What was the purpose of holding a convention of state

delegates in Philadelphia?

…the fruit of their victory would be “A multitude of Commonwealths, Crimes and Calamities, Centuries of mutual jealousies, Hatreds, Wars of Devastation; till at last the exhausted Provinces shall sink into Slavery under the yoke of some fortunate Conqueror.”

- John DickinsonLetter to William Pitt, 1765

Under the Articles of Confederation the States

developed their own set of laws

Shays Rebellion provided an example.

Economic jealousies were growing, as well as a divide between

slave and free economies

Spain was pushing us from the South and the British had not left their posts in the Northwest.

• The economy of the States was quickly declining.

• Leaders called for a meeting in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss providing the Articles of Confederation the power to regulate commerce

• Only 5 states delegates arrived, but determined to suggest a convention of all states in Philadelphia

A Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy

Defects of the Federal Government

Constitutional Convention

Reaching a Compromise

Branches Three - legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature was more powerful, as it chose people to serve in the executive and judicial branches.

Legislature Two houses (bicameral). The House of Representatives was elected by the people and the Senate was elected by the state legislatures. Both were represented proportionally.

Other Powers The legislature could regulate interstate trade, strike down laws deemed unconstitutional and use armed forces to enforce laws.

Branches Three - legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature appoints people to serve in the executive branch, and the executive branch selects the justices of the Supreme Court.

Legislature One house (unicameral). States would be represented equally, so all states had the same power.

Other Powers

The national government could levy taxes and import duties, regulate trade, and state laws would be subordinate to laws passed by the national legislature.

Which Plan is closer to meeting the original goal of the Convention?

POPULATION = VOTES

STATE=A VOTE

Though the Convention adopted the Virginia Plan, Several Questions Still Remained

• How should the number of representatives from each state be determined?– According to population?

• Should each state have an equal vote, no matter how large or small its population?

Solving the Problem of Representation

Large States like Virginia desired Proportional Representation arguing in order for the new government to be more directly

related to the people, states with larger populations should have more

representatives.

Small States like New Jersey desired Equal Representation arguing that a government

under proportional representation would lead to domination by the more populated states.

The Great Compromise

Bi-Cameral or Two-House Legislature– The House of Representatives

would be elected by the people on the basis of proportional population.

– There would be equal representation of each state in the Senate. The legislatures of each state would select 2 Senators.

Oliver Ellsworth & Roger Sherman of Connecticut

What Issues Separated the Northern and Southern States?

3/5 Compromise• Congress receives power to regulate commerce, but could

not tax exports• Constitution would not deal with importation of slaves until

January 1, 1808 (20 years) – Could tax imported slaves in the meantime

• Slaves would be counted as 3/5 a person when determining population

• Fugitive Slave Clause of Article IV allowed for return of escaped slaves