Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Creating the Creating the ConstitutionConstitution

5.1 The Constitutional 5.1 The Constitutional ConventionConvention

Delegates from 12 of Delegates from 12 of the colonies meet in the colonies meet in Philadelphia in 1787Philadelphia in 1787

George Washington George Washington is chosen as is chosen as President of the President of the conventionconvention

Meet the framersMeet the framers

IntelligentIntelligent Well-respectedWell-respected College-educatedCollege-educated WealthyWealthy Long record of Long record of

public servicepublic service Average age was Average age was

only 42 years old!only 42 years old!

The Convention RulesThe Convention Rules

All discussions must be kept secret. . .All discussions must be kept secret. . . No one could take notes home from No one could take notes home from

the meetingsthe meetings All debates would take place inside All debates would take place inside

the State House (Independence Hall)the State House (Independence Hall) Each state had one voteEach state had one vote Met six days a week from 10:00 AM to Met six days a week from 10:00 AM to

4:00 PM4:00 PM

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan Proposed by James Proposed by James

MadisonMadison Strong national gov’tStrong national gov’t Legislative, executive Legislative, executive

& judicial branches& judicial branches Representation in the Representation in the

legislature would be legislature would be based on populationbased on population

Favored by the larger Favored by the larger statesstates

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan

Proposed by William Proposed by William PatersonPaterson

Executive, Executive, legislative and legislative and judicial branchesjudicial branches

Unicameral Unicameral Congress based on Congress based on equal representationequal representation

Favored by the Favored by the smaller statessmaller states

The Connecticut The Connecticut CompromiseCompromise

Also known as the Also known as the “Great Compromise”“Great Compromise”

Proposed by Roger Proposed by Roger ShermanSherman

Bicameral legislatureBicameral legislature

-House of -House of Representatives Representatives based on populationbased on population

-Senate based on -Senate based on equal representationequal representation

The Three-Fifths The Three-Fifths CompromiseCompromise

Should slaves be Should slaves be counted in the counted in the population?population?

Slaves were Slaves were considered considered propertyproperty

Decided each slave Decided each slave would count as 3/5 would count as 3/5 of a personof a person

Strengths of the Strengths of the ConstitutionConstitution

1.1. A stronger national A stronger national gov’tgov’t

2.2. A bicameral legislatureA bicameral legislature

3.3. Established executive Established executive and judicial branchesand judicial branches

4.4. Congress has the Congress has the power to taxpower to tax

5.5. Nat’l gov’t can Nat’l gov’t can regulate trade regulate trade between the statesbetween the states

6.6. Power is shared Power is shared between the nat’l gov’t between the nat’l gov’t and the statesand the states

The Signing of the The Signing of the ConstitutionConstitution

Framers agreed Framers agreed that a bill of rights that a bill of rights was not necessarywas not necessary

Constitution was Constitution was signed on signed on September 17, September 17, 17871787

5.2 The Struggle for 5.2 The Struggle for RatificationRatification

Constitution had to Constitution had to be ratified (or be ratified (or approved) by at approved) by at least 9 of the 13 least 9 of the 13 coloniescolonies

Each state held a Each state held a convention to convention to approve the approve the Constitution so that Constitution so that the people could the people could debate itdebate it

The FederalistsThe Federalists

Led by James Led by James Madison, Ben Franklin Madison, Ben Franklin & George Washington& George Washington

Supported the new Supported the new ConstitutionConstitution

Believed in a strong Believed in a strong national gov’tnational gov’t

Supported the Supported the separation of powersseparation of powers

Established the Established the checks and balances checks and balances systemsystem

The Anti-FederalistsThe Anti-Federalists Led by Thomas Led by Thomas

Jefferson, Patrick Jefferson, Patrick Henry & John Henry & John HancockHancock

Opposed the Opposed the ConstitutionConstitution

Central gov’t would Central gov’t would be too distant from be too distant from the local concernsthe local concerns

Feared a strong Feared a strong central gov’tcentral gov’t

Constitution lacked a Constitution lacked a bill of rightsbill of rights

The Anti-Federalists The Anti-Federalists Continued. . .Continued. . .

Felt gov’t would abuse its powerFelt gov’t would abuse its power Thought the Constitution would only Thought the Constitution would only

benefit the rich and powerfulbenefit the rich and powerful Believed God should be mentioned in Believed God should be mentioned in

the Constitutionthe Constitution Opposed the approval process: Opposed the approval process:

thought all 13 colonies should pass thought all 13 colonies should pass (instead of 9)(instead of 9)

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers

Pro-Constitution Pro-Constitution essays that were essays that were written by Hamilton, written by Hamilton, Madison & JayMadison & Jay

Published Published anonymously to anonymously to urge states to urge states to support the new support the new ConstitutionConstitution

The Ratification of the The Ratification of the ConstitutionConstitution

New Hampshire was the ninth New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify but the new state to ratify but the new gov’t would fail without the gov’t would fail without the support of Virginia & New support of Virginia & New YorkYork

Federalists agreed to add a Federalists agreed to add a bill of rights bill of rights

Constitution is passed in 1790 Constitution is passed in 1790 when all 13 states approved when all 13 states approved & George Washington & George Washington becomes Presidentbecomes President

The Goals of GovernmentThe Goals of Government

Form a more perfect Form a more perfect UnionUnion

Establish justiceEstablish justice Insure domestic Insure domestic

tranquilitytranquility Provide for the Provide for the

common defensecommon defense Promote the general Promote the general

welfarewelfare Secure the blessings Secure the blessings

of libertyof liberty

Principles of Limited Principles of Limited GovernmentGovernment

FederalismFederalism: division of power : division of power between the states and the national between the states and the national gov’tgov’t

Separation of powersSeparation of powers: power is : power is shared by the executive, legislative shared by the executive, legislative and judicial branches of gov’tand judicial branches of gov’t