Constitutional Convention

1787

• Convention was the idea of James Madison

• The support of George Washington was important.

• 55 delegates met in Philadelphia.

Articles of Confederation -Weaknesses• Created a weak

central government.

• Congress with limited power.

• Independent states held most of the power.

Restructure Government - Constitution

1• Economic Depression

2• High unemployment, money lost value,

and debt

3• Shay’s Rebellion

Issue: RepresentationLARGER STATES SMALLER STATES

Issue: Representation

• Larger States supported:

• Virginia Plan

• Proposed by James Madison and Edmund Randolph.

Virginia Plan• Proposed the

creation of three branches of government:– Legislative

– Executive

– Judicial

Virginia Plan• The number of

representatives would be determined by the population of each state.

• Larger states would have more votes = more power.

New Jersey Plan• Smaller states

supported:

• New Jersey Plan

• Proposed by William Paterson

New Jersey Plan• Proposed the

creation of one branch:

• Congress would have more power.

• Each state would receive one vote.

Connecticut Compromise“The Great Compromise”

• Proposed by Roger Sherman from Connecticut.• Two House Legislature:

- The House of Representatives -Representatives determined by population.

- The Senate -Each state would receive equal

votes - Two votes per state.

Issue: Slavery

Northern States Southern States

Southern States• Southern States

wanted slaves to count in terms of representation.

• Southern states did not want slaves to count for taxes.

Northern States• Northern states

wanted slaves to count for taxation.

• Northern states did not want slaves to count for representation.

3/5 Compromise

3/5 Compromise

• Slaves were considered property.

• 3 out of every 5 slaves would count for taxation and representation.

What is missing from the Constitution?

The Constitution is missing the _________ ____ __________.

The Anti-Federalist• George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Samuel

Adams refused to ratify the Constitution.

• They refused to pass a Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

• They feared the government would become too powerful.

The Anti-Federalists• The Antifederalists

wrote a series of essays known as the Anti-Federalists Papers.

• The essays supported the idea that a strong central government could become tyrannical.

The Federalist• James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander

Hamilton supported a Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

• They felt it was more important to have a strong central government.

• They believed in dividing the powers between the branches and the states.

The Federalist Papers

• The Federalists also wrote a series of essays known as the “Federalists Papers.”

• The essays supported the idea of a strong central government.

Compromise

• A compromise was reached between Federalists and Anti-federalists.

• The Constitution was ratified on Sept. 17, 1787.

• The Bill of Rights was added in 1791.