Challenges of the Constitutional Convention

1. Challenges of the Constitutional Convention • 55 delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss reforming or revising the Articles of Confederation • Shays’ Rebellion showed the federal or central government needed to be stronger!

2. Common Beliefs of Delegates to the Constitutional Convention: • “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” • Natural rights could only exist with government. • Government was necessary for liberty. • Governments should be based on the consent of the governed. • Authority needed to be limited.

3. Why the Call for a Convention? • Sept, 1786, Delegates from 5 states met in Annapolis, MD to discuss trade issues. • Had to amend the Articles to make the changes • Called for a convention in Philadelphia to begin in May 1787

4. Who Was NOT Represented There? • Women • Native-Americans • African-Americans

5. Key Leaders NOT There • Thomas Jefferson • John Adams • Patrick Henry said he “smelled a rat…tending toward monarchy.”

6. Who Was There? • Many of the key Founding Fathers • Washington was chosen President of the convention • James Madison, • “Father of the Constitution,” • only member to attend every session • Kept notes on each session and made great contributions to the final document

7. New Government • The Founding Fathers decide to create an entirely new government instead of just revising the Articles of Confederation

8. Disagreements over Representation • VA Plan • NJ Plan • Great Compromise

9. The Virginia Plan (Madison) • 3 Branches: Legislative, Executive & Judicial Branches with checks and balances • Congress, the legislative branch , would make the laws. • An executive branch would carry out the laws. • United States courts would see that justice was done under the law. • Congress, the legislative branch , would make the laws. • ***Plan for an entirely new form of government. • Called for 2 houses. • One would be elected directly by the people. • The members of the house would elect the second house. • ***Worried that ordinary people would not elect good representatives. Others felt it was important for citizens to be involved. Direct election was in question. • Called for representatives to be based on population. • Favored the large states for representation.

10. Large vs. Small States: Who will win?

11. The New Jersey Plan by William Patterson • Single House of Congress with equal vote in the States • Each state, regardless of size , would have the same number of representatives. • Small states supported this plan

12. Great Compromise • 3 Branches: Executive, Judicial & Legislative • Legislative with 2 houses BICAMERAL • Senate had 2 representatives per state • The House of Representatives would be based off of number of people in state

13. Executive Branch One person, a president, would lead the branch instead of multiple people

14. Slavery, Taxes, and Representation • 3/5 Compromise • South wanted slaves counted for representation not taxation • North wanted slaves counted for taxation not representation • Final compromise: Slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for taxation and representation

15. The Slave Trade • Many Northerners want to ban slavery • South Carolina and Georgia vow not to accept any plan “unless their right to import slaves be untouched.” • Final compromise: Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808