The Constitutional Convention

• Weaknesses of the Confederation Congress worried many American leaders that the US would not survive without a strong central govt. – People who supported this known as nationalists

(George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton etc.)

• NY delegate Alexander Hamilton recommended that Congress call a convention in Philly 1787 to revise Articles of Confederation.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The Founders• 55 Delegates—majority were lawyers, had

experience in colonial, state, or national govts. – RI sent no delegates– Thomas Jefferson was unable to make convention

but said it was an “assembly of demigods” • George Washington chosen as presiding

officer

George Washington at the Constitutional Convention

Independence Hall, Philadelphia Pennsylvania

The Assembly Room in Independence Hall

The Virginia Plan• James Madison from Virginia arrived

with a detailed plan for a new national govt. – Proposed legislature divided into 2 houses

• In both houses the # of representatives for each state would reflect that state’s population

James Madison

The New Jersey Plan• Delegates accepted dividing govt into 3

branches, but smaller states opposed basing representation on pop

• William Paterson of NJ offered their plan:– Did not abandon Articles, but modified them to

make central govt. stronger– Congress would have single house, each state

was equally represented, and would also have power to raise taxes and regulate trade.

The Great (Connecticut) Compromise

• Connecticut’s Roger Sherman came up with this idea

• The Great Compromise:– One house of Congress (House of

Representatives) the states would be represented according to size of their population

– In other house (Senate) each state would have equal representation

– Eligible voters in each state would elect the House of Representatives, but state legislatures would choose senators.

The Problem of Slavery

• The Convention delegates also had to deal with the problem of slavery

• Each state could elect one member to House of Rep for every 40,000 people– South wanted to include slaves in count– North objected (slaves can’t vote). Suggested if

slaves count in population they should also count in taxes

Three-Fifths Compromise

• Every 5 enslaved people would count as 3 free persons for determining representation and taxes

• Also, Congress could not vote to ban slave trade until 1808 or impose taxes on import of enslaved persons

Framework for Limited Govt.

• New constitution based on principle of popular sovereignty (rule by the people)

• Representative system in which elected officials represented voice of people

• System of govt. known as federalism– Divided govt. power between federal (national)

govt. and the state govts.

Federal System

Separation of Powers

• Constitution provided for a separation of powers among 3 branches of the federal govt. – Legislative—make the laws (2 houses of

Congress)– Executive—implement and enforce laws

(president)– Judicial—interpret laws (system of federal

courts)

Powers of the President

Checks and Balances• Set up system to prevent any one branch from becoming

too powerful– President could propose legislation, appoint judges, and veto

(reject) acts of Congress– However, Legislature could override veto with 2/3 vote in both

houses– Senate could approve or reject presidential appointments to

executive branch and treaties– Congress could impeach (formally accuse of misconduct and

remove) president or other high officials in executive/judicial branch– President could nominate members of judiciary, but senate had to

confirm or reject them

Amending the Constitution

• Might need to be changed over time• Created a clear system for making

amendments (changes to the constitution– 2-step process

• Proposal and ratification