Constitutional Convention - 1787 (11 years after Declaration)

The main reason for the meeting in Philadelphia was to revise the Articles of Confederation

• However, the delegates soon concluded that it would be necessary to write an entirely new Constitution.

• Agreed to conduct the meetings in secrecy by stationing guards at the door

• When one delegate dropped a convention document, Chairman George Washington replied, “I must entreat the gentlemen to be more careful, lest our transactions get into the newspapers and disturb the public repose (calm)”

Who was there?• 12/13 States No Rhode Island • Fiercely independent– distrusted strong, central gov’t• FEAR dominated by the new federal government• *farmers and debtors – feeling effects of State

Legislature)74 Delegates chosen

Many – fought Rev. War39 – members of a previous Congress8 – signed Declaration31- attended college2 – future Pres. of U.S.1 – future V.P.17 – future Senators11- future Representatives

The delegates were involved in debates from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. six days a week with only a 10 day break during the duration of the convention

Leaders of the Convention

The men who wrote the Constitution are called the

“Founding Fathers.”•George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention.

– Why? near-universal admiration as a military hero - role as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

•Seldom participated in debates When the Convention adjourned, he confided to a fellow delegate, "I do not expect the Constitution to last for more than twenty years”

Leaders of the Convention con’t• James Madison often called

“The Father of the Constitution.”

• Only delegate to attend every meeting.

• Took detailed notes of the various discussions and debates that took place during the convention.

• Very intellectual• Lead debates for ratification The journal that he kept during the

Constitutional Convention was kept secret until after he died. It (along with other papers) was purchased by the government in 1837 at a price of $30,000 (that would be $629,000 today).

The journal was published in 1840.

Who wasn’t there…several well-known leaders during Rev. Period

Sam Adams Patrick Henry Thomas Paine Richard Henry Lee

John Adams John Hancock Thomas Jefferson

Most Serious Debate…• Balance the power between:

– the smaller states and larger states and

– between the state governments and the federal government.

This is why the Constitution is often thought of as a BUNDLE OF COMPROMISES…as you will see.

According to Ben Franklin (81 at time of convention)

The convention spent much of its time “sawing boards to make them fit.” ~BF

Meaning – each state had own interest (ex: economic) and bringing these interests together required compromise

Definition of Compromise• An agreement reached after both sides give

something up in order to get the most of what they really want

III. Alexander Hamilton’s British Plan

• Frustrated - neither the Virginia Plan nor the New Jersey Plan were enough

• In politics, he was of the general opinion that the masses could not be trusted to select the leaders of the United States.

• Federalist No. 6 - Hamilton presents the argument that human nature is ``ambitious, vindictive and [greedy],'

• The Plan - proposing a system similar to that of Britain

• He offered his plan as a worst-case scenario to the Convention.

I wasn’t alone in

my thinking!

I wasn’t alone in

my thinking!

Basics of the British Plan

• Bicameral legislature (2 houses)– The lower house, the Assembly, was elected by the people

for three year terms– The upper house, the Senate, elected by electors chosen by

the people, and with a life-term of service

• An executive called the Governor– elected by electors and with a life-term of service

• The Governor had an absolute veto over bills• A judiciary with life-terms of service• State governors appointed by the national legislature• National veto power over any state legislation

Response:• Hamilton's plan was well-received, it seems, with general

agreement that it was well thought out and complete.

• However, no one supported it as a model for a new form of government.

• The system was too similar to that of Britain, under which the Americans had long-suffered.

His plan went no further.

Connecticut/Great Compromise• Connecticut delegates -

– Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth

THE GREAT COMPROMISE ON

REPRESENTATION! - Passed by 1 vote

• Create a TWO House Legislature:

– The House of Representatives would have representatives based on population (435 today)

– The Senate would have equal representation for all states. Each state will have two Senators

(100 total for the U.S. Today)

– This agreement tried to satisfy the big States and small States

When the Constitutional Congress met in 1787, the delegates found that they could not avoid discussing the issue of slavery.

Already one could see the diverging interests of the North and the South, conflicts between slave states and free states…2 Compromises developed

Population - 1790

State Total Pop. Slave Pop.

% of Slave of Pop.

If Slaves NOT counted

New Jersey 184,000 11,423 6.21 172,577

Massachusetts 476,000 0 0.0 476,000

Pennsylvania 434,000 3,707 .85 430,293

Maryland 320,000 103,036

32.2 216,964

South Carolina 249,000 107,094

43.01 141,906

Virginia 692,000 292,627

42.29 399,373

Big Question between North & South - South – We want to count our slaves in order to have as many representatives as possible! - North – No way – They are not citizens!

3/5’s Compromise

“Free persons” counted

“3/5’s of all other persons (slaves)”

Were my people

counted in this?

NO

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Slavery in the Constitution?No ban on slave trade for 20 years.

– This compromise was reached because the Southern states demanded that they needed slavery for their economy.

Most believed that this should be a State issue and let the States decide.

Trade Regulation and Constitution?

Congress will have power to regulate interstate (between States) and international trade

Southerners – DANGER Congress – controlled by Northern commercial

interests – act against agricultural interests of south

PAY FOR NEW GOV’T OUT OF EXPORT DUTIESMajor Export -

Congress was forbidden to tax exports

AND WHO WOULD PAY – THE SELLER

1787 Constitution Copies had NO Federal Bill of Rights

• Remember – States HAD Bill of RightsAntifederalist - objections to the ConstitutionOPPOSED RATIFICATION

Argued against 2/3 ratification plan - June 21, 1788 - 9/13

Federalist - defense of the ConstitutionFAVORED RATIFICATION

National government would protect the rights of the people.  

Constitution lacked a bill of rights. State governments already had bills of rights but they might be overridden by the Constitution.

Strong national government threatened rights of the common people.

Constitution and state governments protected individual freedoms without bill of rights.

The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution as the first ten

amendments on December 15, 1791.

To win them…The Federalists had to

pledge their support for the addition of a bill of

rights to the Constitution once the new government

began operations.

Enough with the old…let’s move into the now!

Topics Covered Wed TestOpen Note – 50 points

• Founding Documents (Note Packet)• Road to Self-Government (own notes) PP• After the Declaration and Articles (note sheet) PP• Articles of Confederation Basics (Chart) PP• Articles of Confederation Case Studies (Chart)• Shays Rebellion (Quiz)• Constitutional Convention (Video Sheet and own

notes) PP

*REVIEW JOHN ADAMS VIDEOS (website)

Was there a curse of the Constitution?What specifically happened (death) to these men?

• New York delegate Alexander Hamilton

• North Carolina delegate Richard Spaight

• Virginia delegate George Wythe

• Pennsylvania delegate Gouverneur Morris

• New York delegate John Lansing

• Interesting Fact about T. Jefferson and J.

Adams deaths

TAKE BONUS QUIZ FRIDAY IN CLASS (IF YOU WANT TO TRY FOR BONUS)

Was there a curse of the Constitution?What specifically happened (death) to these men?

• New York delegate Alexander Hamilton

• North Carolina delegate Richard Spaight

• Virginia delegate George Wythe

• Pennsylvania delegate Gouverneur Morris

• New York delegate John Lansing

• Interesting Fact about T. Jefferson and J.

Adams deaths

TAKE BONUS QUIZ FRIDAY IN CLASS (IF YOU WANT TO TRY FOR BONUS)