Focus Question

• What new system of government did the delegates agree upon at the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

• They adopted a system of divided power between the federal government and state governments

• Federal government has three branches

The Philadelphia Convention

• 1787 Purpose was to amend the Articles

• Immediately it was clear a new constitution need to be created

• They met in secret 89 of the 116 days

The Constitutional Convention

• James Madison proposed only a majority vote was needed to pass any resolution

• Was a key proposal because 13 – 0 votes would have killed it before it got off the ground

The Constitutional Convention

• Representatives• Most wealthy lawyers,

merchants, or planters• Well-educated men in

their 30s or 40s • Included: Benjamin

Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington

The Constitutional Convention

• Thomas Jefferson was ambassador to France

• Washington elected unanimously as presiding officer

• Alexander Hamilton

Rival Plans of Government

• Virginia Plan• Written primarily by

Virginian James Madison

• The plan traced the outlines of what would become the U.S. Constitution

Virginia Plan• A national government consisting of three branches with

checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power.• 2 houses: one with members elected by the people and

the other composed of leaders elected by the state legislatures for 7-year terms.

• Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states.

• Federal Government could make and enforce laws• Power was in the Union• Small states disagreed – Small pop. = fewer Reps/less

power

New Jersey Plan

• Small states vigorously opposed Virginia Plan• 4 largest states would have a majority in both

houses• Presented by William Patterson

New Jersey Plan

• Small states propose that one house have equal representation for each state

• And a Supreme court to judge legality of laws passed by the legislative branch

Great Compromise also known as Connecticut Plan

• Debate raged between large and small states • Roger Sherman offered a solution• The Great Compromise

Connecticut Plan

• Combines New Jersey and Virginia plan

• 2 houses in legislature one based on population (House of Reps)

• One has equal representation for each state (Senate)

Three – Fifths Compromise

• Should slaves be counted as part of the population

• Southern States demanded that slaves count as part of the population

• If the slaves were not counted the southern states would be weak in representation

Three – Fifths Compromise

• Three-Fifths Compromise, an agreement to count three-fifths of a state's slaves in apportioning Representatives

• Required all states to return fugitive slaves to their owners.

Three – Fifths Compromise

• Initially resulted in more representation in congress for southern states

• Over the long term, the Three-Fifths Compromise did not work as the South anticipated

• Northern population grew faster.

Daily Quiz

Where was the Constitutional Convention held?

• Philadelphia

The purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to

• Amend the Articles of Confederation

Which proposal most resembled the Articles of Confederation?

• The New Jersey Plan

The Three-Fifths Compromise resulted in

• More representation in Congress for southern states.

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise require?

• All states to return fugitive slaves to their owners.