1. History & Conflicts of the Constitution

2. Context After the Revolution:
Most Americans thought of themselves as citizens of their state (not the U.S.)
The focus was creating a very basic government – an alliance of the states

3. Articles of Confederation
Approved in 1777
Established a limited national government
Only national branch: Congress
Most power was given to the states
Focus was on state constitutions

4. Concerns with the Articles
Wealthy worried the Articles gave too much power to ordinary citizens
“We have…had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation.” George Washington
2. Economic crisis led to infighting between states
3. Concerns about weak government

5. Shays’ Rebellion Farmers riot over taxes in Massachusetts
Congress could only look on helplessly
The national government was too weak
Effects: Showed the national government needed to be stronger

6. Assembling the Convention
May 1787 – Constitutional Convention
55 delegates from all states except Rhode Island
Rhode Island – “Conspiracy to overthrow the established government”
The delegates – mostly rich, all white men

7. Cover your notes! Discuss this question with your partner:
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Give at least 2 reasons

8. Divisions at the Convention
All agreed on one thing:
Electing George Washington president
But there were many divisions and disagreements
Today we will examine 4 major conflicts in the making of the Constitution

9. Take a guess…
Based on prior knowledge, what do you think will be the major conflicts and resolutions that the writers of the Constitution faced?

10. Conflict #1: Representation
The issue: How should states be represented at the national level?

11. Virginia Plan This plan would do the following:
Create a 2 house legislature
Representatives would be based on a state’s population
Large states stood to benefit from this plan

12. New Jersey Plan Called for a unicameral (1 house) legislature
There would be an equal number of reps from each state
This would benefit the small states

13. “The Great Compromise”
Called for a two house legislature
The Senate – equal representation (appealed to the small states)
The House of Representatives – representation based on population (appealed to large states)

14. CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(Representatives based on population)
SENATE
(2 per state)

16. Conflict #2: States’ Rights
The issue: Would states or the federal government have the most power?

17. States’ Rights: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Federalists wanted to approve the Constitution, which gave the federal government more power
Anti-Federalists wanted less federal power, more state power
They opposed the Constitution
Saw the President as too king-like

19. Federalists Win! Federalists win because:
1. Articles of Confederation had failed
2. They were united around one plan
3. They were well-organized
4. Had Washington’s support
Federalism: You are citizens of
both the US and Washington State

20. Conflict 3: Bill of Rights
The issue: would the Constitution specifically list the rights of the people?

21. The Sides Federalists did not want a Bill of Rights included
Anti-Federalists worried about the Constitution
Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the people

22. Compromise
The sides compromised and promised to create a Bill of Rights after the Constitution was approved

23. Conflict 4: Slavery Two conflicts around slavery:
Would the Constitution allow it?
Would slaves count in determining a states’ population?

24. Would the Constitution allow slavery?
Framers of the Constitution:
55 Delegates
25 owned slaves
Others had previously owned slaves
But some were opposed to slavery

25. The Sides Anti-Slavery Pro-Slavery
Mr. Martin (of Maryland) said: “it is inconsistent with the principles of the revolution and dishonorable to the American character to have [slavery] in the Constitution.”
Mr. Williamson (North Carolina) said: “The Southern states could not be members of the Union if the slave trade ended. It is wrong to force anything that is not absolutely necessary, and which any state must disagree to.”
Sum up the anti-slavery argument in your notes
Sum up the pro-slavery argument in your notes

26. Ben Franklin’s Position
Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania) said: “I agree to this Constitution with all its faults because I think a general government is necessary for us. I doubt too whether in any other Convention we can create…a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views.”
How does Ben Franklin’s statement help us understand why slavery was allowed to continue under the Constitution?

27. Slavery & The Constitution
Ultimately, slavery was allowed to continue under the Constitution
The word “slave” does not appear

28. Slavery in the Constitution
But slavery as an institution received important protections in the Constitution:
It prohibited Congress from outlawing the Atlantic slave trade for 20 years
Fugitive slave clause required the return of runaway slaves to their owners
And one more compromise…

29. Second conflict around slavery:
Would slaves count when the government was determining representation for each state?

30. Which states wanted slaves to count as whole people?
A. Northern states
B. Southern states
C. Both sides
D. Neither side

31. Result: 3/5 Compromise Southern states wanted slaves to count
So they could have more representation
Northern states didn’t want them to count
The 3/5 Compromise: Slaves would count as 3/5 of a person

32. Exit Card Put away your notes
On a scrap of paper, list the four major conflicts over the Constitution and how each was resolved