Confederation to Confederation to ConstitutionConstitution

Section 2: Creating the ConstitutionSection 2: Creating the Constitution Section 3: Ratifying the ConstitutionSection 3: Ratifying the Constitution

The United States still had:The United States still had:““The Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation””

But the country But the country REALLYREALLY needed to needed to change some change some thingsthings

Taxes were very Taxes were very high from state to high from state to state.state.

Trade in general Trade in general had some issues.had some issues.

States were even States were even arguing over arguing over water / river rights.water / river rights.

So, it was decided to hold a So, it was decided to hold a ““Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention””

55 55 ““delegatesdelegates from from around the states met, around the states met, including many of including many of AmericaAmerica’’s most s most famous men.famous men.

(a person named to (a person named to act as a act as a representative)representative)

George Washington George Washington (came out of (came out of retirement)retirement)

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (famous scientist and (famous scientist and statesman)statesman)

James Madison (read James Madison (read over 100 books in over 100 books in preparation for the preparation for the convention)convention)

Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were James Madison were overseas – but wrote overseas – but wrote letters to the conventionletters to the convention

But… there were no:But… there were no:

Native AmericansNative Americans African AmericansAfrican Americans WomenWomen

These groups of These groups of people were not people were not considered to considered to citizens and they citizens and they were not invited.were not invited.

The first thing they had to do:The first thing they had to do:Elect a president (only of the Elect a president (only of the

convention)convention) Who else were they Who else were they

going to choose?going to choose? This person was This person was

more respected and more respected and admired than any admired than any other American at other American at the time.the time.

He gave a quiet, and He gave a quiet, and dignified leadership dignified leadership to the convention.to the convention.

The rules of the conventionThe rules of the convention

All ideas should be All ideas should be consideredconsidered

People could change sides People could change sides if they wanted.if they wanted.

All discussions would All discussions would remain secret (even the remain secret (even the windows were shut – in the windows were shut – in the hot summer).hot summer).

Guards were posted Guards were posted outside.outside.

When any outsider came in When any outsider came in the room, everyone the room, everyone stopped talking.stopped talking.

There were 2 major proposals There were 2 major proposals for a new government for a new government

structurestructure The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan A government with 3 A government with 3 ““branchesbranches”” (legislative, (legislative, executive, and judicial)executive, and judicial)

A legislature with 2 A legislature with 2 ““houseshouses”” – but each of – but each of these branches these branches representatives representatives numbers would be numbers would be based on state based on state populations.populations.

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan A legislature with only A legislature with only

one house – and each one house – and each state would have 1 state would have 1 vote.vote.

Eventually they came up with a Eventually they came up with a compromise: called compromise: called

““The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise”” And.. We ended up with the government And.. We ended up with the government

structure we still have todaystructure we still have today

But… if state legislatureBut… if state legislature’’s s representatives were based on representatives were based on

populations…populations… Do they count slaves Do they count slaves

or not?or not? With slaves, the South With slaves, the South

had more people than had more people than the north.the north.

That might throw off That might throw off the balance of the the balance of the representatives – and representatives – and the votes (and give the votes (and give the South more power the South more power than the North wanted than the North wanted them to have).them to have).

The Compromise was The Compromise was to count each slave as to count each slave as 3/5 of a person.3/5 of a person.

This was called: The This was called: The Three-Fifths Three-Fifths Compromise.Compromise.

Before these compromises and Before these compromises and

new plan were finalized…new plan were finalized… They had to be voted on They had to be voted on

by the states.by the states. Finally enough states, and Finally enough states, and

then all the states passed then all the states passed the new constitution – but the new constitution – but not before…not before…

A A ““Bill of RightsBill of Rights”” was added was added to the Constitution.to the Constitution.

Americans were concerned Americans were concerned they might need some they might need some protections against the protections against the national government.national government.

Federalists: wanted states

and the national

government to each have

powers

Anti-federalists:

felt states and people might

lose their rights to the

national government

First Amendment – Establishment clause, freedom of religion, speech, and press, and peaceable assembly as well as the right to petition the government. Second Amendment – Right to keep and bear arms. Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops. Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Fifth Amendment – Due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, private property. Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and other rights of the accused. Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury. Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment. Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

Tenth Amendment – Powers of states and people.

One of ourOne of our 6 essential questions 6 essential questions is: is: What is revolutionary change?What is revolutionary change?

Changing the Articles of Confederation into the Changing the Articles of Confederation into the new constitution showed that many Americans new constitution showed that many Americans were unhappy and wanted some changes. Who were unhappy and wanted some changes. Who do you feel could be responsible for initiating a do you feel could be responsible for initiating a revolutionaryrevolutionary change and why them? change and why them?