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
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