• What caused Shays’ Rebellion?

• What was the impact of Shays' Rebellion on constitutional government in the United States?

• Would the Articles have ever been abandoned if Shay’s Rebellion had not taken place?

Constitutional ConventionMay-September 1787

Who came to the convention?

• All states except Rhode Island

• Delegates: lawyers, merchants, and planters

Why did state delegates convene?

• Issues with the Articles

• Discuss the Virginia and New Jersey Plan

What was the Virginia Plan?

• James Madison

• The legislative branch would have two houses

• Both houses would assign representatives based on population and wealth

What was the New Jersey Plan?

• William Patterson

• The legislature will have one house

• Each state will have one vote in the house

What was the GREAT Compromise?

• representation in the HOR would be based on population

• each state was guaranteed two senators in the new Senate

And slaves?– Three-Fifths Compromise: counted 3/5

of the slave population for representation purposes; it also played an important role in state taxes

• Congress became empowered in issues regarding the economy, currency, and the national defense

What else was agreed upon?