The Constitutional Convention1787

ON THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERADTION

“I predict the worst consequences from a half-starved, limping government, always moving upon crutches and tottering at every step.”

- George Washington

The Constitutional Convention begins

1787 - Philadelphia Delegates from all the

states invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation, which were not working

Only RI didn’t attend 55 Delegates

attended

Leaders of the Convention

George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention.

James Madison kept notes of the discussions and is often called “The Father of the Constitution.”

The men who wrote the Constitution are called the “Founding Fathers.”

All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males.

The Founding Fathers

Issues that divided the Nation’s leaders

The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most power?

Representation in Congress (How many members on Congress would each state get? – small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states

Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?

Constitutional Convention 1787

Arguments at the Convention

1) Virginia Plan

2) New Jersey Plan

3) 3/5 Compromise

Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation

Three separate branches of government. – a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch

Bicameral House (Legislative Branch) Representation in the legislative branch based

on population of state Large states like the plan,

small states don’t.

The Virginia Plan

New Jersey Plan

Legislature – Unicameral House Each state gets one vote. Small states like the plan, the large states

hate it. There would have to be a compromise.

- It called for a unicameral legislature, in which every state received one vote.

Constitutional Convention(Philadelphia, 1787)

- George Washington was elected president of the Convention.

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

- Both plans called for a strong national government with 3 branches.

- It called for a bicameral legislature, in which the number of representatives in each house would depend on the population of the state.

- It called for a unicameral legislature, in which every state received one vote.

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

- Both plans called for a strong national government with 3 branches.

- It called for a bicameral legislature, in which the number of representatives in each house would depend on the population of the state.

Great Compromise• It provided for a bicameral Congress.A. House of Representatives – each state is represented according to its population (satisfied the VA Plan)B. Senate – each state has 2 Senators (satisfied the NJ Plan)* Both houses of Congress must pass every law.

The Great Compromise

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise

Legislature would have two houses (parts): House of Representatives and a Senate

House - based on the population of state (given a representative for every 40K inhabitants)

Senate - two senators per each state

Regional DifferencesNorth vs. South

Southern delegates wanted slaves to be counted as part of their population when giving out representatives to the lower house

Northerners wanted slaves to be counted when deciding the state’s taxes, NOT representatives

North vs. South

North vs. South The northern delegates wanted

federal government to ban (stop) the slave trade

Many of the southern delegates threatened to oppose the new constitution and to withdraw from the Union if the banning of slavery became part of the constitutional document

Another compromise Northern delegates agreed to allow the

slave trade to continue for 20 more years

In exchange southern delegates agree to drop the demand that laws in Congress must be passed with a 2/3 majority vote

Slavery

The Southern states refused to approve the Constitution unless slavery continued.

It was a terrible compromise to make, but the Northern states had no choice if they wanted a Constitution.

3/5 Compromise - Made each slave worth 3/5 of a vote in deciding numbers in House of Representatives

Congress can not ban the slave trade until 1808.

• In order to determine the population of a state, only 3 out of every 5 slaves would be counted.

Three-Fifths Compromise

result…

The word slavery or slave was left out the Constitution, instead they used “free Persons” or “all other persons”

Ratification Process

If two-thirds of the states ratify, the Constitution would go into effect

Every state had to go through a ratification process, hold a convention, and elect delegates to the convention

This sets up two groups: the

Federalists and the Anti- Federalists

Controversy over the Constitution

The changes to the American government were so drastic that many disagreements arose and threatened ratification.

The main controversy was over the power given to the national government versus the power given to the state government.

The controversy would form two opposing groups, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists each who desired their own interpretation of the Constitution.

The Federalist View 1. Favored a strong National

Government that shared power with the states.

2. Believed that checks and balances would keep any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

3. Believed that a central government was needed to facilitate trade, conduct foreign relations and provide national defense.

4. Believed that having a strong national government was necessary for a nation the size of the United States.

Federalist Leaders

George Washington

James Madison

John Jay

Alexander Hamilton

Works of the Federalists

The Federalist Papers – over 85 essays total

Written by Hamilton, Jay and Madison

Provided a summary of the major points of the Constitution to the public.

Federalist Papers 85 pamphlets & essays supporting the

Constitution Written by Alexander Hamilton, James

Madison, & John Jay Cited in Constitutional interpretation

debates Lens into the ideas of the founding fathers

Large government would provide stability and security Federalist #10 – How to create a strong

government while preserving freedom Federalist #51 – Separation of powers and

checks and balances

The Anti-Federalist View

1. Believed that one central government was unable to control the interests of an entire nation.

2. Felt that the power of the nation should rest in the hands of the local and state governments.

3. Believed that a central government would only serve the best interest of the privileged minority.

4. Were afraid that the rights of the common man would be taken away without a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution.

Anti-Federalist Leaders

Patrick Henry

Richard Henry Lee

Samuel Adams

Check for Understanding

What are the major stances of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?

Who were the major leaders of each group?

What were the major publications of the Federalists and who wrote them?

What were the views on a Bill of Rights from the Federalist and Anti-Federalist perspective.

Shaping of the Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights was initially based on the Virginia Declaration of Rights

The Virginia Declaration of Rights was written by George Mason and much of what is included in our Bill of Rights can be accredited to him.

Shaping of the Bill of Rights

The first amendment of the Bill of Rights, which declares freedom of religion, was influenced by the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

Thomas Jefferson, the author of this work declared that a government may not establish a national religion nor support a favored church.

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution which led to ratification in 1788.

The Bill of Rights also known as the Ten Amendments guaranteed the rights of American citizens.

The principle author of the Bill of Rights was James Madison.

Check for Understanding

Who was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, what was its significance to the Bill of Rights.

What is the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, who wrote it, and what is its significance to the Bill of Rights?

Who is the author of the Bill of Rights, and what is its alternate name?

What are the amendments that most affect you today as citizens of the United States? Why?