Constitutional Convention • Shays’ Rebellion illustrates that the national government is unable

to handle a crisis-the Articles of Confederation need serious revision

PHILADELPHIA 1787

• 55 delegates from 12 states meet to revise the Articles of Confederation’ – Wealthy, white males

– Average age is 42, 2/3 lawyers, 1/3 owned slaves

– Had political experience, from cities.

• No John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Sam Adams, John Hancock, or Patrick Henry!

• Father of the Constitution – James Madison of Virginia

– Spoke over 200 times

The discussions revolved around several key issues, the most critical of which were:

• How should states be represented in congress?

• How many executives (presidents) should we have?

• Should slavery be abolished?

• How directly democratic will we be?

1787 CONVENTION MAJOR ISSUES

ISSUE VIRGINIA PLAN NEW JERSEY PLAN

SOURCE OF LEGISLATIVE POWER

Popular election/Based upon

state population

Reps selected by states

One rep per state

LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE

Bicameral Unicameral

EXECUTIVE

Elected and removed by congress

More than one person; removable by majority

JUDICIARY

Life Tenure/Able to veto in Council of

Revision

No power over states

STATE LAWS

Legislature can override

Government can compel obedience to federal law

RATIFICATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENTS

By the people

By the states

Constitutional Compromise

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

• Divided congress into two houses (bicameral legislature)

• House of Reps based on state population (Big States Happy)

• Senate has two representatives per state (Small States Happy)

• One executive, popularly elected

Slavery Slavery

• The Declaration of Independence begins to change people’s attitudes towards slavery-many want it abolished.

• South Carolina and Georgia threaten to leave the Union.

Madison comes up with a solution

– 3/5 Compromise

• 3/5 of slaves were counted, for representation purposes

• Congress could outlaw the slave trade after 1808

Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratifying the new Constitution

MAJOR CONCERNS

1. Federal government would be distant from the people and slowly strip power from the states.

2. Federal government had far too broad taxation power

3. No Bill of Rights existed to restrain government power

4. SCOTUS would overrule the state courts

5. POTUS would come to command a large, standing army

Sam Adams Patrick Henry George Mason

Federalists

Supported ratifying the Constitution:

1. It corrected the failings of the A of C.

2. Without a strong, central government uniting the states, the country would break apart.

3. Believed no bill of rights was necessary-enough

structural check & balances existed to prevent tyranny.

Washington Madison Hamilton