how the constitution was written a story. not everyone had the right to vote factions divided the...
TRANSCRIPT
How the Constitution Was Written
A Story
Not everyone had the right to voteFactions divided the countryElite men believed they had the right moral character to lead the country
Once Upon A Time
Life wasn’t all bad
The population was risingTrade was back up to prewar levelsThere was a Plan for settling the Northwest Territory
What was the expansion plan?
Northwest Ordinance of 1787Set up government for NW territory
Outlawed slavery in NW territory
Territory could apply for statehood when population reached 60,000
New states would have equal rights with original 13
But the Government was
weakThe Articles of Confederation had a lot of weaknesses
No power to tax = no revenue
No power to enforce treaties = no $, no army
No executive, no judicial branches
Laws needed 9 of 13 votes, Amendments needed 13!!!!!
MeanwhileA Border Dispute Between MD and VA led to some conversation- Annapolis Convention
What’s wrong with the Articles of Confederation
Maybe we should revise them???????
And in Mass.....a Rebellion
The farmers were upset with the State, the banks, and the lawyers for taxing them and taking their landDaniel Shays led a rebellion
This made the people think....Maybe we need a stronger government to prevent rebellions, strengthen the economy and provide an army
So...in May 1787 in Philly
55 Delegates met to revise the A.O.C.Quickly decided to start over = Constitutional Convention
But all was not happy go luckyThe Delegates had different ideas about slavery, representation, role of government, etc.Arguments and debates went on for days
New Jersey Plan proposed
Proposed by William PatersonGood for small states = One Legislative House with Equal reps3 Branches of Gov’t
Then the Virginia Plan
Proposed by Edmund Randolph and James MadisonGood for the large states2 Legislative houses = Representation based on population in both3 Branches of Gov’t
Finally.....a Compromise
The Great Compromise by Roger Sherman
3 Branches of Gov’t
2 Legislative HousesRepresentation in one house (House of Reps) based on Population
Representation in the second house (Senate) equal among all states
But what about Slavery???
Some states wanted the Constitution to abolish the slave trade....Other states (south) said that was a state issueSlave Trade Compromise = Congress could regulate or outlaw the slave trade AFTER 1808
P.S. – Congress outlawed the slave trade in 1808
What about the slaves?
Southerners wanted to count slave in population to increase representation in Congress - North said no!3/5ths Compromise = 3/5ths of slaves in any state would be counted for taxation and representation purposesWhat message did this compromise send about Slavery?
So does it have a happy ending?
Sort of.....39 of the 42 remaining delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787BUT - then 9 out of the 13 states had to RATIFY it at special conventionsEveryone agreed that a stronger gov’t was needed, but some people thought the Const. was too strong
How did that go?The Federalists, led by Alex Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison wrote 85 essays in support of the Constitution and a strong Federal Gov’t. These became known as the Federalist PapersThey said the Constitution was fine and it already protected state and individual rights
Who disagreed?The Antifederalists: Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Sam Adams
They thought the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government and did not protect individual or states’ rights enough
Can’t they get along?
The Bill of Rights, which listed individual freedoms, was the bridge that helped the Antifederalists agree to ratify the Constitution
Where did they get these ideas?
Roman Republic – Independence and public serviceMagna Carta and English Bill of RightsJohn Locke – Natural RightsBaron de Montesquieu – French Thinker – suggested idea of separation of powers