Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Conventionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT7dMHAiCfshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT7dMHAiCfs

Let the Convention Let the Convention Begin!Begin!

When? May 25, 1787-Sept. 17, 1787When? May 25, 1787-Sept. 17, 1787Where? Philadelphia, PAWhere? Philadelphia, PAWhy? to re-write the (weak) Articles of Why? to re-write the (weak) Articles of ConfederationConfederationWeather?Weather? hot, humid (w/ no hot, humid (w/ no A.C. and infrequent bathing!) A.C. and infrequent bathing!)

What did they agree on?What did they agree on?

1.1. Each state had one vote.Each state had one vote.

2.2. The Articles of Confederation were The Articles of Confederation were WEAK! A few of the biggest WEAK! A few of the biggest problems were:problems were:

A.A. There was no President (Executive There was no President (Executive Branch).Branch).

B.B. Congress couldn’t collect taxes.Congress couldn’t collect taxes.

C.C. The state governments had more The state governments had more power than the federal government.power than the federal government.

What did they agree on?What did they agree on?3. 3. They were SO BAD, delegates wouldn’t even bother to They were SO BAD, delegates wouldn’t even bother to

rewrite the Articles of Confederation. Instead, they rewrite the Articles of Confederation. Instead, they would create something totally new and different… would create something totally new and different… and, hopefully, better.and, hopefully, better.

4. The ideals of the Declaration of Independence would 4. The ideals of the Declaration of Independence would guide them.guide them.

5. They would keep all the windows and doors locked in 5. They would keep all the windows and doors locked in order to keep their discussions secret. They would order to keep their discussions secret. They would remain secret for 30 years because…remain secret for 30 years because…A. they wanted delegates to be comfortable A. they wanted delegates to be comfortable speaking freely & honestlyspeaking freely & honestlyB. They wanted the U.S. people to accept the new B. They wanted the U.S. people to accept the new plan, but they were afraid they might not if they plan, but they were afraid they might not if they knew the reps. had argued so much.knew the reps. had argued so much.

6. The key word would be COMPROMISE, which means 6. The key word would be COMPROMISE, which means each side GIVING UP some of what they want to GET each side GIVING UP some of what they want to GET some of what they want. (As mama used to say, some of what they want. (As mama used to say, “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours!”)“You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours!”)

So… Who showed up to the So… Who showed up to the ‘PARTY’?‘PARTY’?

There were 55 delegates. All states except There were 55 delegates. All states except Rhode Island sent delegates. There were no Rhode Island sent delegates. There were no women, slaves, former slaves, free black women, slaves, former slaves, free black men, Native Americans, or even poor men, Native Americans, or even poor people who were invited to attend. Every people who were invited to attend. Every single one of the delegates was asingle one of the delegates was a

FreeFree WhiteWhite MaleMale PropertyProperty OwnerOwner

Some of the most important Some of the most important delegates were:delegates were:

1.1. George George Washington (the Washington (the chairman of the chairman of the Convention)Convention)

the most respected the most respected man in the countryman in the country

a war hero who led a war hero who led the patriots to the patriots to victoryvictory

FederalistFederalist

2. James Madison (the Father 2. James Madison (the Father of the Constitution)of the Constitution) took great notestook great notes FEDERALISTFEDERALIST

3. Benjamin Franklin3. Benjamin Franklin

the oldest one the oldest one there (81)there (81)

the voice of the voice of wisdom & wisdom & experienceexperience

he encouraged he encouraged compromisecompromise

4. 4. Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton

one of the strongest, one of the strongest, most vocal most vocal federalistsfederalists

future secretary of future secretary of the Treasurythe Treasury

Selected Washington Selected Washington D.C. as nation’s D.C. as nation’s capitalcapital

http://http://www.youtube.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaWBs46USqEwatch?v=KaWBs46USqE

5. John Jay5. John Jay had negotiated the had negotiated the

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris became the first Chief became the first Chief

Justice of the Supreme Justice of the Supreme CourtCourt

FEDERALISTFEDERALIST

Oh yeah… one important Oh yeah… one important guy who was not there guy who was not there was Thomas Jefferson. was Thomas Jefferson. He was hangin’ out in He was hangin’ out in France. France.

