CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DETAILS 1787 Philadelphia Delegates from all

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

DETAILS: • 1787 - Philadelphia • Delegates from all the states invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation, which were not working • Only RI didn’t attend • 55 Delegates attended

WHO WAS THERE? • Wealthy upper class, white men • Selected by state legislatures, not popular vote • George Washington • Ben Franklin • Alexander Hamilton • James Madison considered the Father of the Constitution • Roger Sherman • Regardless, there was a ton of political talent at this convention

ABSENT • John Adams- ambassador to England • Thomas Jefferson- ambassador to France • Patrick Henry- “smelled a rat” • Sam Adams- not chosen by state to be part of the delegation

ISSUES THAT DIVIDED THE NATION’S LEADERS • The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most power? • Representation in Congress (How many members on Congress would each state get? – small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states • Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?

PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION • Checks and Balances- A political system in which branches of government have some authority over the actions of the other branches • Limited Government- the idea that government is not all powerful, but can only do what the people allow it to.

PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION • Federalism- the division of power between a central government and states • National level • State level • Local level

PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION • Popular Sovereignty- the people rule. The power of the government is based on the consent of the governed. • Separation of powers- the division of the government into three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

COMPROMISES

VIRGINIA PLAN • Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation • Three separate branches of government. – executive branch, and judicial branch a legislative branch, • Representation in the legislative branch based on population of state • Large states like the plan, small states did not

NEW JERSEY PLAN • Legislature - has one house. • Each state gets one vote. • Small states like the plan, the large states hate it. • There would have to be a compromise

THE GREAT COMPROMISE • Legislature would have two houses (parts): House of Representatives and a Senate • House - based on the population of state • Senate - two senators per each state

THREE-FIFTHS CLAUSE • favors Southern states • All slaves would be counted in the census for representation in the House as 3/5 th of a person

ELECTORAL COLLEGE • People chosen by the state legislatures • Vote for president and vice-president • Supposed to reflect the will of the people

SLAVE AND TRADE COMPROMISE • Benefits both North and South • No taxes on exports • No interference with the slave trade for 20 years

AMENDMENT COMPROMISE • 2/3 vote of each house of Congress and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures • 2/3 vote of both houses and ratified by state conventions of ¾ of the states (used 21 st amendment) • Proposed by a national constitutional convention requested by 2/3 state legislatures and ratified by ¾ state legislatures (never used) • Proposed by the national constitutional convention and ratified by ¾ of the specially formed state conventions

THE CONSTITUTION

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT • Executive – President and his cabinet • Legislative – Congress = House of Representatives and the Senate • Judicial – the Supreme Court and the Federal Court Systems

CLOSURE • Why did the delegates meet in Philadelphia in 1787? • Where was Thomas Jefferson? • What are the principles of the Constitution? • Explain the compromises made. • List the three branches of government. What role does each one have?