1. creating tHE Constitution America under the U.S. Constitution

2. September,1786 delegates from five states meet in Annapolis, MD to solve a problemSeptember,1786 delegates from five states meet in Annapolis, MD to solve a problem States were placing high taxes on goods from other statesStates were placing high taxes on goods from other states Delegates believed creating national trade laws would help improve the economies of all statesDelegates believed creating national trade laws would help improve the economies of all states Annapolis delegates agreed to meet in Philadelphia in May of 1787 to discuss amending the ArticlesAnnapolis delegates agreed to meet in Philadelphia in May of 1787 to discuss amending the Articles Annapolis Convention

3. 55 delegates met at the Constitutional Convention without any idea of what to expect55 delegates met at the Constitutional Convention without any idea of what to expect –Most thought they would simply amend the Articles –Others wanted to start over completely Many Americans disagreed, fearing a strong government:Many Americans disagreed, fearing a strong government: –Patrick Henry “smelled a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward monarchy” and refused to attend James Madison believed a strong but limited national government was necessaryJames Madison believed a strong but limited national government was necessary All agreed that the government must protect people’s rightsAll agreed that the government must protect people’s rights Philadelphia Convention - 1787

4. Virginia Plan which called for a completely new governmentEdmund Randolph proposed the Virginia Plan which called for a completely new government with: –three branches –a Bicameral legislature –representation based on state population or wealth Larger states supported the plan because it gave them more representation, Smaller states felt it was unfair and would allow larger states to dominate them Debate over the plan went on for weeks

5. the New Jersey Plan called for:On May, 29 th, in response to the Virginia Plan, William Paterson proposed the New Jersey Plan which called for: –a legislature with only one house –one vote for each state Unlike the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan did not offer broad powers to the legislature. delegates chose the Virginia Plan which became the framework for drafting the ConstitutionOn June 19, 1787 delegates chose the Virginia Plan which became the framework for drafting the Constitution wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Independence_Hall_10.jpg

6. delegates argued over representation in the new legislatureFor the remainder of June, delegates argued over representation in the new legislature but could not agree on a plan Delegates selected a committee to work out a compromise The Great Compromise offered a solution:The Great Compromise (or the Connecticut Compromise) offered a solution: in the Senate, each state received equal votesTo satisfy smaller states; in the Senate, each state received equal votes in the House of Representatives, each state received votes based on their state’s populationTo satisfy larger states; in the House of Representatives, each state received votes based on their state’s population The Great Compromise

7. Delegates decided that direct taxes on the states and a state’s representation should be based on the general populationDelegates decided that direct taxes on the states and a state’s representation should be based on the general population Southern states wanted to count their slaves for representation, but not for taxation,Southern states wanted to count their slaves for representation, but not for taxation, Northern states, however, wanted to count slaves for taxation, but not for representationNorthern states, however, wanted to count slaves for taxation, but not for representation To satisfy both, under the Three- fifths Compromise, only three- fifths of the slave population in a state would be counted for both direct taxes and for representation in the House of RepresentativesTo satisfy both, under the Three- fifths Compromise, only three- fifths of the slave population in a state would be counted for both direct taxes and for representation in the House of Representatives

8. Another heated debate arose over slaveryAnother heated debate arose over slavery Several Northern states had already outlawed slavery,Several Northern states had already outlawed slavery, All Northern states and many southern states had banned the importation of slavesAll Northern states and many southern states had banned the importation of slaves However, South Carolina and Georgia delegates would not agree to any plan “unless their right to import slaves be untouched”However, South Carolina and Georgia delegates would not agree to any plan “unless their right to import slaves be untouched” Again, delegates reached a compromise: Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808.Again, delegates reached a compromise: Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808. Slavery and The Constitution

9. Virginia and Massachusetts had a list of key rights and freedoms called a declaration of rights.Virginia and Massachusetts had a list of key rights and freedoms called a declaration of rights. At the Convention, some of the delegates worried that without a bill of rights the new national government might abuse its power.At the Convention, some of the delegates worried that without a bill of rights the new national government might abuse its power. George Mason of Virginia suggested a bill of rights be added to the ConstitutionGeorge Mason of Virginia suggested a bill of rights be added to the Constitution Most delegates disagreed, arguing the Constitution carefully defined the power of the government and that individual rights were already protectedMost delegates disagreed, arguing the Constitution carefully defined the power of the government and that individual rights were already protected

10. On September 17, 1787, delegates assembled to sign the Constitution into law.On September 17, 1787, delegates assembled to sign the Constitution into law. However, three delegates, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia refused to signHowever, three delegates, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia refused to sign They argued the Constitution needed a bill of rights to protect individual libertiesThey argued the Constitution needed a bill of rights to protect individual liberties Despite their objections, the Constitution was sent to the states for ratificationDespite their objections, the Constitution was sent to the states for ratification Approval from 9 of the 13 states was needed for it to go into effectApproval from 9 of the 13 states was needed for it to go into effect

