December 5

• In your notebook answer the following questions:• Why didn’t the Articles of Confederation work?• What was the purpose of the Constitutional

Convention?• Who was president of the convention?• Where was the meeting held?• How many houses did the Virginia plan want?• What is the first compromise about slavery?

Chapter 5

Constitutional Convention

Why do we need a new government?

• The government created under the Articles was too weak

• War debt, economy failing, unrest in colonies after Rev war

• We must create a new gt!!

• Stronger, hold country together we will create the Constitution

Constitutional Convention

• A meeting in Philadelphia PA

• George Washington will be President of Convention

• May 25,1787• Need to set up some

rules

Had to keep meeting secret• No notes allowed to be removed• Conversations in state house only• Each state had one vote• No whispering passing notes while

other delegates speaking• Met 6 days a week 10-4• 40 delegates met everyday

Old buildings sitting next to modern sky scrapers

Virginia Plan

• Edmund Randolph Gov of Virginia

• Proposed one house legislature

• Senators would be chosen by the House

• Number of seats based on states population

Although his father remained a firm Loyalist throughout the American Revolution, Randolph joined the war effort as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington. After the war, Randolph became Mayor of Williamsburg, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and eventually, Governor of Virginia -- a position he held when named to serve in the Constitutional Convention. Although he cared enough about strengthening the central government to attend the Constitutional Convention, Randolph did not sign the completed document; to him, the government outlined in the Constitution was too strong -- "the foetus of a monarchy."

Slavery or no slavery

• Major issue was whether each state would have the power to protect or abolish slave trade

• Compromised and national gt would regulate trade and would not interfere with slave trade until 1808

New Jersey Plan

• Proposed by William Patterson of New Jersey

• A one house legislature where each state has equal number of votes.

• www.archives.gov/.../ new_jersey.html

Great Compromise

• Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a plan that took both ideas together:

• A BICAMERAL or two-house legislature

• The House of Representatives = population.

• The Senate = two senators regardless of population.

• This plan gave large states more power in the House but equal power reigned in the Senate

James Madison• Get rid of A of C• Proposed 3 branch of

gt idea– Legislative– Judicial– Executive– Legislative branch has

2 housesSenate and House of

Representatives

– He is the father (writer) of the Constitution.

The three-fifths compromise

• Since House seats were based on population the south wanted to count their slaves as part of the population…

• The northern states objected to this idea because it would give the south more reps in the House

• Decided to count every 3 out of 5 slaves as a rep

Executive and Judicial branches

• Powers will be given to the President

• A Supreme Court will be created– Authority to interpret

laws and settle conflicts between states

Who gets to vote?

• White men with property will… – Elect members of

House

• State legislature will select senators

• Group of electors will be used for electoral college

The party’s over

• September 17, 1787 39 delegates signed the Constitution

Who went to the Constitutional Convention?

•Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States

•Delegates to the Constitutional Convention

Section 2

The Struggle for Ratification

Voting on new government

• The Constitution had to be ratified or approved by nine state conventions

• Many people debated the issue on whether to ratify or not..

Federalists

• Supporters of Constitution called Federalists

• Supported strong federal national government

• Provide protection• Maintain order• Regulate trade• Guarantee rights• Ensure war debts paid

Anti-Federalists

• Opponents of Constitution called anti-federalists

• Feared strong central government would endanger peoples liberties

• Reps should met in a location close to the people whose interest they sought to protect

http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/creation/framing/feds.html

Patrick Henry

Bill of Rights

• Anti-federalists wanted a Bill of Rights

• Feared that the strong national government would not respect the rights of a citizen

• Federalists thought Bill of Rights was unnecessary

The Federalist Papers• In response to Patrick

Henry • James Madison• Alexander Hamilton• John Jay• Wrote the pro-

Constitution articles called The Federalist

• www.federalist.com/ histdocs/

Ratification

• Needed a majority of votes to ratify

• Nine of the 13 states had to vote yes

• June 1788 the Constitution is ratified with the ninth state being New Hampshire