1. US Constitution

2. Background  Constitutional Convention: May 25-September 17, 1787  55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island didn’t send any)  Met in secret to allow free speech, avoid public sway  Constitutional Convention: May 25-September 17, 1787  55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island didn’t send any)  Met in secret to allow free speech, avoid public sway

3. Major Figures  James Madison, Virginia (Age 36): “Father of the Constitution”  Edmund Randolph, Virginia: Presented the Virginia Plan  William Paterson, New Jersey: Presented the New Jersey Plan  George Washington, Virginia, President of the Convention  James Madison, Virginia (Age 36): “Father of the Constitution”  Edmund Randolph, Virginia: Presented the Virginia Plan  William Paterson, New Jersey: Presented the New Jersey Plan  George Washington, Virginia, President of the Convention

4. More Major Figures  Alexander Hamilton, New York: Main author of The Federalist Papers (with Madison & John Jay)  Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania (Age 81)  Roger Sherman, Connecticut: Proposed Great Compromise  Alexander Hamilton, New York: Main author of The Federalist Papers (with Madison & John Jay)  Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania (Age 81)  Roger Sherman, Connecticut: Proposed Great Compromise

5. Issues  Representation/Taxation  Slavery  Strong national government  Elections/Term of President  Representation/Taxation  Slavery  Strong national government  Elections/Term of President

6. Representation  Virginia Plan  # of representatives in Congress based on population in state  Better for large states  New Jersey Plan  # of reps in Congress equal for all states  Better for small states  Same as Articles of Confederation  Virginia Plan  # of representatives in Congress based on population in state  Better for large states  New Jersey Plan  # of reps in Congress equal for all states  Better for small states  Same as Articles of Confederation

7. Representation Resolved  Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)  Bicameral legislature:  House of Representatives-- Proportional representation  Senate--Equal representation  Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)  Bicameral legislature:  House of Representatives-- Proportional representation  Senate--Equal representation

8. Slavery  “Three-Fifths Compromise”  Slaves and Native Americans count as 3/5s person  Used to determine # of reps and taxes  Commerce Clause  Slave trade could not be banned by Congress prior to 1808  Congress banned it in 1808  “Three-Fifths Compromise”  Slaves and Native Americans count as 3/5s person  Used to determine # of reps and taxes  Commerce Clause  Slave trade could not be banned by Congress prior to 1808  Congress banned it in 1808

9. Strong National Government  Weakness of national government under Articles  Power to tax  Power to go to war  Need for strong executive branch: President  Weakness of national government under Articles  Power to tax  Power to go to war  Need for strong executive branch: President

10. Presidential Issues  Election  Many delegates did not trust common people  Creation of electoral college  Term limits  Originally proposed one 7-year term  Wanted to avoid de facto king  Compromised on 4-year term, no limits  Election  Many delegates did not trust common people  Creation of electoral college  Term limits  Originally proposed one 7-year term  Wanted to avoid de facto king  Compromised on 4-year term, no limits

11. Final Draft  7 articles, 39 signers  Article I: Congress  Article II: President  Article III: Supreme Court  Article IV: Interstate Relations  Article V: Amendments  Article VI: Supremacy Clause  Article VII: Ratification  7 articles, 39 signers  Article I: Congress  Article II: President  Article III: Supreme Court  Article IV: Interstate Relations  Article V: Amendments  Article VI: Supremacy Clause  Article VII: Ratification

12. Ratification  9 of 13 states needed to ratify  Small states did so quickly (DE: 12-7-1787)  New Hampshire made 9 on June 21, 1788  Still needed big states (NY, VA) to make it legitimate  9 of 13 states needed to ratify  Small states did so quickly (DE: 12-7-1787)  New Hampshire made 9 on June 21, 1788  Still needed big states (NY, VA) to make it legitimate

13. Fight for New York  The Federalist Papers  85 articles published in newspaper  Written by Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay under pen name “Publius”  Anti-Federalists responded, i.e. “A Farmer in Virginia”  After heated debate, New York agreed thanks to promise of “Bill of Rights”  The Federalist Papers  85 articles published in newspaper  Written by Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay under pen name “Publius”  Anti-Federalists responded, i.e. “A Farmer in Virginia”  After heated debate, New York agreed thanks to promise of “Bill of Rights”

14. New Government  New Congress met March 4, 1789  George Washington elected president unanimously, inaugurated April 30, 1789  Rhode Island ratified on May 29, 1790  Bill of Rights Ratified in 1791  New Congress met March 4, 1789  George Washington elected president unanimously, inaugurated April 30, 1789  Rhode Island ratified on May 29, 1790  Bill of Rights Ratified in 1791