11. The framers of the Constitution knew that it would cause controversyThe framers of the Constitution knew that it would cause controversy The framers suspected that people might be afraid the Constitution would take too much power away from the statesThe framers suspected that people might be afraid the Constitution would take too much power away from the states Based on their experiences under British rule, Americans were wary of a strong national governmentBased on their experiences under British rule, Americans were wary of a strong national government The Constitution was based on FederalismThe Constitution was based on Federalism Federalism is a system of government in which power is shared between the federal government and the statesFederalism is a system of government in which power is shared between the federal government and the states The people who supported the Constitution were called FederalistsThe people who supported the Constitution were called Federalists People who opposed the Constitution were called AntifederalistsPeople who opposed the Constitution were called Antifederalists Federalists and Antifederalists

12. Federalists  Wanted a stronger national government  Supported removing some power from states and giving more power to the national government  Favored dividing powers among different branches of government  Proposed a single person to lead the executive branch Antifederalists  Did not want a stronger national government  Wanted important political powers to remain with the states  Wanted legislative branch to have more power than the executive  Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant or king  Believed a bill of rights needed to be added to the Constitution to protect people’s rights

13. Antifederalists attacked the Constitution in newspapers and pamphletsAntifederalists attacked the Constitution in newspapers and pamphlets To answer the attacks, the Federalists wrote essays - the best known of the Federalist's essays are The Federalist papersTo answer the attacks, the Federalists wrote essays - the best known of the Federalist's essays are The Federalist papers Three well-known politicians wrote The Federalist papers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John JayThree well-known politicians wrote The Federalist papers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay There was strong opposition to ratification in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia - if some of these states failed to ratify the Constitution, the United States might failThere was strong opposition to ratification in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia - if some of these states failed to ratify the Constitution, the United States might fail The Federalists Papers

14. In December of 1787, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania voted for ratification; Georgia and Connecticut voted for ratification in January of 1788; Massachusetts in February of 1788In December of 1787, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania voted for ratification; Georgia and Connecticut voted for ratification in January of 1788; Massachusetts in February of 1788 By late June of 1788, nine states had voted for ratification, the document was now official, but Virginia and New York had not voted - both wanting a bill of rights added to the ConstitutionBy late June of 1788, nine states had voted for ratification, the document was now official, but Virginia and New York had not voted - both wanting a bill of rights added to the Constitution At Virginia's convention, Patrick Henry and George Mason fought against ratification and would not vote for ratification until a bill of rights was addedAt Virginia's convention, Patrick Henry and George Mason fought against ratification and would not vote for ratification until a bill of rights was added The Battle for Ratification Delaware – December 7, 1787 Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787 New Jersey – December 18, 1787 Georgia – January 2, 1788 Connecticut – January 9, 1788 Massachusetts – February 6, 1788 Maryland – April 28, 1788 South Carolina – May 23, 1788 New Hampshire – June 21, 1788

15. A bill of rights is a set of rules that defines people’s rightsA bill of rights is a set of rules that defines people’s rights With James Madison's recommendation that a bill of rights be added, Virginia ratified the Constitution at the end of June, 1788With James Madison's recommendation that a bill of rights be added, Virginia ratified the Constitution at the end of June, 1788 Upon hearing that Virginia had ratified the Constitution, New York decided to join the Union, also calling for the addition of a bill of rightsUpon hearing that Virginia had ratified the Constitution, New York decided to join the Union, also calling for the addition of a bill of rights In 1790, Rhode Island became the last state to ratify the ConstitutionIn 1790, Rhode Island became the last state to ratify the Constitution The Battle for Ratification Delaware – December 7, 1787 Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787 New Jersey – December 18, 1787 Georgia – January 2, 1788 Connecticut – January 9, 1788 Massachusetts – February 6, 1788 Maryland – April 28, 1788 South Carolina – May 23, 1788 New Hampshire – June 21, 1788 Virginia – June 25, 1788 New York – July 26, 1788 North Carolina – November 21, 1789 Rhode Island – May 29, 1790

16. James Madison proposed a set of changes to the ConstitutionJames Madison proposed a set of changes to the Constitution Congress edited Madison’s list and proposed placing them at the end of the Constitution in a separate sectionCongress edited Madison’s list and proposed placing them at the end of the Constitution in a separate section Three-quarters of the states had to ratify the amendments for them to take effectThree-quarters of the states had to ratify the amendments for them to take effect These ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution became the Bill of RightsThese ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution became the Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights