The Constitutional Convention

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The Constitutional Convention
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The Constitutional Convention begins

• 1787 - Philadelphia
• Delegates from all the states invited to a
  convention to improve the Articles of
  Confederation, which were not working
• Only RI didnt attend
• 55 Delegates attended

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Leaders of the Convention

• George Washington was asked to preside (lead)
  over the convention.
• James Madison kept notes of the discussions and
  is often called The Father of the Constitution.
• The men who wrote the Constitution are called the
  Founding Fathers.
• All the participants in the Convention were
  wealthy, white, males.

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Issues that divided the Nations leaders

• The power of the federal government. Would the
  states or the federal government have the most
  power?
• Representation in Congress (How many members on
  Congress would each state get? small states
  wanted equal representation, large states wanted
  it to be determined by population of the states)
• Slavery  How would slaves be counted? Would the
  slave trade continue?

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The Virginia Plan Proposed by James Madison

• Executive branch
• Legislative branch
• Bicameral
• House of Representatives elected by people
• Senate elected by House
• Representation was based on population of state
• Judicial branch
• LARGE STATES LIKED THIS SMALLER STATES DID NOT!

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New Jersey Plan

• Federation of states
• Each State gets 1 vote
• Unicameral (one house) legislature
• Several executives
• SMALLER STATES LIKED THIS LARGER STATES DID NOT

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The Great Compromise

• Legislature bicameral
• lower house (House of Representatives) based
  representation on population
• upper house (Senate) based on equal
  representation (one vote per state)

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Three-Fifths Compromise

• Southern states would not approve if slavery did
  not continue.
• 3/5 enslaved person counted for tax purposes and
  representation
• Left legacy for next generation to deal with

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Federalists

• Support Constitution
• Strong central government
• Bill of Rights not needed, in state constitutions
  
• John Jay, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton
  publish The Federalist, 80 essays defending
  Constitution

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Anti-Federalists

• Opposed Constitution
• Opposed drafting in secrecy
• Took important powers from the state
• Wanted BILL OF RIGHTS!

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Ratification

• June 1788 New Hampshire became the 9th state to
  ratify the constitution making it official.

Goals of Government

• To form a new/more perfect union
• Promote the general welfare
• Establish justice
• Insure domestic tranquility
• Provide for common defense
• Secure blessings of liberty and new prosperity

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Articles under the Constitution

• Article 1 Legislative Branch
• The most important
• Powers are delegated powers
• Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
• Elastic clause allows for flexibility to change
  laws over time
• Article 2 Executive Branch
• Presidents authority is based on the consent of
  the people
• Must be elected into office
• President carries out the laws
• Article 3 Judicial Branch
• National/Supreme court had the final say in all
  cases involving constitutional law

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Articles under the Constitution

• Article 4 The States
• Made sure states respected and accepted other
  states laws.
• Article 5 Amending the Constitution
• Included instructions for adding/changing the
  Constitution
• Article 6 Supremacy of the Constitution
• Requires state and national governments to take
  an oath to the Constitution as the supreme law of
  the land
• Article 7 Ratification
• Said how to establish the Constitution as law
• 9 out of the 13 states must ratify

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• Amendments to the Constitution first 10
  amendments were called the Bill of Rights (1791).
• 17 more were added later on
• Federalism divided power between the state and
  national governments although there are some
  powers that are shared between both.
• Protected the states rights while giving the
  national government authority.
• Separation of Powers each branch of government
  has separate powers to make sure not one branch
  has too much power
• Checks and Balances gives each branch ways to
  limit the power of the other branches
• Example president can veto a law passed by
  Congress.