The Constitutional Convention

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The Constitutional Convention
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Be Able to Answer

• Why did the early US Govt meet in Philadelphia
  and draft a Constitution?
• Understand the basics of the Compromises

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General Knowledge

• How many amendments?
• What does the word Amendment mean?
• What is the Bill of Rights?
• Why did we have so many compromises?
• How many branches?
• Who is the head of each branch?

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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 over the
  convention.
• James Madison kept notes of the discussions and
  is often called The Father of the Constitution.

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The Founding Fathers
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Who was missing?

• John Adams England
• Thomas Jefferson France
• Patrick Henry distrusted a strong government

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What influenced the Founders?

• Ancient Greeks and Romans Democracy and
  Republican style of government
• Magna Carta Limit power of the King
• John Locke Life, Liberty, and Property
• Baron de Montesquieu Separation of Powers

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Issues that divided the Nations leaders

• The power of the federal government.
• Representation in Congress.
• Slavery.

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Virginia Plan
Proposed by big states / Edmund
Randolph Lawmaking body Bicameral (2 Houses)
Based on Population
Elected by the 1st house
Elected by the people
of Congressmen determined by state population
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New Jersey Plan
Supported by smaller states / William
Paterson Lawmaking body Unicameral (1 House)
Each state would have the same number of
Representatives or votes
Based on Equality
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Solving the Problem of Representation
Large States like Virginia desired Proportional
Representation arguing in order for the new
government to be more directly related to the
people, states with larger populations should
have more representatives.
Small States like New Jersey desired Equal
Representation arguing that a government under
proportional representation would lead to
domination by the more populated states.
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The Great Compromise
This was a combination of both plans Lawmaking
body Bicameral Congress (2 Houses)
Senate
House of Representatives
Each state gets 2 representatives
of reps. would depend on populations
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Slavery

• The Southern states refused to approve the
  Constitution unless slavery continued.
• 3/5 Compromise - Made each slave worth 3/5 of a
  vote in deciding numbers in House of
  Representatives
• Congress can not ban the slave trade until 1808.