CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1787 WHAT WAS THE CONVENTION OF

WHAT WAS THE CONVENTION OF 1787? • Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Why: To repair

HOW WAS THE CONVENTION ORGANIZED? • George Washington chosen to lead the meetings •

WHAT WAS THE VIRGINIA PLAN? • Proposed by Edmund Randolph • Strong national government

WHAT WAS THE NEW JERSEY PLAN? • Proposed by William Paterson • One-house legislature

WHAT WAS THE GREAT COMPROMISE? • Suggested by Roger Sherman • Combination of the

WHAT WAS THE 3/5’S COMPROMISE? • 3 of every 5 slaves would count a

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE SLAVE TRADE? • Northern states had banned the

DO WE NEED A BILL OF RIGHTS? • Some states had a listing of

HOW WAS THE CONSTITUTION APPROVED? • September 17, 1787 • 3 refuse to sign

COMPLAINT? • Some states require a bill of rights to be added • Bill

RATIFICATION? • 9 of 13 states required • December 7, 1787: Delaware is 1

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CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1787

WHAT WAS THE CONVENTION OF 1787? • Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Why: To repair the Article of Confederation • 55 delegates…. planters, doctors, lawyers, merchants, generals, governors, college president • Not allowed: Native Americans, African Americans, Women • James Madison…”Father of the Constitution”…. . the author of the basic plan of government the Convention adopted

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

HOW WAS THE CONVENTION ORGANIZED? • George Washington chosen to lead the meetings • Each state will have one vote • Decisions: majority vote • Meetings closed to the public

WHAT WAS THE VIRGINIA PLAN? • Proposed by Edmund Randolph • Strong national government • Government with 3 branches: chief executive (chosen by legislature), 2 -house legislature, court system • Legislative powers: tax, regulate trade, veto state laws • Bicameral (2 houses) legislature: voters elect lower house and lower house members choose upper house members • Representation: proportional to/based on the

WHAT WAS THE NEW JERSEY PLAN? • Proposed by William Paterson • One-house legislature • Legislature can set taxes, regulate trade, elect an executive branch of more than 1 person One vote per state Proposes a less powerful federal government

WHAT WAS THE GREAT COMPROMISE? • Suggested by Roger Sherman • Combination of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan • 2 house legislature: Upper (Senate)…. 2 senators per state • Lower house (House of Representatives)…number of representatives based on a state’s population

GREAT COMPROMISE

WHAT WAS THE 3/5’S COMPROMISE? • 3 of every 5 slaves would count a part of a state’s population when determining representation in the House of Representatives and taxation

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE SLAVE TRADE? • Northern states had banned the slave trade and want to outlaw it nationwide • Slavery is important to the southern economy • The issue of the slave trade was put off until 1808

DO WE NEED A BILL OF RIGHTS? • Some states had a listing of key rights and freedoms in their state constitutions • Some were afraid federal government might abuse its power if bill of rights not included • Most decided it wasn’t needed

HOW WAS THE CONSTITUTION APPROVED? • September 17, 1787 • 3 refuse to sign • Rest sign • Goes to states for ratification (approval) • 9 states must ratify to make the Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land

COMPLAINT? • Some states require a bill of rights to be added • Bill of Rights? . . protections of citizens rights spelled out for everyone to see • Amendment: official change to the Constitution • Bill of Rights: Amendments 1 -10 of the Constitution

RATIFICATION? • 9 of 13 states required • December 7, 1787: Delaware is 1 st to ratify • June 21, 1788: New Hampshire is # 9 • The Constitution of the United States becomes the Supreme Law of the Land