1. Constitutional Convention
Met again in 1787 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia
Goal: to revise the Articles of Confederation
Instead, the Framers scrapped the Articles and created the Constitution!
MANY disagreements among the men!!!

2. Virginia Plan Highlights
Presented by Edmund Randolph
Power: most power belongs to central govt
Legislature:
Bicameral – 2 groups of representatives
Chosen based on state population
Thus, larger states would have more representatives than smaller states
Problems: small states believed it gave too much power to large states

3. New Jersey Plan Highlights
Presented by William Paterson
Power: most power belongs to state govts
Legislature:
Unicameral – one group of representatives
Each state has an equal number of votes
Gave federal govt power to tax and regulate commerce
Problems: not fair for small states to have same representation w/ less people

4. The Great Compromise Highlights
Presented by Roger Sherman
Power: strong central government
Legislature: Two house legislature
Senate – 2 representatives for each state regardless of size
House of Representatives – number of reps would be based on the population of state

6. Three-Fifths Compromise Highlights
What should be done about the slave population?
South: wanted to count slaves as a part of the population to gain more reps in House
North: disagreed…wanted slaves to count for taxes but not representation
Compromise: would count 3/5 of a state’s slave population when determining representation
For example:
North Carolina slave population = 100,000
Multiply that by 3/5 or .6 = 60,000 would count when determining representation!

8. Constitution: the basics
The Constitution establishes 3 branches of the government
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Explains what the government can and cannot do.
Gave Congress the power to pass last that directly affect the people!
5 Basic Principles

9. “The people rule” Popular Sovereignty
The people hold the final authority in government… “We the people”
People exercise their power indirectly by electing public officials to make laws and decisions for them (called representative govt)

10. Limited Government
Government does not have complete power; only has powers granted to it by the people
Constitution states what powers the govt does and does not have.
Limits on govt are set out in the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the Constitution)
Guarantees the individual freedoms of the people
Based on idea of rule of law – no one is above the law

11. Federalism – power divided between national & state government
Powers of National govt
Powers of State
govt
Regulate Trade
Armed forces
Declare War
Post offices
Copyright Laws
Money!
Admit new states
Powers of State
And Nat’l
Corporation laws
Regulate in state trade
Schools
Local govt & elections
Marriage/
divorce laws
Provide for public welfare
Criminal justice
Banks
Taxes
Borrow Money
Concurrent Powers
Enumerated Powers
Reserved Powers

12. Separation of Powers
3 branches of govt – legislative, executive, judicial
Each has own powers and responsibilities – “separate but equal”
Skill builder:

13. No branch can become too powerful!
Checks and Balances: each branch of the national gov’t can control the power of the other 2 branches
No branch can become too powerful!

14. Ratifying the Constitution!

15. Ratifying the Constitution
Only 3 of the 42 Delegates to the Constitutional Convention did NOT approve the document.
Vote then went to the states to determine whether the Constitution would become the new government.
Americans were divided on many issues, so ratification was a STRUGGLE! What were some of these issues?
Federalists vs Antifederalists!
Federalists supported Constitution
Antifederalists didn’t support Constitution
Wanted a Bill of Rights!

16. Federalists Antifederalists
Main Idea 1: Federalists and Antifederalists engaged in debate over the new Constitution.
Federalists
Supported Constitution
Desired strong central government
Liked balance of powers in Constitution
Made speeches and pamphlets advocating change in government
Merchants & Professionals
Supporters: Washington, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, John Jay
Antifederalists
Opposed Constitution
Feared central government would be too powerful
Concerned about lack of guarantee of individual rights
George Mason became Antifederalist over rights issue
Farmers & Debtors
Supporters: Patrick Henry & Jefferson (b/c no Bill of Rights)

17. Bill of Rights
The main argument for the Antifederalists was that the Constitution had no bill of rights
Just fought for freedoms – wanted them protected!
Bill of Rights – First 10 amendments intended to protect citizens’ rights
Ideas came from Virginia Declaration of Rights, English Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence
Written by James Madison
Several states refused to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

18. Why does Madison think federalism will prevent disagreement? p172
Federalist Paper No. 10
In November 1787, Number 10 in the series called the Federalist Papers was written in support of the Constitution. In it, James Madison describes the way federalism will overcome disagreements within society.
                  
ANALYZING PRIMARY SOURCES
          
        
         
Why does Madison think federalism will prevent disagreement?
Why does Madison think federalism will prevent disagreement? p172

19. The Federalist Papers played an important role in the fight for ratification of the Constitution.
series of essays supporting the Constitution (85)
Written anonymously by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and James Madison
Federalist Papers argued that new federal government would not overpower states
They explained and defended the Constitution
Widely reprinted in newspapers around the country; influenced the Constitution debate
There were also Anti-Federalist Papers: series of articles written in opposition to the ratification of the Constitution.

20. Ratifying the Constitution
Needed 9 out of 13 states for it to be ratified.
States held special conventions to allow citizens to discuss Constitution
Dec 1787 – Delaware was 1st to ratify
June 1788 – New Hampshire was 9th to ratify
New York, Virginia, and Rhode Island were last to ratify (after intense debate)