Creating The Constitution

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Creating The Constitution

• The framers
• The delegates to the constitution were young
• They were remarkably well educated and
  experienced in politics

James Mason
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
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Organization and Procedure

• George Washington was elected president of the
  convention.
• Each state could cast one vote on an issue, and a
  majority of votes were needed to carry a proposal.

3
The Decision to Write a New Constitution

• The Philadelphia convention was called revise the
  articles of confederation
• Most delegates agreed that writing a new
  constitution was necessary.

4
The Virginia Plan

• The Virginia plan called for a strong national
  government with 3 separate branches
• It favored large states because the number of
  votes in the legislature would be based on a
  states population

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The New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan The New Jersey Plan
Branches Three - legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature appoints people to serve in the executive branch, and the executive branch selects the justices of the Supreme Court.
Legislature One house (unicameral). States would be represented equally, so all states had the same power.
OtherPowers The national government could levy taxes and import duties, regulate trade, and state laws would be subordinate to laws passed by the national legislature

• The new jersey plan resembled the articles of
  confederation, but increased power of federal
  government to tax and regulate trade.
• It favored small states because each state was
  given equal representation in the legislature.

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The Connecticut/ Great Compromise

• Disagreement over representation in congress
  caused tempers to flare
• Connecticut compromise settled the conflict

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The Three Fifths Compromise

• The question arose of whether slaves should be
  counted in the populations of Southern States.
• The delegates agreed to count slaves as
  three-fifths of a person for the purpose of
  representation

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The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

• Congress was forbidden to tax exports.
• Congress could not act on the slave trade for at
  least 20 years.

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A Bundle of Compromises

• Great differences of opinion existed among the
  delegates.
• Compromise was necessary on many issues.

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Sources of the Constitution

• The framers were well educated
• Delegates drew from history, current political
  thought, and their own experiences.

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The Convention Completes Its Work

• The convention approved the Constitution.
• Most delegates agreed that the constitution was
  not perfect, but was the best that they could
  produce.
• now what?

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The States Must Ratify The Constitution The
Fight to Come

• The Federalist
• Wanted the strong government the constitution
  provided
• Must be approved even is some problems
• Feared the people more then government.

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The Antifederalist

• Felt the constitution was a betrayal of the
  revolution
• Create a govt that could tax tell you what to
  do.
• Feared the government more than the people
• Feared the federal government would over power
  the governments closest to the people ( state
  local)
• Feared for American Liberties.

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Comparing the Federalist Antifederalist views
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The Federalist Win..

• The advantages
• Everyone saw flaws with articles
• Shays Rebellion
• The federalist were united behind a common plan
  The constitution
• The Antifederalist had no alternative common plan
  they just didnt like the constitution.
• The federalist were well organized and national.
• The Federalist had George Washington.

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The States Ratify

• Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut quickly ratify.
• Small states who stand to benefit from
  federalism.
• Georgia ratifies- need federal help for native
  American war.

But, it means nothing without NY, Mass Virginia
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The fight for NY

• The federalist papers
• To persuade the NY state convention citizens
  Alexander Hamilton John Jay wrote a series of
  essays in support of the new constitution. The
  essays were published in the NY newspapers and
  widely read discussed by the citizen.
• With the effort of Hamilton Jay NY ratifies the
  constitution.

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Getting Virginia

• Patrick Henry had much of Virginia concerned
  about the lack of a bill of rights in the
  constitution
• Leading Federalist promise an amendment to the
  constitution protecting individual liberties once
  the constitution is ratified.
• So we got bill of rights.

The living constitution
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