Aim: How did the US Constitution create a stronger

national gov’t than that of the Articles of Confederation?

Do Now: The English Constitution was not a written

document, it was more informal. When the

time came for the Americans to draft their own

constitution, they decided they needed a

written constitution.

Why do you think a written constitution

seemed like such a good idea?

I. The Constitutional Convention

A. 1787 Constitutional Convention

1. 55 delegates representing all states except RI met in PA State House (Independence Hall), in Philadelphia

2. George Washington most famous delegate who was

elected president of the Constitutional Convention

3. Some did not attend due to suspicion of the

convention trying to create a strong national gov’t

4. women, Native Americans, African Americans or

poor white men b/c had limited political & legal rights

B. Key Compromises at the Convention

1. delegates decided to write a new constitution instead

of revising the Articles of Confederation

2. delegates task to create a gov’t with enough strength

to govern while protecting individual liberties

3. all bills dealing with money would have to start in the

House of Representatives but would need the

approval of the Senate

II. Ratification of the Constitution A. Ratification

1. 39 remaining delegates in PA signed the Constitution after it was approved on September 17, 1787 2. 9 out of 13 states must approve the Constitution for it to go into effect as written by the Framers 3. approval would be done through special conventions called in each state rather than through the state legislature

B. The Great Debate

1. Federalists-for/Anti-Federalists-against ratification

2. June 1788, 9 states gave their approval to ratify

3. success of the new gov’t depended upon the

acceptance of VA & NY who did not give approval

4. VA approved Constitution by 10 votes but with

amendments suggested

5. The Federalists- series of pro-ratification essays by

Hamilton,Jay&Madison against Anti-Federalists, led

by George Clinton, George Mason & Patrick Henry

a) ratification of NY was by a margin of 3 votes

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States

Questions for Discussion

* Why was the US constitution was referred to as a “bundle of compromises”?

* Why do you think the delegates kept the discussions a

secret at the convention?

* What opinions about gov’t were discussed & debated

by the Framers?

* What compromises did they reach in order to create

the Constitution and ensure approval by the states?

* Why were some groups opposed to the Convention?

* Why was it essential for VA & NY to be among the

states who ratified the constitution?