Objectives:Identify the Framers of the Constitution and discuss how they

organized the Philadelphia Convention

Compare and Contrast the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

Summarize the Convention’s major compromises and the effects of those decisions

Origins of the Constitution

September 16, 2014

Origins of the Constitution

Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

Origins of the ConstitutionDeclaration of Independence John Locke

Natural Rights Right to Life, Liberty, and Property Unalienable

Social Contract Natural Rights are secured through a social contract between

consenting citizens and the government Consenting citizens give up some liberties by agreeing to abide by

the laws of society and, in return, natural rights are protected

Thomas Jefferson Right to Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness

Protections for liberty in the face of power

Origins of the ConstitutionArticles of Confederation

Established a “firm league of friendship” among the several states. Each kept its sovereignty, freedom, and independence

Weaknesses the central government has little power over foreign trade the Confederation has no effective military force, couldn’t

protect from threats External – Britain and Spain were interfering in the West Internal – Shay’s Rebellion (economic turmoil and peasant/farmer

revolts each state issues its own coins and paper money changes in the Articles require a unanimous vote of the

thirteen, makes it impossible to change the constitution at least nine states are required to decide major issues couldn’t tax, could only request money from states to support

the central government

Constitutional ConventionBecause of the problems: Articles of Confederation Shay’s Rebellion

Representatives from all states met in Philadelphia during the oppressively hot summer of 1787

‘For the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation’

However, one of the first things decided was to scrap the Articles of Confederation and start over

The Framers Benjamin Franklin James Madison William Patterson Edmund J. Randolph George Washington Alexander Hamilton

No Thomas Jefferson John Adams Sam Adams John Hancock Patrick Henry Rhode Island

“the well-bred, the well-fed, the well-read, and the well-wed”

Average age is 42, 2/3 lawyers, 1/3 owned slaves

James Madison “Father of the Constitution” spoke over 200 times took extensive notes

Constitutional ConflictRepresentation

Virginia Plan – Edmund RandolphLarge State Plan

Representation was to be based on the population of each state or the proportion of each state’s revenue contribution

Representation

Virginia PlanLarge State Plan

strong national government three branches

strong legislative bicameral

- lower house chosen by the people- upper house chosen by the lower house

strong executive strong judicial

small state delegates were very upset! Convention almost collapsed

Constitutional ConflictRepresentation

New Jersey Plan – William Patterson

Small State Plan

each state would be equally represented regardless of population

Constitutional ConflictRepresentation

Virginia Plan – Edmund RandolphLarge State Plan

Representation was to be based on the population of each state or the proportion of each state’s revenue contribution

Compromise

Connecticut Compromise - Roger Sherman

The Great Compromise

created a bicameral legislature first house would be apportioned according to

number of inhabitants in each state (House of Representatives)

in the second chamber, each state would have equal representation (Senate)

Established the process of compromise to resolve issues!

Constitutional ConflictRepresentation of Slaves?

Fundamental difference lies between slave states and non-slave states

South wanted to count slaves for tax purposes and representation

Over 90% of all slaves resided in five states Georgia Maryland North Carolina South Carolina Virginia

Eldridge Gerry (MA) – “If you want slaves to count, make them citizens and let them vote.”

Compromise

3/5 Compromise -

Five slaves would be counted as three people

supported by the slave states to increase representation

supported by non-slave states that advocated for the principle or property representation

Left slavery issue unresolved until the Civil War 1861

Compromise

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Congress was forbidden to tax exports from any state

also forbidden to act on slave trade for twenty years (1808)

Left slavery issue unresolved until the Civil War 1861