1. The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises

2. Basic Overview Held in Philadelphia, PA Intended to only Revise Articles of Confederation. George Washington elected to preside over convention. End result-Writing of US Constitution 55 delegates created Constitution. James Madison “Father of Constitution”

3. Conflict: Representation! Small population states were afraid that the states with larger populations would control the new national government. They thought each state should have the same number of representatives: equal representation (one state = one vote)

4. Large population states thought equal representation was unfair. They argued that a state with more people should have more representation in Congress: proportional representation (based on population)

5. Plans William Patterson made the formal argument for equal representation = The New Jersey Plan James Madison argued for proportional representation = The Virginia Plan

6. What do you think?

7. Compromise! Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a solution (first suggested by Benjamin Franklin): Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral) House of Representatives would have proportional representation & the power to develop all bills for taxing & spending. Senate would have equal representation & could accept or reject bills passed by the house.

8. The Great Compromise Each side received a little & gave up a little. The result was that large states had slightly more influence over the creation of laws, but the Senate, where representation was equal, had the power to decline any law. The plan was hotly debated, but passed by one vote.

9. Conflict: North versus South The southern economy was agricultural, with plantations relying on slavery. Northern states had more economic diversity – manufacturing & industry which relied on free labor. The North was also a shipping & trade center – competing with Great Britain.

10. The northern states wanted protective tariffs = taxes on products imported from other nations. The southern states argued that this would increase the cost of items they bought & that England might retaliate & place tariffs on southern agricultural goods sold in Europe.

11. Slavery was critical to the economy of the South, but an offensive idea to the states in the North. Slaves, although a large part of the South’s population, did not count in the census figures for representation.

12. What do you think?

13. Compromises! The South agreed to let Congress issue protective tariffs where necessary. The North agreed to allow the Southern states to calculate population including slaves using the three-fifths clause: for every 5 slaves, add 3 to population (or 3/5 of a person). The Fugitive Slave Clause was added to ensure the return of runaways to their owners.

14. Conflict: How Much Power? The problem was to create a national government that was strong enough to protect the rights of the people, but not so strong that it would endanger those rights.

15. Compromise: General & Specific General language allows for broad interpretation of assigned powers. It does not allow for limits on power. example: general welfare clause, necessary & proper clause Specific language can be found in the enumerated powers. example: Article I, Sec. 8

16. The Greatest Power “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States... Shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby.. “ supremacy clause