1. Topic 2b – Constitutional Convention
Major Question: What challenges created the necessity for a new constitution and what problems emerged in ratification of this new document?

2. Convention Philadelphia Convention
Shays + the Articles failures call for a new government
“the most distinguished men in America” gather in Philly to debate a new government

3. Convention 55 delegates 29 college degree 34 lawyers 24 congressmen
21 veterans
19 owned slaves
0 women
0 African Americans
0 Native Americans

4. Agreement Division of power Checks and Balances Sovereignty Majority
Federal government divided into 3 branches
Executive (enforces law)
Legislative (writes law)
Judicial (interprets law)
State Governments
Checks and Balances
No one branch has more power over the others
Sovereignty
Each state is allowed to make their own decisions within the scope of federal law
Federal law > state law
Still argued about today, but it’s the truth.
Majority
All decisions require a majority of approval in all branches

5. Compromise Representation
People who argue for and make laws for other people
Legislative Branch
Caused the most trouble for the Constitutional Convention

6. Compromise Smaller states Larger states
Didn’t have a lot of money or resources.
Most didn’t own slaves.
Wanted equal representation
“Equal is fair!”
“I can’t help it my state is small and doesn’t have a lot of people…it doesn’t mean I should be ignored!”
The New Jersey Plan
Larger states
Had a lot of money and resources.
Most owned slaves.
Wanted representation based upon state population.
Big states have more power, small states have a little power.
“we have more people, we need more power to help our bigger population sizes.”
The Virginia Plan

7. Compromise Countless debates and SEVEN WEEKS LATER…
The Great Compromise
A Bicameral Congress
House of Representatives – Based upon state population
Slaves = 3/5 person
“sigh…..”
This too they argued about and compromised.
Senate - Each state has 2 senators
BOTH houses must pass every law.

8. Success! The rich, educated, white elites made a Constitution
55 Delegates ≠ 2,890,000 people
They needed to send it to each state for ratification.
Give formal consent
Agreed that 9/13 agreements meant it was official.
1787 – 10/13 had agreed
But they still needed the two biggest states, New York and Virginia…and it wouldn’t be easy.