1. CHAPTER 8-2 CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

2. September 1786 Delegates from 5 states met in Maryland Discussed trade among states – taxes May 1787 Convention in Philadelphia Delegates from 12 states (not Rhode Island) The Call for a Constitutional Convention

3. CONSITUTIONAL CONVENTION  May 25, 1787  First nominated a president  Unanimously chose George Washington – hero of the Revolution  Discussions held in secret – political pressure  James Madison took great notes –so we know now what happened

4. FOUNDING FATHERS  55 delegates met at the Constitutional Convention  Many were part of their state legislatures and had written their state constitutions, signers of Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation

5. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY  James Madison & James Wilson  A government system of popular sovereignty is one in which THE PEOPLE RULE  Election of national legislature BY THE PEOPLE

6. Wanted government strong enough to protect rights BUT Not so strong as to oppress them CHALLENGES at CONVENTION

7. TWO DIFFERENT PLANS  LEGISLATIVE  2 houses – reps by state population  Lower house – people elect  Upper House – lower house elect  EXECUTIVE  Appointed by legislative  JUDICIAL  Appointed by legislative  LEGISLATIVE  1 house – one vote each state (regardless of size)  Elected by state legislature  EXECUTIVE  Appointed by legislative  JUDICIAL  Appointed by legislative VIRGINIA PLANNEW JERSEY PLAN

8. “CHECKS & BALANCES” “ALL POWER IN HUMAN HANDS IS LIABLE TO BE ABUSED”  A way of Controlling power of government  Each branch could check the powers of the other branches  Founding Fathers designed new government to limit abuse of power

9. THE GREAT COMPROMISE  Small states not like Virginia Plan – more power to states with larger populations  “That the proportion of suffrage in the first branch should be according to the respective numbers of free inhabitants, and that in the second branch, each state should have one vote.” Roger Sherman 7/16/1787  Senate – each state gets one vote  House of Reps – representation according to population  THE CONVENTION PASSED THE PLAN!!

10. THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE  Question – Should slaves should be counted  Southern – had more slaves  wanted them counted for representation  but not taxation  Northern – had fewer slaves  not want them counted for representation  but yes for taxation  AGREED 3/5 slave population counted for both representation and taxation

11. Another disagreement  Northern states outlawed slavery  Wanted this ban over whole nation  Southern states disagreed  AGREED Congress not ban slavery until 1808

12. September 17, 1787 Signed by delegates NEXT STEP...to each state for approval! CONSTITUTION PASSED