1. Constitutional Convention
Members
Principles
Agreements and compromises

2. Members 55 delegates White Males
Statesmen, lawyers, planters. bankers, businessmen
Most under age 50
All states except Rhode Island

3. Absent John Adams- ambassador to England
Thomas Jefferson- ambassador to France
Patrick Henry- “smelled a rat”
Sam Adams- not chosen by state to be part of the delegation

4. Famous Members Alexander Hamilton- leader of strong government
George Washington- chairman of the convention
James Madison- ‘father of the Constitution’
Benjamin Franklin- oldest member at 81 was also at the 2nd Continental Congress

5. George Washington Presided over meeting
Gave the meeting greater significance
Would later become the first president of the United States

6. Benjamin Franklin Oldest delegate (80 years old)
Like Washington, was well respected and added a positive presence to the meetings

7. Gouverneur Morris Powerful speaker and writer Wrote the Preamble
Wrote final draft of Constitution
Tried to get Constitutional Convention to ban slavery

8. James Madison Father of the Constitution
His notes became the best record of what happened at the convention.
Supporter of strong central government

9. Edmund Randolph Governor of Virginia
Proposed creating strong national government instead of rewriting Articles
Introduced Virginia Plan to convention

10. William Paterson
Presented the New Jersey plan, a plan that revised the Articles of Confederation

11. Roger Sherman
Proposed a compromise to the New Jersey and Virginia plan which came to be known as The Great Compromise

12. Principles of the Constitution
Checks and Balances- A political system in which branches of government have some authority over the actions of the other branches
Limited Government- the idea that government is not all powerful, but can only do what the people allow it to.

13. Principles of the Constitution
Federalism- the division of power between a central government and states
National level
State level
Local level

14. Principles of the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty- the people rule. The power of the government is based on the consent of the governed.
Separation of powers- the division of the government into three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

15. Agreements and Compromises
All agreed that rights to property should be protected.
Ben Franklin proposed universal suffrage for all males, but most wanted only those with land to vote
Most delegates favored a bicameral legislature

16. Agreements and Compromises
Virginia Plan- favored by large states
Proposed by Edmund Randolph
Written by James Madison
Endorsed by Alexander Hamilton
Government with a bicameral legislature
Large house elected by popular vote
Smaller house chosen by larger house members from nominees chosen by state legislatures
Number of Representatives based on wealth

17. Agreements and Compromises
New Jersey Plan- favored by small states
Proposed by William Paterson
Unicameral house
Each state one vote
Did not require a strong central government

18. The Great Compromise Aka: Connecticut Compromise
Bicameral house- benefit all states
One house called Senate
Members chosen by the state legislatures
Each state gets one vote
One house called House of Representatives
Members chosen by population
Number of members based on population

19. Slavery Issue
Northern states wanted to ban slavery throughout the nation
Southern states considered slavery essential to their economies
It was agreed that Congress would not interfere with the slave trade until 1808

20. Agreements and Compromises
Three-fifths clause
favors Southern states
All slaves would be counted in the census for representation in the House as 3/5ths
And taxed accordingly

21. Agreements and Compromises
Electoral College
People chosen by the state legislatures
Vote for president and vice-president
Supposed to reflect the will of the people

22. Agreements and Compromises
Slave and trade compromise
Benefits both North and South
No taxes on exports
No interference with the slave trade for 20 years

23. Agreements and Compromises
Amendment compromise
2/3 vote of each house of Congress and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures
2/3 vote of both houses and ratified by state conventions of ¾ of the states (used 21st amendment)

24. Criticism of Founders Beard’s criticism:
Founders interested in protecting property- their own
All agreements based on their own economic welfare
Most scholars determine that the criticism is false because the voting did not follow their own interests but those of their state

25. Criticism of Constitution
Does not protect the rights of the individual
Does not protect states rights
Gives a central authority too much power

26. Ratification
9 out of 13 states had to ratify (approve) the Constitution
Federalists-supporters of the Constitution
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay defended the Constitution in The Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalists-opposed ratification
Lacked a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms

27. Adopting the Constitution
June 21, 1788—New Hampshire (the 9th state) ratified the Constitution
June 25, 1788—Virginia ratified the Constitution
June 26, 1788—New York ratified the Constitution
November 1789—Constitution ratified by North Carolina
May 1790—Constitution ratified by Rhode Island