The Road to the Constitution

Quick Review Declaration of Independence

Second Continental Congress Approved July 4, 1776

The Articles of Confederation 1777, our first constitution Weak federal government Shay’s Rebellion, 1786-1787

Strengthening the National Government

1787 Problems with the Articles of Confederation States sent delegates to Philadelphia to fix

the A.O.C. Rhode Island did not go…they did not want

a stronger central government

The Constitutional Convention

May 25, 1787 Independence Hall, Philadelphia An extraordinary group of men

55 men Well-educated Lawyers, merchants, college presidents, doctors,

generals, governors, and planters with considerable political experience

Who was there? Who missed it?

Benjamin Franklin 81, oldest delegate

George Washington & James Madison Both would become president

Thomas Jefferson & John Adams Both were in Europe

Patrick Henry Prominent Virginian He was invited but did not attend; he was against the

convention

George Washington

Respected for his leadership during the Rev. War

Chosen to preside over the convention.

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Procedures of the Convention

Each state was only allowed one vote Majority votes from all states made

decisions All discussions were a secret! Why…?

This way, delegates could speak freely, without worry about how the public would react

What happened to the…

Articles of Confederation???

The throw it away, decided to write a new constitution

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Two Opposing Plans

VS.

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Virginia vs. New Jersey

Two Opposing Plans The Virginia Plan

James Madison 3 branches of government Bicameral legislature (2 houses),

determined by population Favored big states

Two Opposing Plans The New Jersey Plan William Patterson 3 branches of government Unicameral legislature (1 house) with

equal representation Favored smaller states

Two Opposing Plans What was the big issue?

How representation in Congress would be decided

Larger states wanted more power, smaller states wanted equal power

The Great Compromise

Roger Sherman – Connecticut

Lower House House of Representatives Determined by population 2 year terms Favored larger states

Upper House Senate Equal representation 6 year terms Favored smaller states

More arguing? What now?

Controversy over counting slaves as a part of the population…

At this time, there were 550,000 enslaved African Americans, mostly in the South

More arguing? What now?

Southern states said… part of the population = more representatives for southern states

Northern states said… slaves cannot vote or participate in government, they should not give the south more representatives

The Three-Fifths Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise Every 5 enslaved persons would count as 3 free

people Used for representation in Congress & figuring

taxes

Another compromise How to elect a president? Some say… “Let Congress pick!” Others say… “Let the people choose!” The compromise…

Electoral College A group of people would be chosen by

each state to choose the President Each state given a certain number of votes,

determined by their representation in Congress

One last compromise Conflicts over commerce & the slave trade

Congress could regulate (control) trade between states & other countries

However, they could NOT tax exports or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years

Finished…finally! September 17, 1787, finished up the

Constitution Delegates signed it, said the Constitution

would become the law of the land when… 9 out of 13 states ratified (approved) it

So everyone in the entire United States of America loved the Constitution and every state ratified it immediately and we all had a big party and we all lived happily ever after, right…?

Wrong!

A Divided Public

Federalists = supporters of the new constitution & a strong federal government

Federalism = A form of government in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the states

A Divided Public Some Federalists wrote papers to rally

support for the Constitution

They were called the Federalist Papers

Who wrote them? Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay

A Divided Public

Anti-Federalists = People opposed to the constitution & a strong federal government

“Don’t forget individual rights!”

Reaching an Agreement

Anti-Federalists wanted to add… The Bill of Rights

The Federalists promised to do so, and did

New Hampshire, 9th state to ratify June 21, 1788 The Constitution went into effect

The last state to ratify…? Rhode Island, 1790