1. The Road to the Constitution

2. Quick Review Declaration of Independence The Articles of Confederation
Second Continental Congress
Approved July 4, 1776
The Articles of Confederation
1777, our first constitution
Weak federal government

3. The Constitutional Convention
May 25, 1787
Independence Hall, Philadelphia
An extraordinary group of men
55 men
Well-educated
Lawyers, merchants, college presidents, doctors, generals, governors, and planters with considerable political experience

4. Who was there? Who missed it?
Benjamin Franklin
81, oldest delegate
George Washington & James Madison
Both would become president
Thomas Jefferson & John
Both were in Europe
Patrick Henry
Prominent Virginian
He was invited but did not attend; he was against the convention

5. Procedures of the Convention
Each state was only allowed one vote
Majority votes from all states made decisions
All discussions were a secret! Why…?
This way, delegates could speak freely, without worry about how the public would react

6. What happened to the… Articles of Confederation???
The throw it away, decided to write a new constitution

7. Two Opposing Plans VS. Virginia vs. New Jersey

8. Primary Source Time!
We need to know what the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan outlined and how they were different/similar to the AoC and the C.
Get with a partner, read and complete Reading Set A.

9. Two Opposing Plans The Virginia Plan James Madison
3 branches of government
Bicameral legislature (2 houses), determined by population
Favored big states

10. Primary Source Time! Half the class will read the first debate
The other half will read the second debate
Then you will partner up and share!

11. Two Opposing Plans The New Jersey Plan William Patterson
3 branches of government
Unicameral legislature (1 house) with equal representation
Favored smaller states

12. Primary Source Time!
We will all read through the debate over the New Jersey plan and fill in the graphic organizer

13. Final Assignment
Pretend that you are an early American journalist sent from your state to the Congress to record what happens and reprt back.
Summarize the debates that were at the Convention and explain the opposing sides. Make sure to include in your summary which state you are from, which side you support and why you support that side.

15. More arguing? What now?
Controversy over counting slaves as a part of the population…
At this time, there were 550,000 enslaved African Americans, mostly in the South

16. More arguing? What now?
Southern states said…slaves should be counted as part of the population = more representatives for southern states
Northern states said… slaves cannot vote or participate in government, they should not give the south more representatives

17. The Three-Fifths Compromise
The conflict was finally resolved…
Three-Fifths Compromise
Every 5 enslaved persons would count as 3 free people
Used for representation in Congress & figuring taxes

18. Finished…finally! September 17, 1787, finished up the Constitution
Delegates signed it, said the Constitution would become the law of the land when…
9 out of 13 states ratified (approved) it

19. So everyone in the entire United States of America loved the Constitution and every state ratified it immediately and we all had a big party and we all lived happily ever after, right…?

20. Wrong!

21. A Divided Public Some people liked the Constitution, others did not
Federalists = supporters of the new constitution & a strong federal government
Federalism = A form of government in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the states

22. A Divided Public
Some Federalists wrote papers to rally support for the Constitution
They were called the Federalist Papers (duh)
Who wrote ‘em?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay

23. A Divided Public What about those who didn’t like the Constitution?
Anti-Federalists = People opposed to the constitution & a strong federal government
“Don’t forget individual rights!”

24. Reaching an Agreement Anti-Federalists wanted to add…
The Bill of Rights
The Federalists promised to do so, and did
New Hampshire, 9th state to ratify
June 21, 1788
The Constitution went into effect
The last state to ratify…?
Rhode Island, 1790