Chapter 8, Section 2

Creating a Constitution

End of the Articles of Confederation (A of C):1786:• 5 state delegates meet in Annapolis,

Maryland• Discuss trade among states• Putting trade laws in A of C meant all

states needed to agree• Decided to meet in Philadelphia in 1787 to

make changes• All showed up except Rhode Island!• This meant they couldn’t make changes• All realized A of C wouldn’t work

A Constitutional Convention is Called

Constitutional Convention, 1787• 55 delegates - Philadelphia, PA• ½ were lawyers• Rest were planters, merchants,

doctors• ¾ were in the Continental Congress• Many were in state legislatures• These men are considered “Founding

Fathers”

The Convention’s Delegates

Famous delegates:• George Washington• Came out of retirement

• Ben Franklin• James Madison

• Brought with him over 100 books on government

Not there:• Thomas Jefferson• John Adams• Native Americans• African Americans• Women

The Convention’s Delegates (cont’d)

• Most had no idea what they were going to do.• Some thought they would only be

changing A of C.• Problem for delegates:

1. Gov’t had to be strong2. Protect people’s rights3. Maintain order4. Not too strong to be controlled

Delegates Assemble!

• George Washington elected leader of the convention• Rules established:• All ideas considered and debated• Ability to change sides• Discussions would be secret• Windows closed and blocked• Guards outside of doors• When doors open - no talking

The Convention Begins

1st Plan considered by the Convention• Delegates from Virginia came up with plan• Government would have 3 branches• Legislature made laws• Levy taxes• Regulate commerce• Make laws

• Executive enforced laws• Judiciary interpreted laws

• Legislature had two houses• # of reps would be based on population

The Virginia Plan

Response to the Virginia Plan• Legislature had one house• Each state would have one vote• “Equal Representation”

• Legislature power to regulate trade and commerce• Tax foreign goods• State laws subordinate to national laws

The New Jersey Plan

Big Question: If representation is based on population, what about slaves?• North vs South• Who had more slaves?• South wanted them counted as people, but not

for taxationThree-Fifths Compromise• 3/5 of slave population would be counted for

population and taxationBan on Slavery?• Slavery was already banned in the North• Northerners wanted to see it banned

elsewhere• Compromise: Congress would not ban the

slave trade until 1808

Slavery

Congress had few limits on regulating trade• This helped promote commerce with:• States• Foreign nations• Native tribes

• Southerners got Congress to not tax exports

Constitution was agreed upon on September 15, 1787• Then written, signed, and sent to

Confederation Congress for approval, then to states for ratification…to be continued

Regulating Trade