The Constitutional Convention

A. Convention in Philly to discuss ways to improve Articles of Confederation

1. Held at Independence Hall

Same building where Americans had officially declared independece

The Constitutional Convention

B. 55 delegates attend 1. All states except Rhode Island

represented

2. Ben Franklin oldest delegate

The Constitutional Convention

3. James Madison most important delegate

4. George Washington elected president of convention

The Constitutional Convention

5. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson cannot attend – serving as ambassadors overseas

The Constitutional Convention

6. No women, African Americans or American Indians

The Great Compromise

A. Several issues divide delegates at

convention

1. Small and large states have different concerns

The Great Compromise

2. States have different views on slavery

What states would have been for slavery?

The Great Compromise

3. Tariffs (taxes on imports/exports) divide northerners and

southerners

The Great CompromiseB. The Virginia Plan – new federal

constitution that gave sovereignty,or supreme power, to central government

1. Written by James Madison

2. Also known as the large-state plan

The Great Compromise

3. Plan divides government into 3 branches:

a. legislative – make laws

b. executive – enforce laws

c. judicial – court systems

The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise 4. Representatives chosen on basis of

state populations

a. Larger states = more reps than smaller states

5. Smaller states do not like Va. Plan

The Great Compromise

C. The New Jersey Plan – “Congress shall be supreme law of the

states”1. Written by James Patterson

2. Called the small-state plan

The Great Compromise

3. All states have an equal number of votes

a. Gives smaller states equal voice

The Great Compromise

4. Central government can tax citizens in all states

5. Government can regulate commerce (trade)

The Great Compromise

6. Larger states do not like NJ Plan

They think it gives smaller states too much of an influence

D. The delegates are unable to agree

The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise

E. The Great Compromise

1. Every state, regardless of size, has an equal vote in the upper house

(Senate)

a. This satisfies small states

The Great Compromise

2. Each state has number of reps based on its population in lower house (House of

Representatives)

a. This satisfies larger states

The Great Compromise

3. Great Compromise passes but still problems to settle

The Three-Fifths CompromiseA. Regions disagree over slaves

1. South wants slaves to be included in state populations

a. Means more representatives

The Three-Fifths Compromise2. North wants slaves to count for

taxes but not representation

The Three-Fifths Compromise“The admission of slaves into the Representation…

comes to this: that that the inhabitant of a state who goes to the coast of Africa and … tears away his fellow creatures from their dearest connections and damns them to the most cruel bondage (slavery), shall have more votes in a Government established for the protection of the rights of mankind.”

~Governor Morris

Was Governor Morris for or against slavery?

The Three-Fifths Compromise

B. Three-Fifths Compromise accepted1. each slave counts as three-fifths of a

person

3/5

The Three-Fifths Compromise

The Three-Fifths CompromiseC. Foreign slave trade is major issue

1. Some want federal government to end slave trade

The Three-Fifths Compromise

2. Southern states say they depend on slavery

a. Southern states threaten to leave Union if slavery

ended

“The people of these states will never be such fools as to give up so important an interest.”

The Three-Fifths Compromise3. Another Compromise

a. North will wait 20 years before trying to end slave trade

b. South will stop insisting laws be passed with 2/3 majority

vote

The Three-Fifths Compromise

“The morality or wisdom of slavery…are considerations belonging to the states themselves.”

~ Oliver Ellsworth

Our Living Constitution

A. Strong national government wanted1. popular sovereignty – political authority belongs to the people

2. federalism – sharing of power between a central government and the states that make up a country

Our Living Constitution3. States must obey authority of federal

government

a. federal govern can use military power to enforce

laws

Our Living Constitution 4. States have powers over

functions not assigned by federal government

a. education

b. local govern

c. welfare of citizens

A Delicate Balance

A. Federal govern. is made of 3 branches to balance power

1. legislative – proposing/passing laws

A Delicate Balancea. Legislative branched divided into 2 houses

1. Senate (upper house)– 2 members/state

2. House of Representatives (the lower house)- number of reps depends on

population

A Delicate Balance2. Executive branch – makes sure

laws are carried out

a. Includes the President

A Delicate Balance3. Judicial branch – interpreting laws,

punishing criminals, and settling disputes between states

a. Made up of courts

A Delicate BalanceB. Checks and Balances – system prevents

any 1 branch of govern from becoming too powerful

A Delicate Balancea. Congress can propose law

b. President can reject law

c. Congress can override President with 2/3 majority vote

d. Judicial branch reviews laws passed by Congress and can declare unconstitutional

A Delicate Balance

C. Constitution not a perfect document1. It did create strong govern

2. Protected ideas of republicanism

3. Signed September 1787