1. Philadelphia Convention

2. A New Constitution
Representatives of 12 of the 13 states attended the meeting in Philadelphia; Rhode Island refused to participate believing that if they were not present, then no changes could be made
Remember: Unanimous consent was required to amend the Articles!!!

3. The Philadelphia Convention
55 well educated men including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison
Considered the following issues:
Human nature – delegates held a cynical view, people are self-interested
Political conflict – keeping factions under control
Factions = parties or interest groups
Feared that unchecked factions would form a tyranny
Objects of government – most believed the protection of property was the key purpose of government
Nature of government = believed that government had to set power against power

4. Critical Issues at the Convention
HOW TO ESTABLISH EQUALITY!!!!
Three issues:
Equality and Representation of the States (big versus small states)
Slavery (Northern states versus Southern states)
3) Equality in Voting

5. New Jersey Plan
New Jersey Plan = called for a unicameral congress in which all states would be equally represented
Powers: Basically the same as under the Articles +
the power to tax
regulate trade
Adds
An executive of more than one person
A federal judiciary with a single supreme tribunal

6. Virginia Plan
Virginia Plan = called for a bicameral congress in which states would be represented according to their states population
Powers: All the power under the Articles +
legislate in all cases to which the separate states are incompetent
veto state laws in conflict with national law
use force if necessary to make state obey
Adds
National Executive
National Judiciary: One or more supreme tribunals

7. Great Compromise
Connecticut (Great) Compromise = called for a bicameral congress in which states would be represented according to population in the lower house (House of Representatives) and equally in the upper house (the Senate)
Was this a fair compromise??
Powers: See Article I, Section 8 (create post offices, declare war, tax, borrow, coin money, naturalization, punish counterfeiters, weights and measures, army, navy, regulate commerce, etc.)

8. Great Compromise Adds An execute on one person (the President)
A judiciary consisting of a single supreme court and any other courts that Congress shall create

9. Slavery
Delegates agreed that they would limit future importing of slaves, but disagreed on other matters
Should slaves count for representation purposes?
South says…YES! - Gives them more power in the House
North says…No! – Slave are property and should not be counted
Resolution: 3/5 Compromise
Should slaves count for apportionment of taxes?
South says NO! - Do not want to pay more
North says YES! - They need to be counted for taxation purposes

10. Voting
Who should be allowed to vote? – Left issue to the states to decide.

11. Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress, in Article I, Section 8, is given the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce
Southern states were concerned that this would give the national government too much power
Compromise
1) Congress forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any state.
2) Forbidden the power to act on the slave trade for a period of at least 20 years

12. The Executive Delegates Agreed: Delegated Disagreed
on a one-person executive
Delegated Disagreed
on the length of a term
Finally settled on a 4 year term with the possibility of re-election
how the president should be elected
Settled on the Electoral College (did not trust the common citizens)