Creating the Constitution

The Framers• Delegates from 12 of the 13 States (Rhode Island

did not send delegates)• Independence Hall, Philadelphia• 1787• Thomas Jefferson (who was not present) called it

an “assembly of demi-gods”.• Ranged in age from 26 – 81• Decided that “a national Government ought to

be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary”, Edmund Randolf

Abandoning the Articles of Confederation

• Articles of Confederation established “a firm league of friendship” among the States

• Each State maintained its sovereignty• Created a single congress (a legislature)• No executive or judicial branch• Congress could not tax or regulate trade• Congress could not force State compliance

Constitutional Compromises

Connecticut Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Connecticut Compromise

• Congress should be composed of two houses: BICAMERAL CONGRESS– Senate: States are equally represented– House of Representatives: representation of each

State is based on its population

Also known as the “Great Compromise” because it was so important to the writing of the Constitution

Three-Fifths Compromise• Should slaves be counted in the figuring of

populations in the States?• Southern States wanted slaves counted• Northern States did not • Slavery was legal in every State except

Massachusetts• Compromise → all “free persons” should be

counted and “three-fifths of all other persons”• This compromise disappeared from the

Constitution when the 13th Amendment passed (abolishing slavery)

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

• Southern States biggest exporters (tobacco)• Congress was forbidden the power to tax the

export of any State and the ability to act on the slave trade for 20 years

A General Consensus• A new national (federal) government had to be

created• Concepts of popular sovereignty and limited

government• Separation of powers and checks and balances• September 17, 1787 the US Constitution was signed

by 39 of the 55 delegates• It was FOUR pages long– Ecuador 215 pages– France 44 pages– Canada 7 pages

Quick Check

• Raise your hand if you can summarize the three major compromises and the outcomes of those compromises.

Homework

• Do you agree with the Framers’ decision to abandon the Articles of Confederation and create an entirely NEW constitution? Why or why not? Give three specific pieces of evidence in your answer.

• Due tomorrow.