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The Road to the Constitution
2
Quick Review Declaration of Independence
Second Continental Congress Approved July 4, 1776
The Articles of Confederation 1777, our first constitution Weak federal government Shay’s Rebellion, 1786-1787
Strengthening the National Government
1787 Problems with the Articles of Confederation States sent delegates to Philadelphia to fix
the A.O.C. Rhode Island did not go…they did not want
a stronger central government
The Constitutional Convention
May 25, 1787 Independence Hall, Philadelphia An extraordinary group of men
55 men Well-educated Lawyers, merchants, college presidents, doctors,
generals, governors, and planters with considerable political experience
Who was there? Who missed it?
Benjamin Franklin 81, oldest delegate
George Washington & James Madison Both would become president
Thomas Jefferson & John Both were in Europe
Patrick Henry Prominent Virginian He was invited but did not attend; he was against the
convention
The Boss Who was chosen to
preside over the convention?
George Washington Respected for his
leadership during the Rev. War
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Procedures of the Convention
Each state was only allowed one vote Majority votes from all states made
decisions All discussions were a secret! Why…?
This way, delegates could speak freely, without worry about how the public would react
Importance of the Constitutional Convention
“I would bury my bones in this city rather than leave the Convention without anything being done.”
-George Mason at the Constitutional Convention
*Everyone knew that failure could mean disaster*
What happened to the…
Articles of Confederation???
The throw it away, decided to write a new constitution
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Two Opposing Plans
VS.
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Virginia vs. New Jersey
Two Opposing Plans The Virginia Plan
James Madison 3 branches of government Bicameral legislature (2 houses),
determined by population Favored big states
Two Opposing Plans The New Jersey Plan William Patterson 3 branches of government Unicameral legislature (1 house) with
equal representation Favored smaller states
Two Opposing Plans What was the big issue?
How representation in Congress would be decided
Larger states wanted more power, smaller states wanted equal power
The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman of Connecticut comes up with the answer…a compromise
Lower House House of Representatives Determined by population 2 year terms Favored larger states
Upper House Senate Equal representation 6 year terms Favored smaller states
Also known as… The Connecticut Compromise
What is a compromise???
A way of resolving disagreements in which each side gives up something but gains something else
More arguing? What now?
Controversy over counting slaves as a part of the population…
At this time, there were 550,000 enslaved African Americans, mostly in the South
More arguing? What now?
Southern states said… part of the population = more representatives for southern states
Northern states said… slaves cannot vote or participate in government, they should not give the south more representatives
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The conflict was finally resolved…
Three-Fifths Compromise Every 5 enslaved persons would count as 3 free
people Used for representation in Congress & figuring
taxes
Another compromise How to elect a president? Some say… “Let Congress pick!” Others say… “Let the people choose!” The compromise…
Electoral College A group of people would be chosen by
each state to choose the President Each state given a certain number of votes,
determined by their representation in Congress
One last compromise Conflicts over commerce & the slave trade
Congress could regulate (control) trade between states & other countries
However, they could NOT tax exports or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years
Finished…finally! September 17, 1787, finished up the
Constitution Delegates signed it, said the Constitution
would become the law of the land when… 9 out of 13 states ratified (approved) it
So everyone in the entire United States of America loved the Constitution and every state ratified it immediately and we all had a big party and we all lived happily ever after, right…?
Wrong!
A Divided Public Some people liked the Constitution, others did not
Federalists = supporters of the new constitution & a strong federal government
Federalism = A form of government in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the states
A Divided Public Some Federalists wrote papers to rally
support for the Constitution
They were called the Federalist Papers (duh)
Who wrote ‘em? Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay
A Divided Public What about those who didn’t like the
Constitution?
Anti-Federalists = People opposed to the constitution & a strong federal government “Don’t forget individual rights!”
Reaching an Agreement
Anti-Federalists wanted to add… The Bill of Rights
The Federalists promised to do so, and did
New Hampshire, 9th state to ratify June 21, 1788 The Constitution went into effect
The last state to ratify…? Rhode Island, 1790
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Who: Hamilton, Madison, Jay
Patrick Henry
Central Government
Strong:provide protection
Weak : focus on states
Interpretation Loose Strict
Bill of Rights Eventually Without a doubt!!!!
Supporters Wealth/industrial
common/farmers
Power of President
Lots Little - no Kings!
Federalist Antifederalist Issue
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Lesson questions
What does interpretation mean?
What does strict interpretation of the constitution mean?
What does loose interpretation of the constitution mean?
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Founding Fathers The Framers of the Constitution
wrote a very generalized document.
Purpose? To allow future Americans
flexibility.
Look at Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the U.S. Constitution on page 170 on the textbook. Read it carefully.
The nick name of this passage is the Elastic Clause.
Can you tell why?
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Competing interpretations Who interprets?
The Supreme Court!
How?
Strict or literalist
Which Means? The Constitution
means exactly what it says!
Framers had an exact plan
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Competing interpretations The counterpart of strict interpretation is?
Loose interpretation
Which means?
Meaning of certain portions of the Constitution can stretched to the user’s needs
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