The Constitutional Convention Independence Hall Philadelphia PA 1787

The Constitutional Convention Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA 1787

Who? • 55 delegates arrived, with each state except Rhode Island represented • George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin were among the delegates • Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not present

Who? • George Washington was picked to preside over the convention • James Madison’s ideas would prove the most influential; he is known as the “Father of the Constitution”

Where? • Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (now called Independence Hall) • Same location as the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Ao. C

Where? • Summer heat! …and the windows were closed because delegates agreed to keep the proceedings secret

Where? • Delegates were sent to amend the Articles of Confederation • But the problems with the Ao. C convinced the delegates that an entirely new constitution was needed Independence Hall and Philadelphia’s modern skyline

Overview

The Constitution • 3 branches • Checks & balances • Majority rule, minority rights • Federalism = strong central gov’t w/ powers reserved for states • Article I – legislative • Article II – executive • Article III – judicial • Article IV – states • Article V – amendment process • Article VI – national supremacy • Article VII – ratification • Amendments… starting with Bill of Rights

Compromises

The Great Compromise Constitutional Compromises

The Great Compromise vs. James Madison Virginia Plan William Paterson New Jersey Plan

The Great Compromise The Solution: • Bicameral (two-house) legislature – House of Representatives with proportional representation – Senate with equal representation (2 per state, chosen by state legislatures until passage of 17 th Amendment) • Sometimes called the Connecticut Compromise Roger Sherman of Connecticut

The Great Compromise Constitutional Compromises Three Fifths Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise vs. Slave States of the (Mostly) Free States of the South North

Three-Fifths Compromise The Solution: • For purposes of representation, every five slaves would count as three “people” in the census 5 equals 3

The Great Compromise Constitutional Compromises Electoral College Three Fifths Compromise

Electoral College How should the president be chosen? Direct Chosen by vs. Election by Congress the People

Electoral College The Solution: • Indirect election – voters cast ballots for president… • The candidate who wins a majority in each state takes all the state’s electoral votes George Washington, our first President

Electoral votes per state = # senators + # representatives

Electoral votes per state = # senators + # representatives

The Great Compromise Trade Compromise Constitutional Compromises Electoral College Three Fifths Compromise

Trade Compromise North wanted government to have power to regulate trade vs. South Feared interference with slave trade, taxes on exports

Trade Compromise The Solution: • Congress gets power to regulate trade • Congress cannot tax exports; Congress cannot regulate/ban the slave trade for 20 years The importation of slaves continued until 1808

The Great Compromise Trade Compromise Constitutional Compromises Electoral College Three Fifths Compromise

Ratification

The Finished Constitution • On Sept. 7, 1787 all but three delegates signed the final draft of the Constitution

Ratification Debate • Federalists vs. • Anti. Federalists

Bill of Rights • Added to appease critics of the Constitution (anti. Federalists)

Later Compromise • North • • gets consolidation of national debt (northern states had larger debts b/c most of war occurred there) South • gets national capital moved south from New York to District of Columbia (between Maryland & Virginia)