““The Road to the Constitution”The Road to the Constitution”

Learning GoalLearning GoalSWBAT:SWBAT:

Explain the viewpoints of the Explain the viewpoints of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in Federalists and Anti-Federalists in

Ratifying the ConstitutionRatifying the Constitution

Problems from the Start - “Creating and Problems from the Start - “Creating and Ratifying the Constitution”Ratifying the Constitution”

Right away disagreements arose about Right away disagreements arose about how the government would be structured.how the government would be structured.

The Two Plans for a The Two Plans for a LegislatureLegislature

““The Virginia Plan”The Virginia Plan”

Proposed by Edmund Randolph / James Madison

““The Virginia Plan”The Virginia Plan”

Created a “3 branch” government (Legislative, Executive, & Judicial)

Created a “bicameral” (two house) government.

““The Virginia Plan”The Virginia Plan” Representation would be

based on POPULATION! Larger states were in

favor of this! (Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, & New York)

Smaller states didn’t like because would lose power due to their populations.

““The New Jersey Plan”The New Jersey Plan”Proposed by William Paterson

““The New Jersey Plan”The New Jersey Plan”

Created a “3 branch” government (Legislative, Executive, & Judicial)

Created a “unicameral” (one house) government.

““The New Jersey Plan”The New Jersey Plan” This plan called for equal

representation -Each state had ONE vote!

Smaller states were in favor of this! (New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland)

Opposed by larger states who would only have as much power as smaller states despite having larger populations!

Compare & ContrastCompare & Contrast

Virginia Plan and New Jersey PlanVirginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

There were many Compromises There were many Compromises at the Conventionat the Convention

The “Great Compromise”The “Great Compromise”

The “Great Compromise”The “Great Compromise”

A “compromise” is a way of resolving disagreements in which each side gives up something but gains something else.

The “The “Great CompromiseGreat Compromise”” The Great Compromise

Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut.

Also called the “Connecticut Compromise”.

Created a two house government – bicameral legislature.

The “Great Compromise”The “Great Compromise”

Created the “Senate” Each state had two (2)

votes, both equal. Pleased the smaller

states (put them on equal footing with larger states in this house).

video

Created the “House of Representatives”.

Each state’s voting status was based on population.

Pleased the larger states (gave them more power in this house).

Other CompromisesOther Compromises

Question of Counting Slaves?Question of Counting Slaves?

Southern states wanted to count their slave populations (nearly 550,000)

The “3/5th Compromise” settled the issue.

Each slave would count as “3/5ths” of a person for representation AND taxation purposes.

““Electoral College”Electoral College” Some delegates wanted Congress to

choose the president. Others wanted the people to vote to

decide. The “Electoral College” is a group of

people who would be named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president – called “electors”

Still used today, but voters choose the electors now.

Ratifying the Ratifying the “U.S. Constitution”“U.S. Constitution”

Ratifying the Ratifying the “U.S. Constitution”“U.S. Constitution”

On September 17, 1787; the remaining 42 delegates met for the last time and signed the document.

If 9 out of the 13 states approved, or ratified, the Constitution – it would become the “supreme law of the land”.

Debate Breaks Out:Debate Breaks Out:“Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists”“Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists”

this is importantthis is importantEach wrote a series of papers in support of their side!!!Each wrote a series of papers in support of their side!!!

““Federalists”Federalists” “Federalists” were

supporters of the Constitution as it was written.

Believed in a strong central government.

““Anti-Federalists”Anti-Federalists”

“Anti-Federalists” opposed the Constitution as it was written.

Believed that it gave the federal (or national) government too much power & did not provide for the rights of the people.

““Federalists”Federalists” In essays entitled “The Federalist

Papers”, they argued that the U.S. could not survive without a strong federal government.

Believed in “federalism”, or a form of government in which power is divided among the federal and state governments.

Led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay video

““Anti-Federalists”Anti-Federalists”

“Anti-Federalists Papers” Demanded that the new Constitution protect the basic individual rights of the people – they wanted a “bill of rights” added.

Led by Patrick Henry

““Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists”Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists”

The “Federalists” promised to include a “bill of rights”, if the “Anti-Federalists” lessened their opposition and ratified the Constitution.

And so it began…

““The U.S. Constitution”The U.S. Constitution”

““The U.S. Constitution”The U.S. Constitution”

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify the Constitution. Rhode Island is the 13th.

We are now the “United States of America”