Part 5: ConstitutionPart 5: Constitution Your goal: Be able to describe Your goal: Be able to describe

the Constitutional system of the Constitutional system of separated and shared powers.separated and shared powers.

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention Delegates met to Delegates met to revise revise

the Articles of the Articles of Confederation, to make a Confederation, to make a more effective more effective government.government.

The Constitutional The Constitutional Convention met May, 25, Convention met May, 25, 1787.1787.

They were NOT supposed They were NOT supposed to write a new to write a new constitution.constitution.

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

““for the sole and express purpose for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of of revising the Articles of Confederation and reporting to Confederation and reporting to Congress … when agreed to in Congress … when agreed to in Congress … to render the Congress … to render the [Articles of Confederation] [Articles of Confederation] adequate to … preservation of adequate to … preservation of the Union.”the Union.”

The United States CongressAssembled, February 21, 1787

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

Key AgreementsKey Agreements

Articles of Confederation couldn’t be fixedArticles of Confederation couldn’t be fixed New government was neededNew government was needed Increased power of central governmentIncreased power of central government Power needed to be divided between 3 Power needed to be divided between 3

branchesbranches Power of states to coin money or interfere Power of states to coin money or interfere

with creditor’s rights would be limitedwith creditor’s rights would be limited Absolute Secrecy – 20 year code of silenceAbsolute Secrecy – 20 year code of silence

James Madison was James Madison was a strong advocate of a strong advocate of a strong national a strong national government.government.

He is called “the He is called “the father of the father of the Constitution” Constitution” because he was the because he was the author of the basic author of the basic plan of government plan of government that was eventually that was eventually adopted.adopted.

The delegates came to the The delegates came to the agreement that they agreement that they should begin a new should begin a new government.government.

They agreed that the new They agreed that the new government should be government should be limited and representative; limited and representative;

3 branches of government; 3 branches of government; limit the state’s power limit the state’s power when coining money or when coining money or interfering with creditor’s interfering with creditor’s rights;rights;

they agreed the national they agreed the national government should be government should be strengthened.strengthened.

Virginia PlanVirginia Plan The The Virginia Plan Virginia Plan proposed a proposed a

government based on 3 government based on 3 principles:principles:

(1.) a strong national (1.) a strong national legislature with 2 chambers – legislature with 2 chambers – lower house chosen by the lower house chosen by the people and an upper house people and an upper house chosen by the lower house; chosen by the lower house;

(2.) a strong national (2.) a strong national executive chosen by the executive chosen by the national legislature; and national legislature; and

(3.) a national judiciary (3.) a national judiciary chosen by the legislature.chosen by the legislature.

Virginia PlanVirginia Plan The The Virginia Plan Virginia Plan

It became the basis for the It became the basis for the Constitution.Constitution.

It favored the larger states It favored the larger states population wise.population wise.

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan The The New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan

wanted to keep the wanted to keep the unicameral legislature, unicameral legislature, with one vote each state; with one vote each state;

Congress could levy taxes Congress could levy taxes and regulate trade; a weak and regulate trade; a weak executive with more than executive with more than one person would be one person would be picked by congress; picked by congress;

and a national judiciary and a national judiciary would appointed by the would appointed by the executive.executive.

New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan The The New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan This plan favored the This plan favored the

smaller states – gave smaller states – gave equality. The Va. Plan equality. The Va. Plan favored larger states.favored larger states.

Connecticut CompromiseConnecticut Compromise The Connecticut The Connecticut

Compromise Compromise suggested the suggested the legislative branch legislative branch have 2 houseshave 2 houses

a House of a House of Representatives based Representatives based on population, and a on population, and a Senate with 2 rep. per Senate with 2 rep. per state picked by the state picked by the legislature.legislature.

Connecticut CompromiseConnecticut Compromise Larger states had the Larger states had the

advantage in the House; advantage in the House; smaller were protected in smaller were protected in the Senate with equal the Senate with equal representation.representation.

Three-fifths CompromiseThree-fifths Compromise

The The Three-fifths Three-fifths Compromise Compromise ended ended the debate on the the debate on the number of number of representatives a representatives a state would get in the state would get in the House.House.

Three-fifths CompromiseThree-fifths Compromise

Three-fifths of the Three-fifths of the enslaved peoples enslaved peoples would be counted for would be counted for taxes and the purpose taxes and the purpose of representation.of representation.

June 21, 1788, the June 21, 1788, the Constitution goes Constitution goes into effect when into effect when New Hampshire New Hampshire became the ninth became the ninth state to ratify it.state to ratify it.

The political The political debate ended may debate ended may 29, 1790 when 29, 1790 when Rhode Island Rhode Island agreed to approve agreed to approve it.it.

Two opposing Two opposing viewpoints arose viewpoints arose about the about the Constitution: Constitution: Anti-Anti-federalists federalists and and Federalists.Federalists.

The Anti-federalists The Anti-federalists said the Constitution said the Constitution was drafted in secrecy was drafted in secrecy and was and was extralegal, extralegal, not sanctioned by law. not sanctioned by law. They were against it.They were against it.

The Federalists The Federalists argued that a argued that a strong national strong national government was to government was to stop stop anarchy, anarchy, political disorder. political disorder. They were for the They were for the Constitution. They Constitution. They promised a Bill of promised a Bill of Rights added to it.Rights added to it.