The Road to the Constitution

Ten years of living under the Articles of Confederation had shown Americans that the loose association of independent states was not working.

Under the Articles of Confederation our government was to weak.

Articles of Confederation

The Delegates were split.

1. Some wanted one large state with one central government.

2. Others wanted the states to keep as much power for themselves.

Federal System-power is divided between the National Government and the states.

The Federal System States Rights Strong National

Government.

The Constitutional Convention May 25, 1787 in Philadelphia at

Freedom Hall.

12/13 States attended only Rhode Island failed to attend.

R.I. Opposed a strong Central Government.

The Delegates had assembled to change the Articles of Confederation.

Instead they totally junked it for a new constitution.

The Delegates were very similar.

They were all highly educated white men.

Most delegates were professionals or business people.

At least ½ were college graduates.

Several important Americans who had been active in the fight for Independence.

Benjamin Franklin Alexander Hamilton

And no convention would fly without George Washington.

Key Decisions Each state got one vote

regardless of their population.

A majority 7/12 would decide any issue.

The work was kept secret.

Because of the secrecy the only records that were recorded,

Came from the notebook of James Madison.

2 Plans for government, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.

Virginia Plan (Big States) 3 branches of government

President, Courts, Congress with 2 Houses, Both with Representation based on population.

The small states hated the Virginia Plan

New Jersey Plan Small States

Presented by William Patterson New Jersey.

One House Legislature with equal representation.

The Connecticut or Great Compromise.

Compromise- each side gives up something to get something more important.

2 Houses (one based on Population and the other EQUALITY

The 3/5’s compromise

The Southerners wanted to count slaves as part of their population.

To increase their voting power in Congress.

The people of the North opposed this idea.

The delegates agreed that 5 slaves would count as 3/5’s of all other persons.

For representation and taxes.

The 3/5’s Compromise

5 Blacks = 3/5’s of all other persons.

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

The Northern States felt that Congress should be able to regulate trade with other countries.

Regulate slave trade for 20 years (til 1808)

The Southern States, however feared that Congress would use this Power to tax Exports.

Exports – goods sold to other countries.

The South also feared that the North might interfere with the Slave trade.

The South agreed that Congress could regulate trade

Between states and other countries if they did not tax exports or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.

1788- 1808

Compromise was reached.

Ratification-sign into law.

The Ratification of the Constitution was a difficult process.

Anti- Federalist

A group that openly opposed the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists – were upset the Constitution did not have a Bill of Rights.

Federalists Was a group that supported the

Constitution. They included many of the Delegates who helped write the document. They claimed the United States would not survive without a strong central government.

Federalists- essays that supported their view.

Some of the Federalists were – James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay they supported the Constitution.

Ratification of the Constitution On June 21 1788.

New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution and it became law. In 1790 Rhode Island became the 13th state. The United States 13 independent states were now the united States of America.