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The Constitutional Convention
Objective- Students will analyze the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention and explain its achievements.
Constitutional Convention
Essential Questions
1. How did the Connecticut Compromise settle the most divisive issue among members of the Const. Convention?
2. What were the key arguments presented by Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Content Vocabulary Legislative Branch- section of the gov’t that makes lawsExecutive Branch- section of the gov’t that carries out lawsJudicial Branch- section of the gov’t that interprets lawsInterstate Commerce- trade among the statesExtralegal- not sanctioned by lawAnarchy- political disorder
The Convention Begins• Philadelphia, PA• May 25, 1787• Delegates from all states except Rhode Island• 55 delegates present
Leaders of the Convention
James Madison George Washington Benjamin Franklin Father of the Constitution Leader of the Convention Most senior member 81 Virginia Virginia Pennsylvania
First President of USA
Organization
- 1 vote per state- Simple majority needed to make
decisions- Delegates decided to keep meetings
secret
Key Agreements
1. All favored a limited and representative gov’t2. Powers of the national gov’t should be divided
among legislative, executive, and judicial branches
3. Limit the power of the states to coin money4. Strengthen the national gov’t
The Virginia Plan
Edmund Randolph and James MadisonThree Principles
1. Strong national legislature w/ two houses based on population of each state.
2. Strong national executive chosen by the leg.3. National judiciary appointed by the leg.* Delegates from smaller states feared that this plan would give larger states more power*
The New Jersey Plan
William Patterson1. A unicameral legislature w/ one vote for each
state2. Congress has the power to impose taxes and
regulate trade3. Weak executive of more than one person,
elected by congress4. National judiciary appointed by the executive
*The New Jersey Plan was rejected*
The Connecticut Compromise
Question: should the states be represented on the basis of population or should they be represented equally?Solution: A bicameral legislature
- House of Reps- based on population- Senate- equal (2 per state)
Roger Sherman
Three-Fifths CompromiseProblem• 1/3 of people living in the southern states were
slaves• Southern states wanted slaves to count toward
population, so they would have more reps in the House
• Northern states did not have many slaves, so they did not want them to count toward population.
Compromise• Slaves would count for 3/5 of the population
Slavery and the Constitution
• Northern states feared the southern states would not sign the Const. if it outlawed slavery.
• The issue of slavery was left out of the Constitution except Article IV, Section 2
Ratifying the Constitution
• The Constitution was complete on September 17, 1787
• 9 of 13 states needed to sign it for ratification (to pass).
• On June 21, 1788 New Hampshire became the 9th state to sign
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Federalists – supported the constitution• Support came from the founders
and merchants
Anti-Federalists- opposed the Constitution• Support came from inland farmers
and laborers
Anti-Federalists Arguments1. Criticized the Constitution for
being drafted in secret: extralegal.
2. Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights: afraid a strong national gov’t would take away human rights
Patrick Henry was a strong
opponent of the Constitution
Federalists Arguments
1. Without a strong national gov’t, anarchy would triumph
2. A strong national gov’t is necessary to protect the nation from enemies and solve internal problems
Alexander Hamilton
James MadisonJohn Jay
Wrote 80 essays defending the
Constitution called The Federalist
Bill of Rights
• In the first session of Congress, James Madison, introduced 12 amendments
• Ten were ratified in 1791 known as the Bill of Rights