Why did we need a Constitution? Articles were weak. No national executive No national courts No power to tax No $ for Army/Navy No power over commerce.

Why did we need a Constitution?

• Articles were weak.• No national executive• No national courts• No power to tax• No $ for Army/Navy• No power over

commerce• No US Currency

Daniel Shays

Meet the Delegates!Rich White

Landowning Men were the only group

represented at the

Constitutional

Convention of 1787

WITH THE NATIONS’ MANY PROBLEMS PEOPLE BEGAN TO CRITICIZE

THE ARTICLES

WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS FEAREDANARCHY & REVOLUTION

THEY CALL FOR A STRONG FEDERALGOVERNMENT!

Shays Rebellion Caused Concern

Wealthy America

ns believed

that they

could be in

danger without

a US Military

A MEETING CALLED IN PHILADELPHIATO FIX THE ARTICLES IN 1787

Problems1. National Security2. Stabilize the Economy3. Pay war debt4. Define authority of Federal Goverment

GEORGE WASHINGTON (Presided over)

BEN FRANKLIN

JAMES MADISON “FATHER OF THE

CONSTITUTION”

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

THOMAS JEFFERSON, JOHN ADAMS,THOMAS PAINE, JOHN HANCOCK

& PATRICK HENRY DID NOT ATTEND

What influenced theFounding Fathers &

Enlightenment ideas!

ALL 13 STATES HAD A CONSTITUTION – USED AS A MODEL FOR FEDERAL GOV’T

POWER OF GOV’T SEPARATED BETWEEN EQUAL BRANCHES

(LEGISLATURE, EXECUTIVE, JUDICIAL)

BILL OF RIGHTS FOR CITIZENS

ENGLISH COMMON LAW & THE MAGNA CARTA: LIMITS POWER OF KING

JOHN LOCKE “LIFE, LIBERTY, & PROPERTY”

MONTESQUIEU: SEPARATION OF POWERS

ANCIENT GREEKS & ROMANS (DEMOCRACY & REPUBLIC)

OTHERS

Debates & Compromise

Representation and Slavery

VIRGINIA PLAN (BIG STATE):REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS

BASED ON POPULATION

MORE PEOPLE = MORE REPS =MORE POWER!

MADISON’S (E. RANDOLPH & G. MORRIS) PLAN

NEW JERSEY PLAN (SMALL STATE):REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS

BASED ON ALL STATES BEING EQUAL

EACH STATE GETS THE SAME NUMBER OF VOTES –

EQUAL POWER (W. Paterson)

PLANS COMBINED - BICAMERAL (TWO PART) CONGRESS CREATED

CONGRESS: HOR – REP BASED ON POPULATIONSENATE – ALL STATES ARE EQUALKnown as the Conn. Plan or Great Compromise

Slavery Debate

Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and

Georgia wanted slaves to be counted

for representation

in congress, but not for taxation.

SHOULD SLAVES BE COUNTED AS POPULATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPS?

1. SLAVES WOULD BE COUNTED AS 3/5 OF A PERSON.

2. SLAVE TRADE FROM AFRICA MUST END BY 1807

SOUTH “YES” – NORTH – “NO”

SOUTH WANTED A 2/3RD VOTE IN CONGRESS FOR REGULATING

TRADE

NORTH WANTED A TARIFF OR TAX

BOTH SIDES DROPPED DEMANDS & LET FEDERAL GOV’T REGULATE

COMMERCE

9 STATES HAD TO “RATIFY” THE CONSTITUTION BEFORE IT BECAME

THE LAW OF THE LAND

THIS STARTS A NATIONAL DEBATE“SHOULD THE NEW CONSTITUTION

BE ACCEPTED OR REJECTED”?

FEDERALISTS: SUPPORTED THE CONSTITUTION AS IS

FEDERALISTPAPERS

(ESSAYS)

HAMILTON, MADISON,

& JAY

ANTI-FEDERALISTS: DID NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION

NO BILL OF RIGHTS –MEANS FED GOV’T IS TOO POWERFUL!

P. HENRYOTHERS

BILL OF RIGHTS (RIGHTS FOR CITIZENS) WAS PROMISED

& ADDED IN 1791

MOST STATES RATIFY & CONSTITUTION BECOMES LAW!

Can you name the five rights offered to you by the

1st Amendment?

Bill Of Rights• 1 Free Speech, Religion, Assembly, Press and

Redress Grievances (Complain)• 2 Raise a militia and Bear Arms• 3 No Quartering of soldiers during peace• 4 Privacy (No unreasonable searches)• 5 No double Jeopardy/No self incrimination• 6 Counsel and Speedy Trial• 7 Jury for a civil case• 8 No cruel or unusual punishment• 9 Rights retained by the people• 10 Rights reserved to the states