The The Constitutional Constitutional

ConventionConventionMay 14 to September 17, May 14 to September 17,

1787 Philadelphia, 1787 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

Question: respond in Question: respond in Composition NotebookComposition Notebook

Why is political compromise Why is political compromise necessary to the functioning of necessary to the functioning of government or can one doggedly government or can one doggedly maintain their ideology without maintain their ideology without compromise?compromise?

Take 3 minutes and discuss with Take 3 minutes and discuss with your shoulder partner.your shoulder partner.

Read Read Compromise and the Compromise and the ConstitutionConstitution

Key PeopleKey People

George Washington presidesGeorge Washington presides over the over the Convention: Convention: His prestige crucialHis prestige crucial

James MadisonJames Madison introduces his introduces his Virginia Virginia PlanPlan calling for calling for strong national strong national governmentgovernment

Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton, strong , strong nationalistnationalist

Ben FranklinBen Franklin 55 Delegates in all55 Delegates in all

NationalistsNationalists

Key People Washington, Madison, Key People Washington, Madison, Hamilton and John JayHamilton and John Jay

They see the need for a strong They see the need for a strong national government if the nation is national government if the nation is to survive. to survive.

Called Federalists but that term Called Federalists but that term misses the nuances of Nationalist. misses the nuances of Nationalist. They can think in terms beyond their They can think in terms beyond their state.state.

James MadisonJames Madison

Kept detailed notesKept detailed notes Most preparedMost prepared ““Father of the Father of the

Constitution”Constitution”

AbsenteesAbsentees

Rhode Island sent no delegatesRhode Island sent no delegates John Adams was in EnglandJohn Adams was in England Thomas Jefferson is in FranceThomas Jefferson is in France Patrick Henry absent;Patrick Henry absent; "smelt a rat in "smelt a rat in

Philadelphia, tending toward the Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy." monarchy."

Also absent were John Hancock and Also absent were John Hancock and Samuel Adams Samuel Adams

Key Compromises: Key Compromises: RepresentationRepresentation

Small States V. Large Small States V. Large StatesStates

Small statesSmall states wanted all wanted all states to have the states to have the same same number of representativesnumber of representatives to Congress to Congress

Large statesLarge states wanted wanted representationrepresentation to be to be determined bydetermined by the the populationpopulation of the state. of the state.

What are the strengths and What are the strengths and weaknesses of both weaknesses of both positions?positions?

  The Great The Great (Connecticut) (Connecticut) Compromise: TheCompromise: The Constitution creates a Constitution creates a bicameral legislature.bicameral legislature.

In the In the House of House of Representatives,Representatives, representation is representation is determined by determined by population.population.

In the In the SenateSenate, all states , all states have the have the same numbersame number of representatives: two. of representatives: two.

Key Compromise: Slave Key Compromise: Slave CountCount

Southern States V. Southern States V. Northern StatesNorthern States

Southern StatesSouthern States wanted wanted slaves to countslaves to count as part of the as part of the populationpopulation for for determining determining representation but not representation but not to count when to count when apportioning taxes.apportioning taxes.

Northern statesNorthern states wanted wanted slaves to countslaves to count for the for the purpose of purpose of taxation but taxation but not for representationnot for representation

The 3/5ths The 3/5ths Compromise:Compromise:

Delegates agreed to Delegates agreed to count slaves as 3/5ths count slaves as 3/5ths of a person when of a person when apportioning apportioning representation and representation and taxation taxation

Slaves counted 40% Slaves counted 40% Southern pop.Southern pop.

Question: How does Question: How does this give the South an this give the South an advantage?advantage?

Key Compromise: TariffsKey Compromise: Tariffs

Southern Plantation Southern Plantation Owners V. Owners V. Northern BusinessmenNorthern Businessmen

Southerners opposed Southerners opposed tariffstariffs fearing they would fearing they would damage the Southern damage the Southern economy which was economy which was heavily dependent upon heavily dependent upon trade. trade. Why are they Why are they dependent on trade?dependent on trade?

Tariff: Tax on imported Tariff: Tax on imported GoodsGoods

Northerners wanted Northerners wanted tariffs to protect their tariffs to protect their industries from industries from foreign competition. foreign competition.

The Commerce The Commerce Compromise:Compromise:

The Constitution The Constitution allows the federal allows the federal government to tax government to tax imports but not imports but not exports. exports.

Key Compromise: Slave Key Compromise: Slave TradeTrade

Northern Abolitionists Northern Abolitionists V. Southern Slave V. Southern Slave OwnersOwners

Northern abolitionistsNorthern abolitionists wanted the Constitution wanted the Constitution to to ban the (external) ban the (external) slave trade.slave trade. They They believed that slavery believed that slavery would eventually prove would eventually prove unprofitable and die out.unprofitable and die out.

Southern Slave ownersSouthern Slave owners argued that argued that slavery was slavery was vital to the economic vital to the economic survivalsurvival of the South of the South

Slave Trade Slave Trade Compromise:Compromise:

Congress was given Congress was given the power to ban the the power to ban the slave trade after slave trade after 1808. 1808.

Do you notice any Do you notice any pattern of conflict pattern of conflict between regions of between regions of the New Nation? the New Nation? What?What?

Key Compromise: Executive Key Compromise: Executive ElectionElection

Some delegates believed the Some delegates believed the president should be elected president should be elected directly by the people. directly by the people.

Others believed that the Others believed that the people could not be trusted people could not be trusted with such a decision. with such a decision. What What surprises you about this?surprises you about this?

Opponents of direct election Opponents of direct election offered a number of offered a number of alternatives including alternatives including election by state election by state legislatures. legislatures.

Democracy equated to mob Democracy equated to mob rule.rule.

Compromise on Compromise on Executive Elections:Executive Elections:

The president is elected The president is elected indirectly by the indirectly by the electoral college to a electoral college to a four year term of office. four year term of office.

Add up the state’s Add up the state’s representation in representation in Congress and this Congress and this equals their Electoral equals their Electoral Votes.Votes.

Must have a majority to Must have a majority to win.win.

Is the Electoral College Is the Electoral College Outdated?Outdated?