THE CONSTITUTION The Key People, Events, and Ideas that Shaped the Document.
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Transcript of THE CONSTITUTION The Key People, Events, and Ideas that Shaped the Document.
THE CONSTITUTIONThe Key People, Events, and Ideas that Shaped the Document
The Constitutional Convention
When: May 1787 Where:
Philadelphia – at the State House – now called Independence Hall
Purpose: Amend the Articles of Confederation
The Constitutional Convention
Who: 55 representatives from 12 states Includes: Ben Franklin - oldest James Madison –
important!! George Washington -
elected president of the Convention
Issues at the Convention
Some wanted to make small changes to the Articles Others wanted to rewrite the whole
document States were divided on major issues
Representation in the national government
Slavery Tariffs How strong to make the national
government
The Virginia Plan
Written by James Madison
Central government would have supreme power
3 Branches Bicameral (2 house)
legislature Representation
based on population Good for large states
The New Jersey Plan
Written by William Paterson
Keep Congress the same Unicameral (1 house) Based on equal number
per state Congress’ laws become
“supreme law of all states” Power to tax Power to regulate
commerce Good for small states
Debating
Argued about the formation of the government for over a month
Created a committee to decide on issue of representation
Decided on a compromise
The Great Compromise
Slavery and the New Government Southerners wanted slaves to
count as part of population Would get more representatives in the House of Representatives
Northerners wanted slaves to count for the purposes of taxes Not to be considered for representation
Slavery and the New Government
The Northern and Southern states were divided about slaves as members of the population
Slavery in the New Government
At the time, the majority of the states used slave labor. However, there were more slaves in the southern states than in the northern states.
Slavery in the New GovernmentDecided to count slaves, but only as a fraction
Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person in determining representation for Congress
Called the Three-Fifths Compromise
Another Compromise
Some delegates wanted an immediate end to the slave trade Some southerners threatened to leave the
Union if the slave trade ended Compromise:
Southerners give up fight about having 2/3 of Congress pass laws
IF Northerners wait 20 years to stop the slave
trade
Major Constitutional Ideas
Want to protect popular sovereignty Establish a system of federalism
Shared power between central and state governments
States must obey authority of central government
States DO get local control over some issuesLocal government, education, provide for the welfare of citizens
A Balance of Power
Created 3 branches of government Legislative – proposes and
passes laws“Congress” Senate = 2 members from
each stateHouse of Representatives =
members based on population Executive – carries out the laws
Creates departments to enforce the laws
Judicial – interpreting the lawsCourt system
A Balance of Power
Established a system of checks and balances Keeps each branch from becoming too
powerful Most actions of one branch must be
“checked” by another branchEx: Congress passes a law. The president
can “veto” (reject) that law.Congress can override the veto with a
vote of 2/3 of its membersJudicial branch can review that law
and declare it “unconstitutional” = power of judicial review
Wrapping up the Convention
Lasted for 16 weeks
Final draft finished in September 1787
Sent Constitution to Congress Congress sent
it to the states to be ratified