Post on 22-Feb-2016
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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