Congratulations you have been selected by your state

Congratulations you have been selected by your state to be the representative for your state at a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation. The date is May 25, 1787.

Dear Fellow Delegates, You are invited to Independence Hall in the city of Philadelphia! As you know, you have been selected as a delegate to represent your home state during these proceedings. Our purpose is to discuss the defects found in our current government under the Articles of Confederation. Your attendance is not only desired, but necessary so that we can guarantee "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to all Americans. I ask you to remember that whatever is said in these meetings is to be held in the strictest of confidence. Thank you for your service to your country. We look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia where you will be helping to secure the best possible government for our country. Sincerely, James Madison

Washington: Order, order. I call this meeting of the delegates representing the separate and sovereign UNITED STATES of America to order. We have several issues to discuss as we rewrite the Articles of Confederation.

Write the information on your tally sheet. What state do you represent? ________________ Use the 1790 US Census Information Sheet to answer the following at the top of your tally sheet. . 1790 Total Population: ____________________ 1790 Slave Population: ____________________ Check the first or second column indicating whether your state is considered a large or small state. Hint: States with populations over 250, 000 were considered large states.

Debate over Representation George Washington: The first topic of discussion is representation. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had 1 vote. Many large states want more representative because of their larger population. What are some options? New Jersey Representative: I agree with our decision to distribute the power of the government amongst the 3 branches However, I believe that ALL states NO MATTER their size should have 1 vote in a unicameral legislature. A state is a state…. large OR small. George Washington: Ok, states. We shall call this plan for equal representation, the New Jersey Plan. Are there any other options for representation?

Virginia Representative: I disagree with New Jersey. A small state should not have as much representation as the large states. Representation in the Legislative branch should be determined based on population. I propose the Legislature be BICAMERAL where the large states get more representation because they have more people. George Washington: Ok, states. On your tally sheet make a note of which plan you would support and mark it on your tally sheet. (states discuss)

George Washington: Ok, states. Let’s vote. New Hampshire How do you vote? (Washington continues calling on the states as students mark the states’ vote on their tally sheet. )

George Washington It’s a pretty tight race. Are there any other options for another plan for representation? Maybe a plan we can all agree on? ? ? Connecticut Delegate: My name is Roger Sherman. I propose a COMPROMISE. Instead of having one house, let’s have two. We will have a bicameral legislature. The Senate will be based on equal representation. Each state will have 2 senators, no matter it’s size. The House of Representatives will be based on population. George Washington Excellent! You certainly have a way to bring us all together. We shall call your plan the “Great Compromise” or “Connecticut Plan. ” This sounds like a plan that works for small and large states. Let’s vote. All those in favor, say aye. (wait for vote) All those opposed, say nay (wait for vote).

Debate over counting slaves for representation George Washington: The next topic of discussion is whether to count slaves to determine the number of representative your state has. States, please review your population and economic activity pie charts to determine whether you would want slaves to count for representation. (Give time for discussion) Before we vote, do any of the representatives have any options for counting slaves? Virginia Representative: I propose we count slaves for representation. Slaves should count as part of or population and our representative that reflect that. We have larger populations of

Pennsylvania: We do not have a large slave populations because Quakers disagree with the practice. If the southern states are unwilling to give African Americans rights, they should not be able to count them just to get more representation. George Washington: Ok, states. On your tally sheet make a note of which plan you would support and mark it on your tally sheet. (states discuss) Ok, states. Let’s vote. New Hampshire, how do you vote? (Washington continues calling on the states as students mark the votes for this issue)

George Washington It is a very tight race. Are there any other options for counting slaves for representation? Connecticut Delegate: My name is Roger Sherman. I propose ANOTHER COMPROMISE. Instead of counting African Slaves or not counting African Slaves, let’s count slaves as ⅗ of a freedman. This way the slave owning states get some representation, but not the full count of a freedman. George Washington Excellent! This sounds like a plan that works for slave owning and non-slave owning states. Let’s vote. All those in favor, say aye. (wait for vote) All those opposed, say nay (wait for vote).

Debate over counting slaves for taxation George Washington: The next topic of discussion is whether to count slaves to determine the rate of taxes for your state. Delegates, please review the economic activity pie charts and determine whether you would want slaves to count for taxation. (Give time for discussion) Before we vote, let’s open up the floor for arguments for this Virginia Representative: We should not count slaves for taxation. Slaves are a necessary part of our labor force, but we should not be fiscally punished for our higher population.

Pennsylvania: Slave states were just saying that they wanted to count slaves for representation. They should have to count them for taxation too. George Washington: Ok, delegates. On your tally sheet make a note of which plan you would support and mark it on your tally sheet. (states discuss) Let’s vote. New Hampshire How do you vote? (Washington continues calling on the states as students mark the votes for this issue)

Connecticut Delegate: My name is Roger Sherman. I propose ANOTHER COMPROMISE. Instead of counting African Slaves or not counting African Slaves, how about we count them as ⅗ of a freedman. This way the slave owning states have to pay taxes on some of their slave population but not full population. George Washington Excellent! This sounds like a plan that works for slave owning and non-slave owning states. Let’s vote. All those in favor, say aye. (wait for vote) All those opposed, say nay (wait for vote).

Debate over Federal Power George Washington: The next topic of discussion is how much power the federal government should have. Before we vote, let’s open up the floor for arguments for this topic New York Representative: My name is Alexander Hamilton and I believe the Federal government MUST maintain control over the states. We are not going to be an effective nation if the states are undermining the national government.

Pennsylvania Representative: My name is James Wilson Giving the government all the power is just going to put us back where we were with the stamp act when Patrick Henry made his famous speech “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” I recommend a weak central government to avoid a tyrannical government. George Washington: As a federalist, I must recommend to avoid the problems we had under the Articles of confederation we should make our government strong and we can revisit this conversation at a later date. Thank you all for representing your state. I believe we have put together a good governing document to replace the Articles of Confederation. It is now your job to go back to your states and get the legislature to ratify this document. When we have 9 or the 13 states agree, the document will be ratified and go into effect.

The Continental Congress – which still functioned at irregular intervals – passed a resolution on September 13, 1788, to put the new Constitution into operation with eleven states. [37] North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified by May 1790.