The Constitution of the United States
• Articles were doomed to Fail– USA Lacked Central leadership– A Constitutional Convention was called in 1787– Many states called for stronger central
Government• Delegates– Revolutionary Veterans– Signers of Declaration of Independence– White, Landowning, males
Drafting a Constitution
Problems that need to be solved:•Problem 1: Balance between State and Federal•Problem 2: Balance between North and South•Problem 3: Balance between BIG states and Small states
•Two Plans proposed– The Virginia Plan & New Jersey Plan
Convention Problems
The Virginia Plan• Gov. would have 3
branches: – Executive, Legislative,
Judicial• Legislature would be bi-
cameral (2 house)– Voters choose lower
house – lower house chooses upper house
• Population would determine number of votes of each state
• National Gov. is above each state
New Jersey PlanSmaller states objected: Virginia plan would give large states (Virginia) Most of the votes and powerNJ Plan:– Change system to give
congress more power– Each state would have
EQUAL Representation in Gov.
“The Two Ideas…ought to be combined; that one branch the people ought to be represented; in the other the states.”•The Senate (upper house) would have 2 reps from each state•The Representatives (lower house) would be based on states population
“The Great Compromise”
Compromise on Slavery
Slave Population gave South huge Pop. Advantage
– Also Raise taxes – Property Tax
– Southerners wanted to count for Reps. But not for Taxes
•3/5 compromise– Slave = 3/5 person– Compromise on Reps.
And Taxes
Compromise on Slavery
No Ban on Slavery Considered – Unity Needed more than Abolition•Agreed:
– Importation would continue for 20 more years – then no more
– Fugitive Slave Clause: A runaway slave to another state must be returned to its owner across state lines
Enlightenment ideals states that effective governments need Checks & Balances•Balance between President/ Congress•Balance between States/ Federal•Convention gave MOST Power to the Congress (fear of Monarchy)•President elected by the states – Electoral College– States should follow popular vote
Checks and Balances
Checks and Balances• Office of VP – 2nd
place vote recipient• Each Branch had the
ability to slow/stop another branch– Ensured no branch
would have too much power
– Ensured no branch could not dominate the others
Checks and Balances• Planning the Court
System–Wanted courts to
maintain independent status – Judges nominated
by President/ Approved by Congress– Judges could not be
fired without just cause
• Fear of Strong Central Government• Federalists: Supporters of Constitution with
strong central Gov.
• AntiFederalists: Opponents of the constitution in its present form and sought a weaker central Gov.
Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
The Federalists• Leaders: James Madison,
Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Washington, Franklin
• Strong National Gov. = Republic Survives
• Fed. Gov. could end chaos between states
• Separation of Powers can prevent Tyranny
The AntifederalistsLeaders: Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson•Wanted a new Gov. but not the one proposed•Suspicious of Strong central Gov. = just left a strong Gov.•Feared Fed. Gov. would abuse states/ Individuals– Demanded a Bill of
Rights for protection
Final Ratification?• Final draft was
submitted to the states for approval
• Some delegates refused to sign because it lacked 1 component – A Bill of Rights
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