The Constitutional Convention Revision 2

The

Constitutional Convention

Chapter 2, Sec. 4

September 1786Est. 1754 Priceless

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION!Shays' Rebellion: A Weak Government. After an economic depression hit Massachusetts Farmer’s hard, the State Supreme Court refused to issue an injunction against the foreclosures on the farms. 1200 angry men, under the direction of former Revolutionary War captain, Daniel Shays, advanced on the federal arsenal. While the uprising was eventually quelled, the need for a stronger central government was not.

.George Washington: Back to AttackSince 1785, former President Washington has been acting as a liaison between representatives of Maryland and his home state of Virginia. Differences over currencies, import duties, and navigation were among the most contentious. As a result of these meetings, it was decided that ALL 13 colonies should meet in Annapolis to discuss these commerce issues..

Annapolis Convention: Onward to Philadelphia!..Although all 13 colonies were invited to attend, only delegates from five states attended. Among the delegates was Alexander Hamilton of New York, who convinced the convention that nothing short of a new design for government was needed. It was decided to meet at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in May 1787.

ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Source: http://www.cqpress.com/incontext/constitution/docs/constitutional_law.html

The Pennsylvania Gazette

Independence HallPhiladelphia

Who’s Who at the Convention?

• All states EXCEPT… Rhode Island

• Only 55 of the 74 delegates attended

• 7 were former governors• 39 served in the Confederation Congress• 8 signed the Declaration of

Independence• 6 signed the Articles of Confederation

George Washington was chosen as the convention’s president.

He is called the “Father of the Constitution” because the basic plan for government was his idea.

fourth President of the United States (1809–1817)

James Madison

Gouverneur Morris

wrote the final draft of

the Constitution.

Handmade oil painting reproduction of Portrait Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816), a painting by Alonzo Chappel.

Benjamin Franklin (age 81) took an active lead in

debates.

Rules

Each state would have one vote on all questions.

Rules

713

Seven of thirteen states must be present for a meeting.

Rules

All actions required a simple majority of all states present.

Rules

Secret debates and meetings – no press or public allowed.

CONSENSUS on basic issues:

• Limited government

• Representative government

• Separation of powers(three branches)

• Limit states rights to coin money

• Strengthen the national government

Source: http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/amrev/comptoon.jpg

VIRGINIA PLAN NEW JERSEY PLAN

GREAT COMPROMISE

- Three (3) branches of government: legislative, judicial, and strong executive

- bicameral legislature = lower house elected by the people, upper house picked by the lower house

- favored large states

VIRGINIA PLAN

- a weak executive = executive could

appoint national judiciary

- keep the unicameral legislature = one vote for each state = congress could collect

taxes and regulate trade

- favored small states

NEW JERSEY PLAN

CONNECTICUTCOMPROMISE

“Great”

A bicameral legislature!

House ofRepresentatives

Senate

LOWER HOUSE

House of Representatives

based on

population

Senate

two votes per state (equal)

UPPER HOUSE

(judges picked by Executive)

ONE executive leader!

Other COMPROMISES

Each slave counted as 3/5 of a personOR

5 slaves equal 3 people!

The Three-Fifths Compromise

3/5 + 3/5 + 3/5 + 3/5 + 3/5 = 15/5 = 3

Other COMPROMISES:

agreed not to ban the slave trade until 1808 and forbid

Congress from imposing export taxes

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

- The Northern states were outlawing slavery.

- The Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it were outlawed!

Compromise on Slavery?

RATIFICATION

Federalists (FOR)

- mainly merchants and others in the cities and coastal regions

- argued that without a strong national government, anarchy would occur

Anti-Federalists (AGAINST)

- mainly farmers and laborers

- feared a strong national government

- Lacked a “Bill of Rights”

Our New Government

March 4, 1789- Federal Hall, New York City, temporary capital- 22 senators and 59 representatives elected

April 30, 1789- George Washington, took oath as first

president- John Adams, elected vice-president

The Constitutional Convention established a form of government that was strong, yet flexible enough to last through 240 years of growth.