1. The Constitutional Convention

2. Northwest Ordinance, 1787 Laws passed by the Confederation Congress Allowed slavery in the area south of the Ohio River Prohibited slavery north of the river

3. Annapolis Convention, 1786 5 states sent representatives Adopted a report urging all states to send delegates to Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation

4. Constitutional Convention 55 delegates met in Philadelphia beginning in May, 1787 All meetings that summer were held in secrecy Purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation

5. Key People at the Constitutional Convention

6. George Washington Chairman of the Convention Seldom participated, but Lent his enormous prestige to the proceedings

7. James Madison “Father of the Constitution” A Virginian and brilliant political philosopher Keep the only notes of the proceedings

8. Authored the “Virginia Plan” which proposed a federal government of three separate branches Later authored the US Bill of Rights

9. Issue of Representation in the new government Two plans were introduced They demonstrated the basic conflict between large and small states

10. Virginia Plan Virginia was a “large” state Base representation on population Larger states would get more representatives

11. (Virginia Plan) A bicameral (2-house) legislature, both based on population Legislature would choose the executive and judiciary Legislature would have the power to veto state legislation

12. New Jersey Plan Introduced by William Paterson and represented the small state view Each state should get an equal number of representatives

13. (New Jersey Plan) A unicameral legislature Increase the power of Congress to levy import duties and regulate trade Each state would have one vote

14. The Great Compromise Bicameral legislature Membership in the lower house (House of Representatives) should be based on population Upper house (Senate) based on equal representation

15. Three-fifth’s Compromise The problem was: should slaves be counted as population in determining representation Northerners were opposed Southerners supported it Agreed to count 3/5 of the slaves in determining representation

16. Slave Trade Compromise Congress would not be allowed to pass any trade regulations pertaining to slave trade for 20 years.