1. U.S. Constitution
Chapter 3 Notes

2. Why A New Constitution?
Weak Articles of Confederation. State governments were more powerful than the national government.
Shays’s Rebellion: Farmers revolt over loss of farms = leaders realize that there is no way to protect citizens.
The new United States didn’t have any power at the international level.

3. Constitutional Convention
55 Delegates met in May of 1787 to change the Articles of Confederation, but instead chose to make a new written plan of government (Constitution).

4. Who Was There?
George Washington: Elected by the other delegates to lead the convention.
James Madison: Known as the “Father of the Constitution”
Benjamin Franklin: Oldest delegate at age 81.
William Patterson: Creator of the New Jersey Plan.

5. Rules of the Convention
Each state would only receive one vote.
Majority Rule
Everything that happened at the convention would be kept secret.

6. Virginia Plan Large State Plan
Introduced by Edmond Randolph, but composed by James Madison.
Included the following Ideas:
Bicameral Legislature
Representation based on population
Executive could be one or more persons
Can veto state laws at times
Supreme Court

7. New Jersey Plan Small State Plan
Introduced and created by William Patterson
Included the Following Ideas:
Unicameral Legislature
Each state has an equal number of votes
More than one executive
Executive could be removed by state executives
Supreme court appointed by the executive

8. The Great Compromise Introduced by Roger Sherman of Connecticut.
Included the idea of:
Both equal representation (Senate) and representation based on population (House of Representatives).

9. 3/5 Compromise
Only 3 out of every 5 slaves would count as part of the population for legislative representation.
3 out of 5 slaves would also be counted for taxation purposes.