1. Compromises and The Fall of the Articles of Confederation

2. The Constitutional Convention
met in Philadelphia in May, 1787
55 delegates representing every state but Rhode Island
George Washington selected to act as presiding officer
Agreed to keep all discussions and decisions secret
James Madison kept diary of proceedings
Each state had one vote; Major decisions decided with majority vote
At first, the goal was to fix the A.O.C.

3. Controversies Under the Articles of Confederation
States and regions (N and S) developing very different cultures and economies
North was more manufacturing heavy
South grew tobacco and……..COTTON! Who made the cotton? Where?
Each state and region had different opinions on the Articles of Confederation – the biggest controversies? Slavery, Voting, and trade

4. Voting
Many states viewed the 1 state = 1 vote policy of the AoC undemocratic
Guess which size states didn’t like the 1 state = 1 vote policy the most?
Two Plans emerge with differing opinions
Virginia Plan (larger states) – representation based on population, if you have more people you send more representatives to Congress
New Jersey Plan (smaller states) – wanted to keep the AoC 1 state = 1 vote

5. The Great Compromise/Connecticut Plan
Proposed by Roger Sherman
Bicameral Legislature (two houses)
SENATE – Each state sends two representatives
House of Representatives – each state sends amount based on population
Created the Electoral College
You vote for representatives to vote for president, but each state has a certain amount of votes based on population
“Tyranny of the Majority” – is this democratic?
Didn’t trust the people to vote – left it to a group of “trusted” elites

6. Slavery Differing opinions:
IN this discussion of voting and population the question of SHOULD SLAVES BE COUNTED TOWARDS POPULATION emerged
Differing opinions:
Free States (states with no slaves) – did NOT want slaves to count towards population – why?
Slave States – wanted slaves to count towards population – Why?

7. 3/5 Compromise
3/5 of slaves counted as population in determining representation to the House of Representatives AND determining taxation

8. Issue #4- Regulation of Trade Should Congress Regulate foreign Trade?
North
South
Compromises
Wanted Congress to control trade
Wanted federal government to have power to collect duties and tariffs
Felt that if Congress controlled trade, it would ban the slave trade
Feared federal duty on agricultural products
Trade Compromise  no duties on export for the next 20 years
Slave Trade Compromise-agreed slave trade would end in 1808; no slaves imported after.