in AOC for Congress to tax
Are the accomplishments of the Revolutionary War in jeopardy?

3. Annapolis Convention Annapolis, MD September 1786
Delegates from only 6 states attend
Meet again in Philadelphia in May 1787

4. Philadelphia Convention Constitutional Convention
Delegates decided to “rip up” AOC and create a new government
Why was this against the law?
Four important “acts” from the convention to the final state ratifying The Constitution
Plans to change AOC
The Great Compromise
Ratification (NY, Virginia, Massachusetts)
The Bill of Rights

5. Virginia and New Jersey Plans
Virginia Plan
James Madison
2 house legislature (bicameral)
State’s population determined representation in each house
Small states fear big states like Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania would dominate
New Jersey Plan
William Patterson
One house Congress (unicameral)
States cast one vote
This issue threatened to ruin the convention. Many delegates ready to walk out.
Solution is Great Compromise

6. The Great Compromise Roger Sherman Connecticut Compromise
2 House legislature
Senate-2 from each state, 6 year term, chosen by state legislature. 17th Amendment in allows for direct election of senators
HOR-determined by state’s population, 2 year term, chosen by the people

7. Electing the President
Electoral College
Number of electors determined by a state’s number in the HOR plus 2 senators
Today- 270 Electoral Votes out of 538 needed to elect the President
Originally, electors cast two ballots- 1st place-President, 2nd place-Vice President
12th Amendment makes President and VP a ticket
If no candidate received a majority of votes, HOR votes for President
Senate would vote for VP
Is it possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose in the EC?
Yes, has happened five times in our history

8. 270 to Win

9. The 3/5 Compromise Slavery Northern States 3/5 Compromise
Southern States want slavery to be legal
Northern States
Slavery will spread
Dominate politics
3/5 Compromise
3 out of every 5 slaves will count towards a state’s population for taxation and representation in the H.O.R.

10. Commerce Compromise The Southern states… The Northern states…
Favored state control over the regulation of trade
Feared a federal ban on the slave trade
Feared a federal duty (payment) on agricultural exports
The Northern states…
Favored federal regulation of all trade
Wanted the federal government to collect duties and tariffs (payment on imports/exports)

11. The two sides reached the following compromise…
Federal regulation of interstate (between states) and international trade
State regulation of intrastate (within a state) trade
No export duties to be passed for 20 years
No ban on the slave trade until 1808

12. Federalism
Power divided between national, state, and local governments.
However….
Supremacy Clause of the Constitution
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

13. Regulate foreign and domestic trade
National Government
Delegated Powers
Maintain Army and Navy
Declare War
Coin Money
Regulate foreign and domestic trade
Make all laws necessary and proper- “Necessary and proper clause” “Elastic Clause”
State Governments
Reserved Powers
Conduct Elections
Establish Schools
Regulate State Businesses
Establish local governments
Regulate marriages
Assume other powers not given to the national government or denied to states
Concurrent
Enforce Laws
Establish Courts
Borrow Money
Protect people
Build Roads
Collect taxes