The Creation of the Constitution

1. The Creation of the Constitution The Convening of the Constitutional Convention

2. By Mid 1780s • Poor Foreign Relations • Britain refused to send a foreign minister. • Closed profitable West Indies trade to American merchants • Intrigues with Native Americans along the nation’s northern border to keep trading posts on American soil in British hands. • Spain unfriendly, claiming parts of US land and plotting with Native Americans east of Appalachians. • France was demanding repayment of war loans.

3. By Mid 1780s • Poor relations between the states. • Boundary disputes • Economic unrest • States levying duties on goods from their neighbors • Printing of worthless paper currency • Falling crop prices (Mass. Farmers) • Shay’s Rebellion

4. Shay’s Rebellion Mass. Farmers suffered from falling crop prices • Were Rev War veterans • Legislatures raised taxes • Courts scheduled to foreclose on property • Shay and hundreds of men marched on courts and brought proceedings to a halt. • James Warren to John Adams…”We are now in a state of anarchy and confusion bordering on a civil war.” • Mass. Army called out to crush rebellion.

5. Nation Becoming Ungovernable • What is the meaning of this quote by George Washington? “I predict the worst consequences from a half-starved, limping government, always moving upon crutches and tottering at every step. I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation without having lodged somewhere a power which will pervade the whole Union in as energetic a manner as the authority of the state governments extends over the several states.”

6. Alexander Hamilton …the national government was “fit neither for war nor peace.” James Madison “if the present paroxysm of our affairs be totally neglected, our case may become desperate.” Nation Becoming Ungovernable

7. Shay’s Rebellion • What are you farmers so angry about? • What are you doing about it? • Why have you farmers gone into debt? Who has taxed you so heavily? • What do you farmers hope to gain by seizing this courthouse? • Why do you judges look so concerned? • Do you judges understand why the farmers are so upset with you? • Do you judges fear for your lives?

8. 1786 – Call for a Consitutional Convention • Invited representatives from 13 states to Philadelphia in May of 1787, “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.” • Virginia Plan – radical changes in structure of national government.

9. George Washington Addressing the Constitutional Convention

10. 55 Delegates from 12 States • Rhode Island boycott – “the home of the otherwise minded” • Important absent Leaders – influence felt in their letters and writings on government. • John Adams: in Great Britain representing the United States • Thomas Jefferson: in France arranging treaties of commerce and foreign loans. • Thomas Paine, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry

11. “This was a convention of the well-bred, the well-fed, the well-read, and the well-wed.” James MacGregor Burns, Historian Conventioneer Profile

12. George Washington Elected chairman Could not take part in debates Quiet authority kept the conference on track “an assembly of demi-gods”

13. Benjamin Franklin Oldest delegate Philadelphia’s honored printer, scientist, and statesman Carried in a sedan chair by local prisoners as he suffered from gout and old age pains. “the greatest philosopher of the present age’ all the operations of nature he seems to understand, the very heavens obey him, and the clouds yield up their lightning to be imprisoned in his rod…He is no speaker, nor does he seem to let politics engage his attention. He is, however, a most extraordinary man, and tells a story in style more engaging than anything I ever heard…He is 82 years old, and possesses an activity of mind equal to a youth of 25 years of age.” William Pierce, Georgia delegate “an assembly of demi-gods”

14. James Madison Possibly the single most influential delegate to the convention Known as the father of the Constitution Known for his scholarship and unwavering commitment to the task of creating a strong national government. Recorded every debate and decision of the Convention. His notes are largely why we know what went on inside the Convention day by day, as the proceedings were held in secret. “an assembly of demi-gods”

15. “Mr. Madison is a character who has long been in public life; and what is very remarkable every person seems to acknowledge his greatness. He blends together the profound politician with the scholar. In the management of every great question he evidently took the lead in the Convention…he always come forward the best informed man of any point in debate. The affairs of the United States, he perhaps has the most correct knowledge of, of any man in the Union…Mr. Madison is about 37 years of age, a gentleman of great modesty, with a remarkably sweet temper.” William Pierce, Georgia delegate “an assembly of demi-gods”

16. The Virginia Plan Gov Edmund Randolph of Virginia Not a proposal to revise the Articles of Confederation. National government with three branches Legislative 1 house elected by the people 1 house made up of representatives named by state legislatures Executive National executive chosen by the legislature Judicial Jurisdiction over cases Involving foreigners Citizens from different states “Questions which may involve the national peace and harmony.” The United States Constitution

17. How should representation be determined? If representation were based on population, how should slaves be regarded – as people or as property? How should the chief executive be chosen? What kinds of safeguards should be built into the new government to prevent misuse of power? What powers should be given to the national government? What powers should be reserved to the state governments? Should the constitution include a bill of rights that lists the most important rights and freedoms of the people? The United States ConstitutionIssues to Be Resolved

18. The United States Constitution Quick Write: Respond to the quote by Gouverneur Morris. As Gouverneur Morris remarked at the time, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention represented not only their states or even the American nation, but also “the whole human race.” One of the things that kept Morris and his colleagues in Philadelphia through that long, hot summer was their belief that“the whole human race will be affected by the proceedings of this Convention.”