The Constitutional ConventionThe Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional The Constitutional Convention beginsConvention begins

1787 - Philadelphia1787 - Philadelphia Delegates from all the Delegates from all the

states invited to a states invited to a convention to improve convention to improve the Articles of the Articles of Confederation, which Confederation, which were not workingwere not working

Only RI didn’t attendOnly RI didn’t attend 55 Delegates 55 Delegates

attendedattended

Leaders of the ConventionLeaders of the Convention

George Washington was asked to George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention.preside (lead) over the convention.

James Madison kept notes of the James Madison kept notes of the discussions and is often called discussions and is often called “The “The Father of the Constitution.”Father of the Constitution.”

The men who wrote the Constitution are The men who wrote the Constitution are called the “Founding Fathers.”called the “Founding Fathers.”

All the participants in the Convention All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males. were wealthy, white, males.

The Founding FathersThe Founding Fathers

C.C. Areas of agreement:Areas of agreement:

1.Scrap the 1.Scrap the Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation..

2.2.Establish a republican govtEstablish a republican govt..3.Establish a constitutional govt.3.Establish a constitutional govt.4.Establish a balanced govt. 4.Establish a balanced govt. where no single interest where no single interest dominates.dominates.5.Suffrage for property owners 5.Suffrage for property owners only.only.6.Stronger central govt. than 6.Stronger central govt. than under the Articles.under the Articles.7.7.Protection of property rights: Protection of property rights: the main purpose of govtthe main purpose of govt..8.Keep the proceedings secret.8.Keep the proceedings secret.

Issues that divided the Issues that divided the Nation’s leadersNation’s leaders

The power of the federal government. Would the The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most states or the federal government have the most power?power?

Representation in Congress: How many Representation in Congress: How many members in Congress would each state get? – members in Congress would each state get? – small states wanted equal representation, large small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population states wanted it to be determined by population of the statesof the states

Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?the slave trade continue?

Sets the agenda for the Philadelphia ConventionSets the agenda for the Philadelphia Convention Called for a new national government. Threw Called for a new national government. Threw

out the Articles of Confederationout the Articles of Confederation Three separate branches of government. – Three separate branches of government. –

a legislative branch, executive branch, and a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branchjudicial branch

Representation in the legislative branch based Representation in the legislative branch based on population of stateon population of state

Large states like the plan, small states don’t.Large states like the plan, small states don’t.

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan

Legislature – Legislature – unicameralunicameral (has one house.) (has one house.) Each state gets one vote. Each state gets one vote. Plural ExecutivePlural Executive Small states like the plan, the large states Small states like the plan, the large states

hate it.hate it.

There would have to be a compromiseThere would have to be a compromise..

The Great Compromise The Great Compromise (The Connecticut Compromise(The Connecticut Compromise))

Legislature would be Legislature would be bicameralbicameral (have two (have two houses.)houses.)

House of Representatives - based on House of Representatives - based on the population of each statethe population of each state

Senate - two senators per stateSenate - two senators per state

SlaverySlavery

The Southern states refused to approve the The Southern states refused to approve the Constitution unless slavery continued. Constitution unless slavery continued.

It was a terrible compromise to make, but the It was a terrible compromise to make, but the Northern states had no choice if they wanted a Northern states had no choice if they wanted a Constitution. Constitution.

3/5 Compromise 3/5 Compromise – Counted 3/5 of the enslaved – Counted 3/5 of the enslaved population in deciding numbers in the House of population in deciding numbers in the House of Representatives and for taxation.Representatives and for taxation.

Commerce & Slave Trade CompromiseCommerce & Slave Trade Compromise - In - In return for federal power to regulate commerce, return for federal power to regulate commerce, Congress cannot ban the slave trade until Congress cannot ban the slave trade until 1808, and exports cannot be taxed.1808, and exports cannot be taxed.

Other Areas of Disagreement and Other Areas of Disagreement and Compromise:Compromise:

Election of the President

a. Life term v. annual election ---compromise of a 4-year term.

b. Method of election: 1) Some wanted election by Congress. 2) Some wanted election by state legislatures. 3) Some wanted direct election.Compromise: Electoral College system.

RatificationRatification Federalists and Anti-Federalists debateFederalists and Anti-Federalists debate To become law, 9 of 13 states had to ratify To become law, 9 of 13 states had to ratify

(formally approve) the Constitution. NH (formally approve) the Constitution. NH was 9was 9thth in June, 1788. in June, 1788.

The FederalistThe Federalist Papers (The Federalist) Papers (The Federalist) by by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay.Madison, Hamilton, and Jay.

39 delegates signed the Constitution on 39 delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787September 17, 1787

Ratification PoliticsRatification Politics

1.1. FederalistsFederalists: : a. Supporters: property a. Supporters: property owners, creditors, owners, creditors, merchants. merchants. b. Views:b. Views: 1) Elites most fit to 1) Elites most fit to

govern.govern. 2) Feared "excesses" 2) Feared "excesses"

of democracy.of democracy. 3) Favored strong 3) Favored strong central government.central government.c.c. Leaders: Hamilton, Leaders: Hamilton, Madison, Washington, Madison, Washington, Jay.Jay.

Antifederalists:Antifederalists:a.a. Supporters: small farmers, Supporters: small farmers,

frontiersmen, debtors, frontiersmen, debtors, shopkeepers.shopkeepers.

b.b. Views.Views.1) Feared 1) Feared

concentration of power in concentration of power in hands of elites.hands of elites.

2)Believed that govt. 2)Believed that govt. should be closer to the people.should be closer to the people.

3)Feared strong central 3)Feared strong central government. Favored government. Favored stronger state govts. stronger state govts.

4) Feared the lack of 4) Feared the lack of Bill of RightsBill of Rights -- their strongest -- their strongest argument. argument.

c. c. Leaders: Henry, Mason, Gerry.Leaders: Henry, Mason, Gerry.

Federalist Advantages:Federalist Advantages:a. Were better represented in a. Were better represented in state legislatures.state legislatures.b. Controlled the press.b. Controlled the press.

c. Began ratification procedures c. Began ratification procedures quickly before Antifederalists quickly before Antifederalists could get organized.could get organized.d. Agreed to a d. Agreed to a Bill of Rights Bill of Rights after after ratification of the Constitution.ratification of the Constitution.

The Federalist Papers: written by The Federalist Papers: written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay to Madison, Hamilton, and Jay to rally support for ratification of rally support for ratification of the Constitution.the Constitution.

Ratification, 1788, by state Ratification, 1788, by state ratifying conventions of ratifying conventions of

popularly-elected delegatespopularly-elected delegates..