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The Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention. L/S/N Government Miss Heller. Influences on U.S. Democracy. Ancient Greek and Roman Democracies Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Locke. Ideas that Came From England. Common Law and Precedence Magna Carta (1215) English Bill of Rights (1689). Vocabulary.

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The Constitutional Convention

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  1. The Constitutional Convention L/S/N Government Miss Heller

  2. Influences on U.S. Democracy • Ancient Greek and Roman Democracies • Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Locke

  3. Ideas that Came From England • Common Law and Precedence • Magna Carta (1215) • English Bill of Rights (1689)

  4. Vocabulary • Ratification—official approval of the Constitution, or an amendment, by the people of the United States. • Federalists—supporters of the Constitution and of a strong national government. • Anti-federalists—opposed strong government and the Constitution • Federalist Papers—a series of essays defending the Constitution. • Bill of Rights—a formal summary of citizens’ rights and freedoms.

  5. Organization of the Convention • George Washington elected presiding officer • Each state would have one vote on all questions and a majority vote of those states present would make decisions • Meetings to be held only if 7 of 13 states were present. • Public and Press locked out of sessions. • BONUS: Why do you think they did this???

  6. Key Agreements • Abandon government under the Articles and begin again. • All favored the ideas of limited and representative government. • Powers of national government divided into three branches. • Favored a stronger national government.

  7. Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph Principles: Strong national legislature with 2 chambers Strong national executive National judiciary Became base for Constitution New Jersey Plan William Patterson Features: Unicameral legislature with expanded powers Weak executive National judiciary with limited power Plan was to amend the Articles Conflict Over Representation

  8. The Connecticut (Great) Compromise • Designed by Roger Sherman • Proposed a bicameral legislature • House of Representatives—state representation based on population (proportional representation) • Senate—two members from each state • Large states would have advantage in House whereas smaller states would be protected in Senate.

  9. Three-Fifths Compromise • Southern states concerned with African Americans counting for purposes of population count and tax collection • Decision: three-fifths of the enslaved people would be counted for tax purposes and representation.

  10. Compromise on Commerce and Slave Trade • North wanted government to control all commerce. • South feared government would set up trade agreements that would hurt agricultural interests and interfere with slave trade. • Compromise: Congress would not ban slave trade until 1808; Congress given power to regulate interstate and foreign trade but could not impose export taxes.

  11. Other Compromises • Electing the President directly or indirectly? • Compromise: Electoral College system • Length of Presidential Term? • Compromise: 4-year terms

  12. Think About It… As the Constitutional Convention came to a close, Benjamin Franklin remarked on the sun painted on the back of General Washington’s chair, wondering whether the sun was rising or falling: “But now at length I have the happiness to know, it is a rising and not a setting Sun.” What does that mean???

  13. Anti-federalists Criticized Constitution as extralegal Constitution lacked sufficient protection for individual rights from the government—Bill of Rights Strong opponent of Constitution: Patrick Henry Federalists Strong gov’t needed to prevent anarchy Argued against need for Bill or Rights but agreed to add one in order to gain ratification Proponents: George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton The Battle Over Ratification

  14. Learning Log: What do you think of the Conflicts and Compromises that took place during the Constitutional Convention? Had you been a participant, would have argued for or against ratification of the Constitution?

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