University:
Bradley University
Course:
HIS 203 | American History and Global Systems to 1877
Academic year:

2024
Views:

229

Pages:

31
Author:

Angelica Rose

The Constitutional Convention The Constitutional Convention ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ Began May 25, 1787 Independence Hall, Philadelphia 55 delegates from 12 states Rhode Island did not attend George Washington was chosen as the chairman Purpose of the Meeting Original Mission: To revise the Articles of Confederation ◼ Instead, the delegates decided to write a new constitution ◼ The Delegates ◼ ◼ ◼ All were professionals /businessmen All were highly educated and had extensive political experience They were the most important men in America The Delegates George Washington-Chairman Alexander Hamilton-NY Benjamin Franklin-PA James Madison-VA Robert Morris-PA Governeur Morris-PA Elbridge Gerry-MA Charles Coatsworth Pinckney-SC Charles Pinckney-SC Roger Sherman-CT John Rutledge-SC William Paterson-NJ William Jackson-Secretary William Samuel Johnson-CT Edmund Randolph-VA The Founding Fathers Key Decisions The meeting was shrouded in secrecy. The only records are from a notebook kept by James Madison. Simply majority-7 votes would decide any issue Scrap the Articles of Confederation James Madison Problems and Questions The states considered themselves independent. Would the states give up power to a government that did not yet exist? What kind of new government would there be? Big states v. Small states North v. South Slavery? Issues That Divided the Delegates ◼ Would the states or the federal government have more power? ◼ How would the new government be structured? ◼ How would the representation in Congress be determined? ◼ Slavery was also a very divisive issue. How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue? Debates Raged Through the Summer of 1787 ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ Some delegates argued for a federal government with limited powers. Other delegates argued for an all powerful federal government. The smaller states argued that all states should be represented equally in Congress. The large states felt that representation in Congress should be based on population. Some delegates left the meeting, never to return. Several plans of government were proposed. The Virginia Plan ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ Written by James Madison Presented by Edmund Randolph Called for a new national government with three separate branches-executive, legislative, and judicial A two-house legislature(bi-cameral) Representation based on each state’s population Supported by the “Large States” James Madison Edmund Randolph New Jersey Plan ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ Submitted by William Paterson Called for a new national government with three separate branches-executive, legislative, and judicial A one-house legislature(unicameral) States would have equal representation in Congress Each state would have one vote Supported by the “Smaller States” William Paterson The Great Compromise ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ Connecticut Compromise Written by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut Called for a two-house legislature U.S. Congress *Senate–Equal Representation Two Senators per state *House of Representatives -Number of Representatives based on population Roger Sherman Oliver Ellsworth Three-Fifths Compromise ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ The Southern states refused to approve any Constitution unless slavery was allowed to continue. Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of determining representation in Congress. Slaves would also be counted as 3/5 of a person for taxation purposes. Congress could not pass legislation affecting the slave trade until 1808. The Electoral College The delegates felt that ordinary people were not “well-suited” or educated enough to elect the nation’s highest executive. ◼ They created the Electoral College. ◼ ◼ ◼ Special group of electors Select the President and Vice-President The Constitution ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ After months of exhausting debate, 39 of the 55 delegates signed the Constitution. The plan is presented to the public on September 19, 1787. It is only a proposal. The document will not become the “law of the land” until 9 of the 13 states approve. Ratifying the Constitution The delegates left Philadelphia to hold a ratifying convention in each of the states. Ratifying the Constitution Americans debated the plan for over two years. Federalists ◼Group that supported the new Constitution VS. AntiFederalists ◼Group that opposed the new Constitution The Federalists ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ The Federalists consisted primarily of the 39 delegates that signed the Constitution. Led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay They are the minority. Most Americans are fiercely opposed to this new government. The Federalists ◼ ◼ ◼ The Federalists skillfully debated every provision of the new Constitution. They masterfully explained the structure of the new government and how it would work. They argued that the states simply would not survive independently , or in any sort of “loose” confederation. The Anti-Federalists ◼ ◼ ◼ Most Americans opposed the Constitution. They feared the powers of the new central government. They argued that the state governments should retain most of their power. The Anti-Federalists ◼ ◼ Led by Patrick Henry, George Mason, Richard Henry Lee, and Samuel Adams. They refused to accept or ratify any new Constitution without the addition of a Bill of Rights. Ratification of the Constitution With the promise of a Bill of Rights, one by one, the states began to ratify the Constitution. Ratification of the Constitution In May of 1790, Rhode Island became the last of the original states to ratify the Constitution. UNDER CONSTRUCTION