1. Essential Question:
What compromises were needed in order to create the U.S. Constitution?
CPUSH Agenda for Unit 3.3:
“The Constitutional Convention” notes

2. Confederation Government in New York City
The Articles of Confederation were intentionally weak in order to protect state & individual liberties
But, the inability of the national gov’t to tax & unify the states led to problems like Shays’ Rebellion
Confederation Government in New York City

3. In May 1787, 55 delegates held a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to discuss ways to strengthen the national gov’t…
…But instead of revising the Articles of Confederation, they replaced it with the Constitution

4. The national government under the Constitution would have new features & powers that the Articles of Confederation did not have
Rather than a single unicameral Congress, the new national government would be divided among three equal branches of government

5. Popular Sovereignty: the people have power by voting for leaders
Limited gov’t: even though the national government was stronger, citizens’ liberty was still protected
Federalism: the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts

7. Separation of powers: three branches with defined powers
(Montesquieu)
Checks & balances: each branch can limit the power of the others

8. The delegates at the convention had to negotiate a series of compromises in order to agree on a framework for government
Many of these compromises dealt with how representatives would be chosen from the states to serve in Congress

9. The large states supported the Virginia Plan which proposed adding a president to lead the nation and a bicameral congress in which larger states have more representatives
The small states supported the a New Jersey Plan which called for a unicameral congress in which states are equally represented just like the AOC

10. In the Senate each state has 2 reps who serve 6-year terms
Roger Sherman created a combination of the two plans
The Great Compromise resolved the differences between the large & small states by creating a bicameral Congress
In the Senate each state has 2 reps who serve 6-year terms
In the House of Representatives, the number of reps is determined by each state’s population

11. Northern & Southern states could not agree whether or not to count slaves towards population size
If slaves are counted, Southern states would have more votes and power in the House of Representatives
The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed states to count three of every five slaves toward taxation and population size

12. Many Northerners wanted to use the Constitutional Convention to end slavery, but Southerners threatened to leave the USA anytime slavery was discussed
The Fugitive Slave Act
As a compromise for the South, the slave trade could continue for 20 more years & runaway slaves would be returned to slave masters

13. James Madison negotiated and wrote much of the framework of the new government and is referred to as the “father of the Constitution”

14. From May to September 1787, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention worked out a framework for a new federal system of government
But, this plan for government had to be ratified by 9 states if it was to replace the Articles of Confederation
Great chronolony of events in the Constitutional Convention and ratification debate (from constitution.com)

15. Many Americans were concerned about the possibility of tyranny because the Constitution gave more power to the national government over the states

16. The Anti-Federalists were led by Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams
Anti-Federalists were those who opposed the Constitution, feared a stronger national gov’t , and wanted states to remain power
The Anti-Federalists were led by Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams

17. Federalists were those who supported the new Constitution and a stronger national gov’t
Federalist leaders James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays called the Federalist Papers to encourage ratification of the Constitution

18. “Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government… People must cede some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.” (Federalist #2)
“…the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, the more easily will they execute their plans of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will invade the rights of other citizens.” (Federalist #10)
“[If the] federal gov’t is entrusted with the care of the common defense…that gov’t ought to be clothed with all the powers requisite to complete execution of its trust.” (Federalist #23)

19. Some states ratified the Constitution quickly, but states with large majorities of Anti-Federalists refused without a Bill of Rights to protect their liberty
In 1789, the Bill of Rights was introduced and the last two states ratified the Constitution by 1790
New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution which went into effect in 1789, but the Federalists wanted all 13 states to ratify the new gov’t

20. Today, the Constitution is the oldest existing written gov’t in the world and is a model for other nations