1. Constitutional Convention

2. 55 delegates from 12 states (RI = absent)
Philadelphia – May 1787
George Washington = president of convention
55 delegates from 12 states (RI = absent)
“Well-bred, well-fed, well-read, well-wed”
Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, Sherman, etc.
Jefferson and John Adams = overseas diplomats

3. treason Convention lasted 4 months
Delegates chose to abolish Articles of Confederation and reinvent the government
Fear of
treason

4. Thoughts on the New Government
Wanted a stronger central government
Feared giving too much power to it > power should be with people
Majority should not tyrannize the minority
Popular rule???
Hamilton = called people “a great beast”

5. Representation??? How much power should states lose?
Virginia Plan (Large State Plan)
James Madison
Bicameral (2 house) legislature
Members in both houses determined by population
Lower house = elected by people
Upper house = elected by lower house
Both houses elect national executive and judiciary
Branches check and balance each other

6. Representation??? New Jersey Plan (Small State Plan) One house
William Patterson
One house
Each state has 1 vote
Congress appoints multi-person executive and judiciary branches
Federal government = power to tax and control commerce
Laws passed by Congress = supreme law of land
Unites states under 1 set of laws

7. How do we solve this??? Key debates = representation and slavery
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
Roger Sherman
Bicameral Legislature
Lower House = House of Representatives
Representation based on population of state
Upper House = Senate
Representation = 2 senators per state
Lower House elects senators (changed by 17th amendment)
Gave the public power and a stake in the government!!

8. Left-Side Activity Visually represent the set up of the:
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise
You must be able to describe the differences between these proposed plans.

9. How do we solve this??? Slavery Issue 3/5ths Compromise
North and South divided over who = counted in population
North argued South considered slaves property > they shouldn’t be counted
South argued that they should count in population
3/5ths Compromise
All slaves = 3/5 of a person
Used phrase “all other persons” instead of slaves
Commerce Compromise (Slave Trade Compromise)
Congress = power to regulate interstate trade and foreign commerce
Couldn’t take any action to control slave trade (a form of foreign commerce) until 1808
Deliberately weakened the institution of slavery

10. James Madison “Father of the Constitution”
4th President of the United States
Helped guide the structure of the new government

11. Everybody Happy??? Main points of contention settled…
Constitution = signed and sent to states for ratification on
2/3 of states needed to ratify to take effect

12. Who wants a new Constitution??
Federalists = supported ratification
Wrote 85 essays arguing for ratification
The Federalist Papers
Appeared in NY newspapers > stressed advantage of a new government > form of propaganda for Federalist side
Anti-Federalists = opposed ratification
Wanted a bill of rights added to protect individual rights
Federalists promised to add one after adoption of Constitution

13. Supporters of Constitution Wanted strong national government
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Supporters of Constitution
Wanted strong national government
Thought a strong central government would protect the country from foreign nations
Would also provide protection, maintain order, regulate trade, guarantee rights of citizens, guarantee the nation’s debts were paid, and that American money had a stable value
Thought a Bill of Rights listing citizen’s rights was unnecessary because the Constitution had already limited the government’s powers
Thought that a national government that represented everyone would not be able to ignore the rights of everyone else
Opponents of Constitution
Wanted a weak national government and powerful state governments
Thought strong central government would endanger people’s liberties
Thought having a government so far away wouldn’t meet needs of people > needed governments that were local to protect people’s interests
Thought the Constitution needed a Bill of Rights to specifically state the rights of citizens that the government must respect
Didn’t like “necessary and proper” statement in Constitution because the wording was open to interpretation and could leave door open for Congress to abuse its power

14. The Constitution is Created
June 1788
New Hampshire = 9th state needed for ratification
NY (hardest fought) = 11th state
RI = last to ratify (1790)
Took 3 years to gain full ratification ( )
Bill of Rights added 1791
James Madison = principle author
Motivation: protect rights not specified in Constitution

15. Outline of the (original) Constitution
Section Subject___________ ____
Preamble States purpose of the Constitution
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article I Legislative branch
Article II Executive branch
Article III Judicial branch
Article IV Relations among the States
Article V Amending the Constitution
Article VI Supremacy of National Law
Article VII Ratifying the Constitution