1. 7.2 Convention and Compromise
Limited Government
7.2 Convention and Compromise

2. Shays’ Rebellion p. 195-196 Farmers could not sell their goods
Trouble paying money to states
States the seized lands to pay for debt and threw farmers in jail
Angry farmers forced courts to close so judges couldn’t take away farmers’ lands
A year later, Daniel Shays led farmers to a federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts in search of guns and ammunition
State milita ordered them to stop and fired over their heads
Militia fired again killing 4 farmers

3. The Issue of Slavery p
Contradiction between the American battle for liberty and the practice of slavery
By 1786, 11 states outlawed or heavily taxed importation of slaves
1st American antislavery society = Quakers
Manumission = the freeing of individual enslaved persons

4. The Constitutional Convention p.197-198
Articles too weak to deal with problems of the new nation
Initial demand was to reform the Articles
Presence of Washington and Franklin allowed people to trust outcome of convention

5. People
John Adams
Pushed for a new government as opposed to simply revisiting the Articles
James Madison
Virginia planter
“Father of the Constitution” because he wrote basic plan of government that convention adopted
Supported strong national government
Notes documented convention’s work
Alexander Hamilton
New York lawyer
Proposed convention in Philadelphia to discuss issues with Articles of Confederation
Becomes 1st Secretary of Treasury
Benjamin Franklin
Oldest person at convention, over 80

6. James Wilson
Did important work on the details of the Constitution
Gouverneur Morris
Powerful speaker and writer
Wrote final draft of Constitution

7. Meeting Specifics
At least 7 of the 13 states needed to be represented to hold meetings
Sessions not open to public to ensure delegates could speak freely
Who presided over meetings? George Washington
How was voting determined during meetings? Each state got one vote on all questions, Simple majority of states present would make decisions

8. Why is representation important?
The more representation the state has… the more say state has in government… the more power state has

9. Representation issues
Representation based on Population
Equal Representation
Large States
Met their needs for representation
More people meant more problems, so they should have more say
Small States
Would have less delegates, and there less power and say in government
more fair, everyone’s voice equally heard

10. Virginia Plan p. 199 Proportional = corresponding in size
Edmund Randolph = strong central government
Bicameral legislature (2-House legislature)
Chief executive chosen by legislature
Court system with Supreme Court
Members of lower house only would be elected by people
Members of upper house chosen by lower house
Representation in BOTH houses based on population

11. Reaction to V. P.
Small states objected because they would be outvoted

12. New Jersey Plan
William Paterson = did not want convention to take away smaller states equality that Articles gave them
Kept one-house legislature
One vote per state
Congress could set taxes and regulate trade
Congress elect weak executive branch consisting of more than one person
Main purpose of this plan was to amend Articles

13. Reaction to N.J. Plan
Many argued to start over as opposed to amend (changes meant to improve) Articles
Larger states have more people, which meant more problems

14. Comparing 2 plans p. 200

15. The Great Compromise p. 200 Roger Sherman
Bicameral (2-house) legislature
Lower house = House of Representatives = representation based on population
Upper house = Senate = each state would have 2
President chosen by electors

16. Representation and Slavery
Count enslaved people towards population
North
Banned
Did not have slaves, therefore they would have less representation and less power
South
Essential for economy
Having slaves, this gave them the advantage along with more representation and power

17. Three-fifths Compromise
Count each enslaved person as three-fifths of a free person for both taxation and representation
OR every 3 out of 5 slaves counted towards population
Agreed that Congress could not interfere with slave trade until 1808

18. Bill of Rights
Several delegates worried that the Constitution was not enough and wanted to ensure that individual rights were protected more explicitly
George Mason worried that the national government would abuse its powers
Proposed a bill of rights to protect individual rights
His proposal was defeated
He and a few other delegates refused to sign the Constitution without a bill of rights

19. Debate
Strongest criticism: NO bill of rights to protect individual freedoms
Several states refused to ratify until a bill of rights was added
Eventually passed 10 Amendments, which became known as the Bill of Rights in 1791
Amendment = something added to a document that changes the original wording

20. Ratification
Final draft of Constitution was signed on: September 17, 1787
States needed to ratify (pass) the Constitution before it became law
Based on Articles of Confederation, 9 of 13 states were required to ratify (pass) the Constitution
It was ratified by June 1788 and went into effect 1789