1. Forming a Government, 1777-1791: Creating the Constitution
United States History 8
Unit 2, Chapter 5, Section 3

2. Main Idea
A new constitution provided a framework for a stronger national government

3. Constitutional Convention
Feb. 1787: Confederation Congress in Philadelphia had the goal of improving the Articles of Confederation
May 1787: Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall
James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington was president of the Convention
Women, African Americans & Native Americans could not take part: they did not yet have rights as citizens

4. Great Compromise -bicameral legislature -number of representatives based on state populations in lower house -number of representatives equal from each state in upper house
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Gave more power to national government
Bicameral legislature
Number in both houses based on population
Gave more power to state governments
Unicameral legislature
Number of representatives equal from each state

5. Three-Fifths Compromise
To appease the southern states, three-fifths of the slaves in each state would count as part of the population to decide how many representatives a state would have
The Commerce Compromises allowed congress to levy tariffs on imports but not exports & allowed importation of slaves until the end of 1807

6. The Living Constitution
Federalist Government: each state must obey the authority of the federal, or national, government. States have control of local government, education, creating and overseeing civil and criminal law, protecting citizens
Checks and Balances: shared and balanced power between the legislative, executive & judicial branches to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful
Final draft completed Sept. 1787, sent to Congress first, then to states for ratification

7. Constitution Strengthens the National Government
Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Strengths of the Constitution
Most power held by national government
Three branches of government
Legislative branch has many powers
Executive branch led by president
Judicial branch t0 review laws
Firm system of checks and balances
Most power held by states
One branch of government
Legislative branch has few powers
No executive branch
No judicial system
No system of checks and balances

8. Benjamin Franklin Lived 1706-1790
Invented bifocals and the lightning rod, helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris with Britain
Was a printer (Pennsylvania Gazette), publisher (Poor Richard: An Almanack), creator of the first circulating library, the first president of the University of Pennsylvania, inventor, scientist, philosopher, musician, economist, minister to France & the first Postmaster General