Enlightenment Thinkers Pave the Way for the U.S. Constitution

John Locke (1632- 1704)People were reasonable (though still selfish) and had the natural rights to life, liberty, and property.Purpose of government is to protect these natural rights.Government power comes from the consent of the people.

Voltaire (1694-1778)Wrote more than 70 books of political essays, philosophy, and drama.Used satire against his enemies, especially the clergy.Beliefs:– Tolerance– Reason– Freedom of religious belief– Freedom of speech– “I do not agree with a word

you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Montesqieu (1689-1755)Believed Britain was the best-governed and most politically balanced country of his own day.Proposed the “separation of powers” between executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.Proposed “checks and balances.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

Passionately committed to individual freedom.Believed man was born free and good but easily corrupted.Believed the only good government was the “general will” or direct democracy.

A Nation Built on Compromise: The

Constitutional Convention

Who Were The Delegates?The Issues

Compromises

The Constitutional Convention, 1787

55 delegates attended but on a typical day 35 were present29 held college degrees34 were lawyers24 served in the Continental Congress21 were military officers of the American Revolution Washington was elected president of the

convention based on his integrity and past service to the colonies.

The Constitutional Convention, 1787

Most delegates considered themselves as merchants or slave ownersSmall farmers, free African-Americans, women, or Native Americans are not present What does this painting show about the

delegates at the convention?

The Virginia Plan Proposed a three branch government– The legislature branch would write the

laws.– The executive branch would enforce

the laws.– The judicial branch would interpret the

laws.The legislative branch would have a bicameral legislature and representatives would be based on a states population.The legislature would appoint the executive and the judiciary. It would also settle disputes between states.

The New Jersey Plan (small states)

The legislature would have a unicameral house to guard against large states having to much power.Each state would have one vote.This plan sought to stay as close to the Articles of Confederation as possible.

What were they thinking?Alexander Hamilton proposes that members of the executive branch serve for lifeLuther Martin suggested that states should be even more powerful than the national government

The Architects of Compromise

Edmund Randolph proposed the Virginia Plan.

Roger Sherman proposed the Great Compromise.

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)

The legislature would be bicameral.– The Senate would give each state equal

representation.– The House of Representatives would be

based on state populations.

Terms of office would be outlined.An electoral college of all representatives and senators would choose the president.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Slaves would be counted toward political representation and would also be counted when states were taxed.The slave trade was to be allowed for the next 20 years

The road to debate

On September 17, 1787 39 delegates sign the U.S. ConstitutionIt had been done in secret and was a new written documentOnly white property owning males would have a say in the ratification of the Constitution.