John Adams was in John Adams was in England.England.

Compromise, Baby! That’s Compromise, Baby! That’s what it’s about!what it’s about!

WANTED: all states WANTED: all states would have same would have same number of reps no number of reps no matter sizematter size

WORRIED: large WORRIED: large states would rulestates would rule

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan

WANTED: number WANTED: number of reps to be based of reps to be based on populationon population

WORRIED: small WORRIED: small states would have states would have just as much powerjust as much power

Virginia PlanVirginia Plan

small STATES VS. BIG STATES

The Great CompromiseThe Great CompromiseCongress would have 2 houses.Congress would have 2 houses.

One would be based on population, satisfying the One would be based on population, satisfying the large states. This house would be called the large states. This house would be called the

House of Representatives.House of Representatives.

The other would have the same number of reps. The other would have the same number of reps. from each state, no matter how large or small, from each state, no matter how large or small,

thus satisfying the small states. this house thus satisfying the small states. this house would be called the senate.would be called the senate.

SENATE + HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES = SENATE + HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES = CONGRESSCONGRESS

THE 3/5 COMPROMISETHE 3/5 COMPROMISE

What about SLAVES? Of course, What about SLAVES? Of course, people in the South didn’t treat them people in the South didn’t treat them

like people, BUT they wanted to like people, BUT they wanted to count them as part of the population count them as part of the population

so they would have more votes!so they would have more votes!

In the end, they were counted as 3/5 In the end, they were counted as 3/5 of a person each.of a person each.

Slave Trade CompromiseSlave Trade Compromise

After 20 years, the Triangular Slave After 20 years, the Triangular Slave Trade was prohibited Trade was prohibited

No selling or purchasing slaves from No selling or purchasing slaves from AfricaAfrica

ANTI-FEDERALISTS vs. ANTI-FEDERALISTS vs. FEDERALISTSFEDERALISTS

ANTI-FEDERALISTSANTI-FEDERALISTS opposed the constitution as it was written opposed the constitution as it was written

because they feared…….because they feared……. loss of states’ powers loss of states’ powers loss of individual freedomloss of individual freedom they wanted a bill of rights to list, ensure, they wanted a bill of rights to list, ensure,

and protect their individual freedoms.and protect their individual freedoms. ““this proposal…. is of a most alarming this proposal…. is of a most alarming

nature….. You ought to be extremely nature….. You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty.” cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty.” - Patrick Henry, anti-federalist- Patrick Henry, anti-federalist

FEDERALISTSFEDERALISTS They insisted citizens rights were safe They insisted citizens rights were safe

because….because….

1.1. Each state had its own constitution with a Bill Each state had its own constitution with a Bill of Rights.of Rights.

2.2. The house of representatives would be elected The house of representatives would be elected directly by the people, and its members would directly by the people, and its members would be sure to protect people’s rights.be sure to protect people’s rights.

They argued their views in town meetings, They argued their views in town meetings, newspapers, pamphlets, and a famous newspapers, pamphlets, and a famous collection of 85 essays called the Federalist collection of 85 essays called the Federalist Papers. These were written by people like Papers. These were written by people like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.Jay.

““I am persuaded that this plan is the best which our I am persuaded that this plan is the best which our political situation, habits, and opinions will admit, political situation, habits, and opinions will admit, and superior to any the revolution has produced.” and superior to any the revolution has produced.”

––Alexander Hamilton, FederalistAlexander Hamilton, Federalist

9 of 13 states were needed to RATIFY (approve) the 9 of 13 states were needed to RATIFY (approve) the Constitution. In the end, it took our old friend, Constitution. In the end, it took our old friend, Compromise to get it done. Anti-federalists agreed Compromise to get it done. Anti-federalists agreed to ratify it if a Bill of Rights was added.to ratify it if a Bill of Rights was added.

