Unit2, Section 1

Constitutional Convention

Convention was a meeting to make changes to the Articles of ConfederationHeld in Philadelphia “for the sole and

express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation”

Delegates wanted a more effective national government

Began on May 25, 1787

Let’s Convene a Convention

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uihNc_tdGbk

All states sent delegates except Rhode Island

State legislatures appointed 74 delegatesOnly 55 showed up

Of these, only 39 signed the Constitution7 were former Governors39 had served at a previous Confederation

Congress 8 had signed the DOI6 had signed the AOC

Numbers and the Convention

Washington’s attendance assured people that the Convention could be trustedHe was also chosen to preside over the entire

meetingAn 81 year old Ben Franklin added his

perspectiveTo help Franklin, James Wilson read his

speechesThe final draft was written by Gouverneur

MorrisJames Madison, of VA, took the notes we use

as a history of the meetingAlso called the “Father of the Constitution”

Who Was There?

All states were given one voteA simple majority would approve (ratify) decisionsNo meetings could be held

without at least 7 states attending

Meetings were closed to the publicThey were kept private so

delegates could speak freely

How Would They Proceed?

Original purpose was to revise the AOCEventually they agreed to abandon the

AOC and start from scratchAll favored a limited, representative

governmentAll agreed to a separation of powers

Powers divided into executive, legislative and judicial

All agreed that the national government’s power should be strengthened

A Basic Consensus

Madison came to the meeting with 15 resolutions called The Virginia Plan

It included 3 principles:1. Stronger, two chamber legislature

(lower house chosen by the people, upper house chosen the lower)

Legislature could block laws it thought against the Constitution

2. Strong executive chosen by legislature3. National judiciary chosen by legislature Became the basis of the Constitution

Madison’s Plan

Two weeks later William Patterson introduced counter- proposal called The NJ Plan

Plan would keep the basics of the AOC:

1. One house legislature (one vote per state)2. Congress could now impose taxes and

handle trade3. A weak executive of several leaders would

be elected by the legislature4. A national judiciary would be appointed by

the executive

Patterson’s Plan

Patterson’s plan favored smaller statesHis plan was designed to amend the AOC,

not replace themSmall states wanted Congress to be

represented equally, with equal votesBig states wanted Congress to be

represented by population with proportional votesMore votes for a state with a bigger

population Eventually the NJ Plan was rejected

What About the Little Guy?

Roger Sherman and Connecticut played a key role in crafting a compromise

Compromise Suggested: Legislature has 2 houses 1. A House of Representatives with states

represented by population All revenue and spending would

be controlled here

2. A Senate with equal representation 2 members per state

Large states would have advantage in House, small states protected in the Senate

A Connecticut Compromise

Deciding how to be represented in the House was trickyAbout 1/3 of the people in the south were

slavesSouthern states wanted them counted as

people to give them more clout in the HouseBut southerners did not want them counted

when it came to levying taxesNorth wanted the opposite

The 3/5s Compromise decided that enslaved Africans would count as 3.5s of a person

Who Is Worth 3/5s?

South favored slavery, the North did notSouth feared the North would interfere with their

economy, such as agricultural trade agreementsAgreed not to ban the slave trade until 1808

Gave Congress power to regulate commerce between the states, and with other countries

Word “slave” does not appear in the Constitution

Decided that each state would select an elector to choose the presidentHe would serve a four year

term

Other Compromises

The Constitution was signed September 17, 1787Afterwards the document was submitted to the

states for ratificationAt least 9 states were needed to give approval

This process took 2 years2 groups materialized:

1. Federalists, who supported the Constitution and

2. Anti-Federalists, who did not

Favored the ConstitutionComposed of merchants and the

wealthyFavored a strong central

governmentDistrusted the common man Called themselves “Federalists”

So they seemed like they favored shared powersLaunched a propaganda campaign to convince

people that they were right85 essays were written called the Federalist Papers

Federalists

Composed of inland farmers and lower classes

Opposed to the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

Distrusted the wealthy Favored more power to the states, individuals

and a separation of powersFeared a large central

governmentDidn’t want a United

States but a States United

Anti-Federalists