Steps to US ConstitutionSteps to US Constitution

1781: Articles of 1781: Articles of Confederation take effectConfederation take effect1787: Constitutional 1787: Constitutional Convention to “fix” Convention to “fix” weaknesses of the weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation1789: New Congress 1789: New Congress Convenes under the Convenes under the current Constitutioncurrent Constitution1791: Bill of Rights 1791: Bill of Rights added to Constitutionadded to Constitution

Important TermsImportant Terms

Ratify—to approveRatify—to approveFramers—delegates present at the Framers—delegates present at the writing of the Constitutionwriting of the ConstitutionBill of Rights—list of basic rights of the Bill of Rights—list of basic rights of the peoplepeopleFederalists—approved the ratification of Federalists—approved the ratification of the Constitutionthe ConstitutionAnti-federalists—did not approve of the Anti-federalists—did not approve of the ratification of the Constitution.ratification of the Constitution.

Compromises at the Compromises at the ConventionConvention

Compromises allow for the Compromises allow for the varied needs of Statesvaried needs of States

The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise

Virginia v. New JerseyVirginia v. New Jersey

Side: Virginia PlanSide: Virginia Plan(Large States)(Large States)

Goals:Goals:– 3 branches (leg, exec, judicial)3 branches (leg, exec, judicial)

– Congress-bicameralCongress-bicameral

Representation based on populationRepresentation based on population

Side: Virginia PlanSide: Virginia Plan (Large States) (Large States)

Reasons:Reasons:– Wanted a truly NATIONAL government Wanted a truly NATIONAL government

w/ greatly expanded powers and the w/ greatly expanded powers and the power to enforce its decisionspower to enforce its decisions

– Gave more power to the large states Gave more power to the large states that were expected to dominate the new that were expected to dominate the new governmentgovernment

Side: New Jersey PlanSide: New Jersey Plan(Small States)(Small States)

Goals:Goals:– Unicameral CongressUnicameral Congress

– Equal representation of statesEqual representation of states

– Congress given limited powers to tax Congress given limited powers to tax and regulate trade between statesand regulate trade between states

Side: New Jersey PlanSide: New Jersey Plan (Small States) (Small States)

Reasons:Reasons:

–Make small states Make small states equally important equally important as large statesas large states

–Feared protecting Feared protecting their intereststheir interests

Results of the Great CompromiseResults of the Great Compromise

Also called Connecticut CompromiseAlso called Connecticut Compromise

3 branches of government (legislative, 3 branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial)executive, judicial)

Bicameral legislature (Congress)Bicameral legislature (Congress)– House of Representatives—representation House of Representatives—representation

based on population—benefited large statesbased on population—benefited large states– Senate—Equal representation (two per state) Senate—Equal representation (two per state)

-benefited small states-benefited small states

Three-Fifths CompromiseThree-Fifths CompromiseRepresentation Representation

and Taxesand Taxes

Should slaves be Should slaves be counted when counted when

determining the determining the population of a population of a

state?state?

Side: Southern StatesSide: Southern StatesGoals:Goals:

– Count slaves in the population in order to Count slaves in the population in order to boost their numbersboost their numbers

– (reminder: slaves had no rights at this time!)(reminder: slaves had no rights at this time!)

Reasons:Reasons:

Increase their population for the sake of the Increase their population for the sake of the House of Representatives (more people House of Representatives (more people meant more votes)meant more votes)

Side: Northern StatesSide: Northern States

Goals:Goals:

–Do not count slaves in populationDo not count slaves in population

Reasons:Reasons:

Did not want South to have more Did not want South to have more representation in Congressrepresentation in Congress

Results Results

3/5 Compromise said that all free 3/5 Compromise said that all free people counted in the populationpeople counted in the population

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person (every 3 out of 5 slaves were (every 3 out of 5 slaves were counted)counted)

Commerce and Slave Trade Commerce and Slave Trade CompromiseCompromise

Tariffs Tariffs

and Servitudeand Servitude

Side: Southern StatesSide: Southern States

Goals:Goals:– Protect the agricultural SouthProtect the agricultural South– Protect Slave TradeProtect Slave Trade

Reasons:Reasons:

Afraid Congress would try to regulate the Afraid Congress would try to regulate the slave trade and pay for the new government slave trade and pay for the new government with export duties (from Southern tobacco)with export duties (from Southern tobacco)

Side: NorthernersSide: Northerners

Goals:Goals:

– Protect Northern Commercial InterestsProtect Northern Commercial Interests

Reasons:Reasons:

Afraid new taxes would burden Afraid new taxes would burden businessesbusinesses

Results of the Commerce and Results of the Commerce and Slave Trade CompromiseSlave Trade Compromise

Congress was forbidden the power to Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any statetax the export of goods from any state

Congress also forbidden the power to Congress also forbidden the power to act on the slave trade for at least 20 act on the slave trade for at least 20 yearsyears

Bundle of CompromisesBundle of Compromises

Constitution was drafted at Philadelphia Constitution was drafted at Philadelphia and is called the bundle of compromises and is called the bundle of compromises because they settle the differences of because they settle the differences of opinions of delegates from 12 different opinions of delegates from 12 different statesstates

Ratification of the Ratification of the ConstitutionConstitution

FederalistsFederalists

Federalists supported the ratification Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.of the Constitution.

They wanted a strong national They wanted a strong national governmentgovernment

Anti-federalistsAnti-federalists

Opposed the ratification of the ConstitutionOpposed the ratification of the Constitution

They disliked the increased power given to They disliked the increased power given to the national government.the national government.

They also disliked the lack of a bill of They also disliked the lack of a bill of rights.rights.

Ratification processRatification process

The constitution called for 9 of the 13 The constitution called for 9 of the 13 states to ratify.states to ratify.

While 9 of 13 did originally ratify, New While 9 of 13 did originally ratify, New York and Virginia did not—states with the York and Virginia did not—states with the largest populations.largest populations.

Because of the this the Constitution did Because of the this the Constitution did not actually go into effect until NY and VA not actually go into effect until NY and VA ratified.ratified.