The Constitutional
Convention
How did the American colonists attempt to fix the
problems of the Articles of Confederation?
We go to Philadelphia!
Remember why the Articles were so weak?
Alexander Hamilton (NY) organizes convention
at Independence Hall (Philadelphia) for May
25, 1787
All states invited to send delegates
12/13 came
Rhode Island said no leaders
opposed stronger central
government
The Participants
55 delegates white men (many wealthy
planters/ lawyers; many owned slaves)
Who wasnt invited?
Women,
Native Americans,
African Americans
Thomas Jefferson & James
Adams were in Europe
Key Decisions
George Washington
unanimously chosen
as head of
convention
Decided to keep
everything they were
doing secret
We have almost no
written records;
some from James
journal
Madisons
Quickly agreed
to totally get rid of Articles &
start a new government
So what did they talk about?
They couldnt decide on representation,
population, taxes, and slavery.
Representation:
Whats the
dilemma?
Virginia Plan: supported by
large states
1. Bicameral legislature
2. Representation based
on population: large states
have more representatives
and more power
New Jersey Plan:
supported by small states
1. Unicameral Legislature
2. Equal Representation: 1
state, 1 vote
Whats the solution?
The Great Compromise/ Connecticut
Compromise
What did it say?
1. Bicameral Legislature
2. Senate with equal representation 2 per
state
3. House of Representatives
with representation based
on population
Population: Whats the dilemma?
Southern states want slaves to be counted as
part of population
Northern states opposed to this because it
makes slave states more powerful
Whats the solution?
The Three-Fifths Compromise
What did it say?
Decide that three out of every five slaves will
count in a states population
Trade: whats the
dilemma?
Northern states want the
national government to be
able to regulate trade
Southern states concerned
that this regulation will
include taxes on exports
and laws against the slave
trade
Whats the solution?
Trade/ Commerce Compromise
What did it say?
Congress can regulate trade, but cannot tax
exports
No new laws about slave trade until 1808
The President: whats the dilemma?
Some did not trust regular people to make a
good choice about the Presidency & wanted
Congress to choose
Others believed people should vote
Electing The President: whats the
solution?
President Compromise
What did it say?
Created Electoral
College
State legislatures
choose electors who
meet together to
decide the President
Now, its your turn
Imagine you are a delegate to the
Constitutional Convention in 1787. For the rest
of class, we will discuss our states perspectives
on the various aspects of the new Constitution.
1790 United States Census Data
State
Total Population
Slave Population
Connecticut
237,946
2,764
Delaware
59,096
8,887
Georgia
82,548
29,264
Maryland
319,728
103,036
Massachusetts
378,787
0
New Hampshire 141,885
158
New Jersey
184,139
11,423
New York
340,120
21,324
North Carolina
393,751
100,572
Pennsylvania
434,373
3,737
Rhode Island
68,825
948
South Carolina
249,073
107,094
Virginia
691,737
292,627
We wrote & passed the Constitution.
Yay! Now what?
Ratify = Approve
of states (9 out of 13) must ratify the
Constitution before it will take effect
But wait! More dilemmas!
Federalists: Support ratification
Named for concept of federalism a system
of government where the national & state
governments share power
Supporters? Large landowner (wanted
property protection)
Claimed only strong national government can
protect from enemies abroad & solve internal
problems
The Federalist Papers
Series of essays known as The Federalist
Written by Alexander Hamilton,
James Madison, John Jay
Defend the Constitution
Vs
Anti-Federalists: Oppose Constitution
Makes national government too powerful
Does not adequately protect citizens
Wanted bill of rights to protect individual
freedoms
Many states said they would not ratify
Constitution without addition of bill of rights
Finally Ratified
Federalists agree to
add Bill of Rights to
the Constitution if
Anti-Federalists will
support ratification
July 21, 1788: New
Hampshire becomes
the 9th state to ratify
the Constitution
Its OFFICIAL! In 1789
NC did not ratify until
over a year later (we
were 2nd to last of
original 13 to ratify)
Who do you agree with?
(15L)
Under your 3-2-1 warm-up, write a short
paragraph that answers the following
question
Who do you agree with more federalists or
anti-federalists? Put yourself in the shoes of an
American in 1787. Give at least 3 clear reasons
to support your position.