1. September 26, 2018
U.S. History Agenda:
DO NOW: Term Matching
NOTES #5: What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
CLASS ASSIGNMENT: “The Constitutional Convention”
NOTES-CHECK #s 1–5 TODAY

2. What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention
of 1787? Notes #5

3. By the late 1780s, the U.S. was faced with an economic crisis.
Shay’s Rebellion (1786–1787)

4. This was a result of the weak national government created under the Articles of Confederation.

5. Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, PA
In response, the U.S. called the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to give the national government more power.
Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, PA
(May 25, 1787–September 17, 1787)

6. James Madison; primary author
At the Convention, the U.S. Constitution was written, which created a new plan of government for the U.S.
James Madison; primary author
of the U.S. Constitution

7. To correct the weakness of the Articles, the Constitution created a stronger national government, made up of three branches.

8. The most basic principle created in the Constitution was that the people are the true source of power (called popular sovereignty).
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
- Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

9. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
These ideas, along with other ideas found in the Constitution, came from philosophers of the Enlightenment.
Baron de Montesquieu
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
John Locke