1. CH 8: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Learning Goal: to identify the issues that had to be compromised in setting up the Constitution.
Essential Question: Explain the issues that were debated and the solution the Founding Fathers created in the Constitution.

2. 1. A NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT

3. THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS SET UP A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
THE ARTICLES STATED:
EACH OF THE 13 STATES ARE INDEPENDENT
EACH OF THE 13 STATES COOPERATE FOR A COMMON PURPOSE IN CONGRESS AND HAS ONE VOTE

4. U.S. UNDER ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
PROBLEMS WITH THE ARTICLES:
CONGRESS HAD NO AUTHORITY TO SETTLE DISPUTES BETWEEN STATES
CONGRESS HAD NO AUTHORITY TO TAX OR REGULATE TAXES AMONG THE STATES

5. U.S. UNDER ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER THE ARTICLES:
CONGRESS WAS ABLE TO PASS THE LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785
WESTERN LANDS WERE DIVIDED INTO SIX MILE SQUARES CALLED TOWNSHIPS OF 36 SECTIONS OF 640 ACRES EACH (ONE SECTION WAS SET ASIDE FOR A SCHOOL)

6. U.S. UNDER ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
CONGRESS PASSED THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787
WHEN A TERRITORY HAS 5,000 MEN IT COULD ELECT A LEGISLATURE
WHEN POPULATION GREW TO 60,000 TO COULD APPLY TO BECOME A STATE AND JOIN THE UNION
SLAVERY WAS BANNED IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

7. SHAYS’S REBELLION
FARMERS IN MASSACHUSETTS WERE BEING TOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY TO PAY THEIR TAXES DUE TO MONEY SHORTAGES
*** GOV’T NOT PROTECTING UNALIENABLE RIGHTS (LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY)***

8. 2. A CALL FOR CHANGE

9. THESE LEADERS CALL FOR A CONVENTION, INVITING REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL 13 STATES TO PHILADELPHIA “FOR THE SOLE AND EXPRESS PURPOSE OF REVISING THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.”
THEY MET AT INDEPENDENCE HALL IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ON MAY 25, 1787

10. DEBRIEF
WHEN AND WHERE WAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION HELD?
WHY WAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION?

11. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
12 OF THE 13 STATES SENT REPRESENTATIVES TO PHILADELPHIA FOR THE CONVENTION HELD IN MAY 1787
RHODE ISLAND WAS THE ONLY STATE THAT DID NOT SEND REPRESENTATIVES
55 DELEGATES (REPRESENTATIVES) WERE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION: ALL WERE WHITE, WEALTHY, AND WELL-EDUCATED MEN

12. IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
GEORGE WASHINGTON: ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE CONVENTION
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: OLDEST MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION
JAMES MADISON (FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION): WELL VERSED IN THE STUDY OF ANCIENT AND MODERN GOVERNMENTS; TOOK DETAILED RECORDS OF DEBATES AND DECISIONS OF THE CONVENTION

13. DEBRIEF
WHY WAS JAMES MADISON CONSIDERED THE “FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION?”
WHO ATTENDED THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION?

14. 3. ISSUES OF THE CONVENTION

15. ISSUE #1: REPRESENTATION
VIRGINIA PLAN
3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT (EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL)
2 HOUSE CONGRESS (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE)
REPRESENTATION BASED ON POPULATION
MORE PEOPLE = MORE REPRESENTATIVES
LESS PEOPLE = LESS REPRESENTATIVES
LARGE POPULATION STATES APPROVED THIS PLAN

16. ISSUE #1: REPRESENTATION
NEW JERSEY PLAN
3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
1 HOUSE CONGRESS
REPRESENTATION BASED ON ONE VOTE
ONE STATE = ONE VOTE
SMALL POPULATION STATES APPROVED THIS PLAN

17. RESULT: THE GREAT COMPROMISE
3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT (EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL)
2 HOUSE CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BASED ON POPULATION
SENATE BASED ON 1:1 VOTE

18. DEBRIEF
EXPLAIN THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VIRGINIA PLAN AND NEW JERSEY PLAN.
HOW WAS THE GREAT COMPROMISE REACHED?

19. ISSUE #2: SLAVES ARE SLAVES PEOPLE OR PROPERTY?
SOUTH WANTED SLAVES COUNTED IN POPULATION TO GET MORE REPRESENTATIVES
NORTH SAID IF SLAVES ARE TO BE COUNTED THEN THEY SHOULD BE FREE WITH RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP

20. RESULT: THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE
THE 3/5TH COMPROMISE
EVERY 3 OUT OF 5 SLAVES WERE COUNTED IN THE POPULATION
CONGRESS COULD NOT INTERFERE WITH SLAVE TRADE FOR 20 YEARS (UNTIL 1808)

21. DEBRIEF
HOW WAS THE QUESTION OF SLAVES BEING PEOPLE OR PROPERTY SOLVED?

22. ISSUE # 3: ELECTING A PRESIDENT
SHOULD THERE BE 1 OR 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVES?
1 EXECUTIVE MEANS SOMEONE LIKE A KING
3 EXECUTIVES MEANS MORE REPRESENTATION AMONG THE REGIONS (NORTH, SOUTH, WEST) AND LESS POWER
DECIDED ON A PRESIDENT WITH A 4 YEAR TERM

23. RESULT: ELECTORAL COLLEGE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE- THE SYSTEM OF ELECTING THE PRESIDENT
NUMBER OF ELECTORS DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES EACH STATE SENDS TO CONGRESS
PERSON WITH THE MOST VOTES = PRESIDENT
RUNNER UP = VICE PRESIDENT
TODAY THE PRESIDENT SELECTS HIS OWN VICE PRESIDENT

24. DEBRIEF
HOW DO AMERICANS ELECT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

25. THE NEW PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT: THE CONSTITUTION
SEPTEMBER 17, 1787 = CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY DELEGATES
9 OUT OF 13 STATES HAD TO RATIFY (APPROVE) THE CONSTITUTION FOR IT TO BECOME THE “LAW OF THE LAND”
FEDERALISTS = SUPPORTERS OF THE CONSTITUTION
ANTI-FEDERALISTS = OPPONENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION