Chapter 9-2Chapter 9-2

The Constitutional ConventionThe Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional ConventionThe Constitutional Convention• May 1787, delegates meet to revise the May 1787, delegates meet to revise the

Articles of Confederation.Articles of Confederation.• All 55 delegates at the convention were All 55 delegates at the convention were

white males who were the nation’s ablest white males who were the nation’s ablest (most skilled) political leaders. Many had (most skilled) political leaders. Many had been Patriots and helped draw up their been Patriots and helped draw up their states constitution.states constitution.

• New Jersey representatives were David New Jersey representatives were David Brearly, Jonathan Dayton, William Churchill Brearly, Jonathan Dayton, William Churchill Houston, William Livingston, and William Houston, William Livingston, and William Paterson. Paterson.

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention- Constitutional Convention- Who is Who?Who is Who?

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

• Influenced by Virginia delegates. (James Influenced by Virginia delegates. (James Madison)Madison)

• The Government would have three parts or The Government would have three parts or branches of government:branches of government:

1. 1. Legislative BranchLegislative Branch: (: (bicameralbicameral) ) Would make laws.Would make laws.

2. 2. Executive BranchExecutive Branch: Carries out laws.: Carries out laws. 3. 3. Judicial BranchJudicial Branch: A system of courts : A system of courts

that would interpret the laws.that would interpret the laws.• Delegates from smaller states feared that Delegates from smaller states feared that

larger states would always be able to larger states would always be able to outvote them, and disliked this plan. outvote them, and disliked this plan.

BicameralBicameral: A legislature made up of two : A legislature made up of two houses. houses.

James Madison (VA)James Madison (VA)

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan• Presented by William Paterson.Presented by William Paterson.

• Congress would have one house and Congress would have one house and each state one vote.each state one vote.

• Representatives to congress would Representatives to congress would be elected by the state legislature.be elected by the state legislature.

• James Madison argued that this plan James Madison argued that this plan would not work. The majority agreed would not work. The majority agreed and voted to reject The New Jersey and voted to reject The New Jersey Plan. Plan.

William Paterson (NJ)William Paterson (NJ)

VA Plan –NJ PlanVA Plan –NJ Plan

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise• Small states wanted each state to have Small states wanted each state to have

the same number of representatives.the same number of representatives.

• Large states wanted representation based Large states wanted representation based on population.on population.

• Roger Sherman’s Great Compromise:Roger Sherman’s Great Compromise:

1. A House of Representatives with the 1. A House of Representatives with the number of representatives based on the number of representatives based on the states population.states population.

2. A Senate with two representatives from 2. A Senate with two representatives from each state.each state.

Roger Sherman (CT)Roger Sherman (CT)

Great CompromiseGreat Compromise

Three-Fifths CompromiseThree-Fifths Compromise• The southern states wanted slaves to The southern states wanted slaves to

be counted as a part of their be counted as a part of their population. population.

• Northern states objected because they Northern states objected because they had few slaves and felt slaves were had few slaves and felt slaves were treated as property and not citizens.treated as property and not citizens.

• Northern delegates knowing that Northern delegates knowing that without southern support, a new plan without southern support, a new plan of government could not be approved. of government could not be approved.

• The Three-Fifths Compromise counted The Three-Fifths Compromise counted slaves as three-fifths of a person when slaves as three-fifths of a person when determining a state’s population.determining a state’s population.

Three-Fifths CompromiseThree-Fifths Compromise

• Northerners and southerners also Northerners and southerners also disagreed on trade issues.disagreed on trade issues.

• Compromise on trade barred Compromise on trade barred congress from banning the slave congress from banning the slave trade until 1808 and from taxing trade until 1808 and from taxing exports.exports.

• Finally, the delegates agreed the Finally, the delegates agreed the people, not the state legislature, people, not the state legislature, should vote to should vote to ratifyratify the Constitution. the Constitution.

RatifyRatify: to approve : to approve