1. Constitutional Convention & Ratification
The Delegates
Rhode Island did not participate
Began May 25, 1787
55 delegates (members representing states)
8 signed Dec. of Ind.
7 state governors
39 members of Continental Congress
No women, Native Americans, African Americans
Ben Franklin was oldest
Future presidents George Washington & James Madison were there
Other key leaders were not there
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were serving the U.S. government in Europe

2. Constitutional Convention & Ratification
Rules & Procedures
Washington was selected to lead meeting
Each state got one vote
7 votes (of 12) would decide issues
All proceedings would be secret
Windows & doors guarded & closed
Main record we have is James Madison’s personal notes
Quickly began to realize that fixing the Articles of Confederation wouldn’t work – U.S. needed a new plan of government

3. Constitutional Convention & Ratification
Plans for structuring the government
Representation of states
Virginia Plan
Called for federal gov’t with president, courts, congress with 2 parts (houses)
Population would decide how many votes states have
Populated states like this; smaller states didn’t
New Jersey Plan
Similar to Articles of Confederation – 1 house congress, each state 1 vote, committee instead of president
Smaller states liked this
Great Compromise (also called Connecticut Compromise)
A compromise is an agreement where each side gives up something but gains something else
Roger Sherman proposed – 2 houses of congress – in 1 house state population determines votes, in other house 2 equal votes per state
No group fully satisfied, but all agreed

4. Constitutional Convention & Ratification
The Three-Fifths Compromise
In 1787, more than 550,000 African slaves, mostly in south
Counting them in population would give southern states more votes in Congress
Northern states did not want slaves counted
Compromise – 3 of every 5 slaves would count for population for representation in Congress (yet they wouldn’t be considered citizens or be eligible to vote themselves)

5. Constitutional Convention & Ratification
The ratification process and debate
Completed September 17, 1787
Needed to be ratified (approved)
Each state had own meeting
9 of 13 states had to ratify for Constitution to take effect
Federalists supported Constitution & strong federal (nat’l) gov’t
Anti-Federalists opposed Constitution
Believed nat’l gov’t would ignore rights of states, overpower them
Wanted a list of rights included
Compromise again!
Bill of Rights would be added as soon as ratified
New Hampshire was 9th state to ratify in – Constitution took full effect, Rhode Island was 13th to ratify in 1790