““I like the organization of the government into I like the organization of the government into branches… I will now tell you what I do not like. branches… I will now tell you what I do not like. First, there is no bill of rights… a bill of rights is First, there is no bill of rights… a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every what the people are entitled to against every government on Earth.”government on Earth.”

-Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to James -Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to James MadisonMadison

The constitution…….The constitution…….What’s in a social contract?What’s in a social contract?

Written from May-September, it was Written from May-September, it was finally ratified on June 21, 1788, when finally ratified on June 21, 1788, when nine states gave their approval. nine states gave their approval. Eventually, all 13 states approved it, Eventually, all 13 states approved it, with the last state doing so in 1790. with the last state doing so in 1790. Guess who it was. yup, the old party Guess who it was. yup, the old party pooper, Rhode island. Thus, 13 pooper, Rhode island. Thus, 13 independent states became solid, independent states became solid, union: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA union: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WOO HOO!!!WOO HOO!!!

The constitution is America’s social contract, The constitution is America’s social contract, and the basic law of the United States. It and the basic law of the United States. It doesn’t list every single law we should follow, doesn’t list every single law we should follow, but it provides a framework for all of the but it provides a framework for all of the U.S. government to fit into. No law can U.S. government to fit into. No law can violate or go against it.violate or go against it.

The framers agreed with Locke, The framers agreed with Locke, Montesquieu, Jefferson, and other great Montesquieu, Jefferson, and other great thinkers: the people of the United States thinkers: the people of the United States have the right and the power to govern have the right and the power to govern themselves. The government depends on themselves. The government depends on the people for its power, and it only exists to the people for its power, and it only exists to serve and protect them. More importantly, if serve and protect them. More importantly, if the government stops protecting people’s the government stops protecting people’s rights, the people should get rid of it. rights, the people should get rid of it. Remember, that was the core idea of the Remember, that was the core idea of the Declaration of Independence, and we still Declaration of Independence, and we still believe it today.believe it today.

THE PREAMBLETHE PREAMBLE Like most formal writing, the constitution Like most formal writing, the constitution

begins with an introduction, although it has begins with an introduction, although it has kind of a funny name. It’s called the Preamble kind of a funny name. It’s called the Preamble and it states the purposes and goal of the and it states the purposes and goal of the constitution. Here’s what it says………constitution. Here’s what it says………

““We the people of the United States of We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a perfect union, America, in order to form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to our selves and our posterity, do liberty to our selves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America”United States of America”

WHAT?!? Right…….. That’s alotta big WHAT?!? Right…….. That’s alotta big words, sooooo lets break it down on the next words, sooooo lets break it down on the next page.page.

QUIZ TIMEQUIZ TIME

SUMMARYSUMMARY

1. Which document would guide the 1. Which document would guide the Framers as they wrote the Framers as they wrote the Constitution?Constitution? A. The Articles of ConfederationA. The Articles of Confederation B. The Treaty of ParisB. The Treaty of Paris C. The Declaration of IndependenceC. The Declaration of Independence D. The Mayflower CompactD. The Mayflower Compact

2. What Compromise created a 2. What Compromise created a bicameral legislature (2 Houses – bicameral legislature (2 Houses – Senate + House of Representatives)?Senate + House of Representatives)? A. 3/5 CompromiseA. 3/5 Compromise B. Great CompromiseB. Great Compromise C. Slave Trade CompromiseC. Slave Trade Compromise D. Compromise of 1850 D. Compromise of 1850

3. T/F Antifederalists supported the 3. T/F Antifederalists supported the original drafting of the Constitution, original drafting of the Constitution, creating a stronger national creating a stronger national government. government.

4. T/F Federalists believed in a 4. T/F Federalists believed in a stronger centralized government that stronger centralized government that run the country from one spot run the country from one spot instead of 13 separate capitals. instead of 13 separate capitals.

5. What was added to the 5. What was added to the Constitution to ensure people’s rights Constitution to ensure people’s rights were protected?were protected? A. The Bill of RightsA. The Bill of Rights B. The Ten CommandmentsB. The Ten Commandments C. The Social ContractC. The Social Contract D. The Federalist PapersD. The Federalist Papers