1. The Birth of the Constitution
USHC 1.4

2. The Articles of Confederation
First plan of government
WEAK
Replaced by Constitution

3. Articles vs. Constitution
Federalism  
“A Firm League of Friendship”
“A More Perfect Union”
Representation
of States
EQUAL
Proportional (House)
Equal (Senate)
Taxation
 States ONLY
State & Federal
 Powers of Congress
Foreign Relations
Army and Navy
Declare War
Ambassadors
Treaties
In addition to the Articles:
Interstate Commerce
Currency
Crush Rebellions
Amendments
UNANIMOUS
2/3 Congress + 3/4 States

4. Problems
With the Articles

5. Shays’ Rebellion

6. Bad Economy
Image by Beyond My Ken

7. The Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia, Summer 1787
Stated Purpose: Amend the Articles

8. Articles vs. Constitution
Federalism  
“A Firm League of Friendship”
“A More Perfect Union”
Representation
of States
EQUAL
Proportional (House)
Equal (Senate)
Taxation
 States ONLY
State & Federal
 Powers of Congress
Foreign Relations
Army and Navy
Declare War
Ambassadors
Treaties
In addition to the Articles:
Interstate Commerce
Currency
Crush Rebellions
Amendments
UNANIMOUS
2/3 Congress + 3/4 States

9. Compromises
Lots of Them!

10. Statistics From the 1790 Census Percentage of Population
State Population
Percentage of Total
Regional Population
Number of Slaves
Percentage of Population
New Hampshire
141,885 4%
158 0%
Massachusetts
378,787
10%
Connecticut
237,946 7%
2,759 1%
Rhode Island
68,825 2%
152
NEW ENGLAND
23%
827,443
New Jersey
184,139 5%
11,423 6%
New York
340,120 9%
21,324
Pennsylvania
434,373
12%
3,737
MIDDLE STATES
958,632
NORTH OF MASON/DIXON
49%
1,786,075
39,853
Delaware
59,096
8,887
15%
Maryland
319,728
103,036
32%
Virginia
747,610
20%
293,427
39%
North Carolina
393,751
11%
100,572
26%
South Carolina
249,073
107,094
43%
Georgia
82,548
29,264
35%
THE SOUTH
51%
1,851,806
642,280
94%
TOTAL POPULATION
3,637,881
SLAVE POPULATION
681,833
Sources:

11. VIRGINIA PLAN James Madison new jersey plan One Vote Per State
Bicameral Legislature
Based on POPULATION
new jersey plan
Doesn’t
Matter
Unicameral Legislature
One Vote
Per State

12. House of Representatives State Legislatures (INDIRECT)
“GREAT COMPROMISE”
House of Representatives
Lower House
Senate
Upper House
Based on POPULATION
Two Votes Per State
Elected by Voters
(DIRECT)
Appointed by
State Legislatures (INDIRECT)

13. The “Three-Fifths” Compromise A “Not So Great” Compromise
FOR THE SOUTH
FOR THE NORTH
Slaves count 3/5 of a person for Congressional representation.
Congress can “regulate” international slave trade in 20 years.
3/5
3/5

15. # of Electors = Senators + Representatives
Electoral College
Each state will send electors to cast votes for President.
# of Electors = Senators + Representatives

16. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
2 3
3 4

17. States necessary to ratify the Constitution9
States necessary to ratify the Constitution

18. Ratification
Federalists
Antifederalists
Supported
Opposed

19. “National” Government
Federalist Arguments
Antifederalist
Objections
Stronger Central Government
Better Economy
Law and Order
Unlimited Terms NO Bill of Rights
“National” Government

20. (aka, The Federalist Papers)
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John
Jay

21. Bill of Rights
Compromise

22. Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.