chapter 8 creating the constitution

Chapter 8 Creating the Constitution

C8.2 Early Quarrels and Accomplishments

States quarreledabout taxes on goods

tradedabout state

boundaries

Land Ordinance 1785agreement/law about

western landsdivided into 6 mile

squares (townships)townships had 36

sections of 640 acres each

one section for schools

other sections sold to settlers

Northwest Ordinance 1787law that divided NW

Territory into smaller territories

territories became states: - 5,000 free men elect a legislature - population is 60,000• had list of rights for

settlers• slavery was banned in

NW

C8.3 Shays’s RebellionMoney problems paper money was

worthlessnot enough gold or

silver to mint coinsstates made their

own moneytoo many kindsnot worth muchhard to trade

Farmers rebel MA farmers unable to pay debts & taxes

courts took their land & livestock

Daniel Shays was an unpaid war veteran

he led a rebellionrebels took over

courtstried to seize

weapons in arsenal

Government’s response

no Continental Armyfederal government

had no power to get involved

MA state government sent state militia

5 killed, many wounded

over 1000 arrestedtrial set most free2 were hanged

Results of the rebellion

showed U.S. government was weak

need to fix the Articles of Confederation

decided to have a constitutional convention

C8.4 Opening the Constitutional Convention

When & Where summer 1787Philadelphia, PAIndependence Hall

Purpose fix the Articles of Confederation

instead decided to write a new constitution

wanted more power to the national (federal) government

Delegates 55 men from 12 states (no RI)

George Washington was president of the convention

two-thirds were lawyersone-third owed slavesJames Madison called

“Father of the Constitution”

-took over 600 pages of notes - most involved delegate• had a rule of secrecy

Shared Beliefs purpose of govt. is to protect people’s rights

govts. come from the people (“consent of the governed”)

ideas of Enlightenment thinkersliberty & equalitybest govt. is a

republic

Concerns Who should vote?

How powerful should the national govt. be?

ProposalThe Virginia Plan

3 branches of govt.Congress has 2

housesrepresentation

based on populationlarge states get

more reps.

3 branches of govt.Congress has 1

houseeach state gets the

same votes

C8.5 Issue: How should states be represented in the new government?Proposal

The New Jersey Plan

C8.6 Resolution: The Great Compromise

3 branches of govt.two-house Congress

House of Representatives based on population (big states get more reps.)

Senate, each state gets 2 votes (2 senators)

The Southwanted slaves

counted in a state’s population

had the most slavesget more reps. if

slaves counted

don’t count slaves for representation

only count slaves as property to be taxed

only count free people for representation

C8.7 Issue: How should slaves be counted?

The North

C8.8 Resolution: The Three-Fifths Compromisecount each slave as

three-fifths of a person

slave trade could continue for 20 years until 1808

fugitive slave law – escaped slaves had to be returned to owners

Areas of Agreement

should have one leader called a president

four year term (no king)

Vice President

some wanted Congress to choose leader

some thought people should elect the president

some wanted president chosen by a group of electors

C8.9 Issue: How should the chief executive be elected?

Areas of Disagreement

C8.10 Resolution: The Electoral College

group called Electoral College elects Pres. & VP

made of electors from each state

state electors = # of senators and reps. of the state

electors vote in Dec.vote for who won

their stateneed majority vote to

win (270 today)

C8.11 The Convention Endsratify = approveneeded 9 states to

ratify Constitution38 delegates signed

the Constitution17 delegates refused

to sign itgave too much power

to national govt.did not protect

people’s rights

Federalistssupporters of the

Constitutionfor a strong national

govt.The Federalist Papers:

articles urging states to ratify the Constitution

opponents of the Constitution

fearsCongress would over-

taxPresident would be

like a kingdid not list specific

rights of peoplestates might lose

power

C8.12 The Constitution Goes to the Nation

Anti-Federalists