1. Bell Ringer: If you were a colonist who supported the independence of the colonies, what kind of government would you want to create as an independent nation?

2. In 1777, the Articles of Confederation loosely joined the 13 independent states
After 10 years, the leaders decided the American national government needed to be stronger
In Spring 1787 delegates from the states met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles; Rhode Island did not join

3. Characteristics of Delegates at the Constitutional Convention
What kind of jobs/ professions did these men hold? (lawyers, governors, merchants, physicians, college presidents, planters)
How many delegates attended? 55
Around what ages were most the delegates? 30-40
What three groups were not considered as part of the political process? Women, African Americans, native Americas

4. The First Decision
The delegates chose George Washington to guide the convention
Why did they choose him?
He was respected for his leadership during the American Revolution

5. Key Decisions Made at the Convention
Each state would have one vote no matter how many delegates represented that state
A majority would decide an issue
Kept the convention a secret
Their job was to revise the Articles of Confederation but they decided to start over and build a new constitution

6. Compromising for the Constitution
The delegates wanted a government plan that all states could accept

7. The Virginia Plan
Had a president, courts, and congress with two houses
State population would decide how many representatives were in each house
Larger states would have more votes than smaller states
Delegates from states with more people liked the plan
MA, PA, VA, NY

8. The New Jersey Plan William Patterson created it
Based on the Articles of Confederation
Kept the Confederation’s one house congress
Each state would have one vote but Congress could set taxes and regulate trade
Instead of a strong president, a less powerful committee (Congress) would carry out laws
Delegates from smaller states liked this plan because they would have the same power as larger states

9. Both
Had a legislative
Agreed they needed to create a new government

10. The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman of Connecticut and a committee helped solve the debate between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
The committee decided the Congress would have two houses, a Senate and House of Representatives
Each state would have two representatives in the Senate
In the House the e# of seats would be based on the state’s population
All accepted the committee’s plan
Historians call Sherman’s plan the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise

11. The Three-Fifths Compromise:
In 1787 more than 550,000 African Americans were enslaved
Most of them lived in southern states. The southern states wanted to count the enslaved people in their population so they would have more votes in the House of Representatives

12. The north had few enslaved persons so they argued enslaved persons did not have a vote because they were owned property
The 3/5ths agreement is now this problem was solved
It stated that enslaved persons would count as 3/5 of other persons in determining representative in Congress

13. It was also agreed Congress could regular trade between states and other countries
North agreed Congress could not tax exports

14. Electoral College
A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president
It would be made up of electors named by each state
It still exists today
Voters in each state choose delegates

15. On September 17, 1787 the delegates met for the last time
A committee headed by Gouverneur Morris had written down the Conventions ideas and the Constitution was ready to be signed
The enxt step was to get the states approval
Each state would set up a ratifying convention to vote “yes” or “no”

16. 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution in order for it to become the law of the land

17. Fold a piece of paper in half
On one side write “Federalist” and on the other write “Anti-federalist”

18. Federalist: *write the question and your answer
Who were the federalists?
What did the constitution create?
Define federalism
How did the federalist try to win support?
Who were the main leaders of the Federalists?
What were the federalist papers?

19. Anti-Federalist Who were the anti federalists? What did they argue?
What did they believe?
What weakness did the Antifederalists see?

20. Launching a new nation (add this to the bottom of your notes)
Federalists agreed to create a bill of rights
This helped win public support
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution
In 1788 the Constitution was put into effect
1790-all states became one nation the USA

21. On the back: Bill of Rights:
Federalists agreed to create a bill of rights
This helped win public support
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Consitutiton
In 1788 the Constitution was put into effect
1790 all states became one nation: the USA